THE CONTRIBUTION OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN ASSISTING THE YOUTHS TO ENHANCE THEIR ENGLISH IN FACING ASEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY

Abstract

Asean Economic Community (AEC) is the realization of the region’s end goal of economic integration that envisions ASEAN as a single market and production base, a highly competitive region, with equitable economic development, and fully integrated into the global economy. With those opportunities, youths have more chances to develop their career into the international scale. However, going to the international scale is not an easy process as there are problems that they have to face. One of the  most significant problems is the language. It has been a general knowledge that everyone must be capable of speaking English when they want to work abroad. English, as the mostly used international language, makes the communication between foreigners become easier and more understandable. Indonesia, as one of ASEAN members which English is not the first language, faces a problem where the youths lack of knowledge about English. Most of them are not able to speak English in basic level. Thus, it creates inconfidence within them that they cannot go abroad because of the language barrier. Many of them stay to work in Indonesia while they have bigger chance to develop their talent and get more experience.  This paper analyzed the effort that educational institutions have made to help Indonesia’s youths to improve their English and boost up their confidence and explain how English comprehensions plays an important role for the youths to participate in Asean Economic Community.

 

Keywords: English skill, youths, AEC, educational institutions.