The Star today (23rd January 2007) on page N8 carries two news relating to status of English usage in Malaysia. The first news "Many still refuse to teach in English" and the next one below it "Poor Marks for English". The question is who is responsible for both cases? For me the finger point back to the government since they are the policy makers. The changing of the medium of education from English to Bahasa Malaysia has been the reason behind this. Wen I attended school, my grandfather who is illeterate and lives in a kampung, a few hours away(those days) from Alor Setar town sent me to an english medium school in Alor Setar. I started in standard One at Tunku Abdul Halim School in Alor Setar and then to Sultan Abdul Hamid College from Form One to Form 5. Medium of instruction is English and only Bahasa Melayu is taught in Malay. But still all of us then and until now can master Bahasa Melayu fluently.
since these teacher receive their education in Bahasa Malaysia. When the medium of instructions has been changed to Bahawa Malaysia, English has become second language and most Malaysian do not take it serious to master the language anymore. Fortunately Dr. Mahathir then Prime minister then realise that Malaysian should speak and write in English hence Mathematics and Science muts be taught in English. Well, damaged had been done. We do not have enough Mathematics and Science teacher who are fluent in EnglishTherefore Mathematics and Science which was to be taught in English has been a victim of a new language - Manglish. I remember when I taught English in the 80s (because I got my Malaysian Certificate of Education), I had no choice but to teach English in Bahasa Malaysia. If I were to speak totally in English then my students will be blinking their eyes with drooping jaws trying to make up what I was saying.
Now Mathematics and Science teacher has to sit for their English Language test. Well, thats the way the government do things. buat dulu, kemudian fikir. Why not before implementing rope all these teachers to master English first then only let them teach.
Another problem arising from the change of medium of instruction is the result of the Malaysian University english Test (MUET). It was reported that one third of students who graduated from public universities last year have very low English language profiency.
since these teacher receive their education in Bahasa Malaysia. When the medium of instructions has been changed to Bahawa Malaysia, English has become second language and most Malaysian do not take it serious to master the language anymore. Fortunately Dr. Mahathir then Prime minister then realise that Malaysian should speak and write in English hence Mathematics and Science muts be taught in English. Well, damaged had been done. We do not have enough Mathematics and Science teacher who are fluent in EnglishTherefore Mathematics and Science which was to be taught in English has been a victim of a new language - Manglish. I remember when I taught English in the 80s (because I got my Malaysian Certificate of Education), I had no choice but to teach English in Bahasa Malaysia. If I were to speak totally in English then my students will be blinking their eyes with drooping jaws trying to make up what I was saying.
Now Mathematics and Science teacher has to sit for their English Language test. Well, thats the way the government do things. buat dulu, kemudian fikir. Why not before implementing rope all these teachers to master English first then only let them teach.
Another problem arising from the change of medium of instruction is the result of the Malaysian University english Test (MUET). It was reported that one third of students who graduated from public universities last year have very low English language profiency.
No comments:
Post a Comment