Malaysia is currently fussing about whether to teach primary and secondary students Science and Mathematics in English. We even held a riot to prove that we care for where our future lies! (I am not participating in it though). One side is opposing this idea (after it 6 years of implementation) since it has been hard, especially for rural students to learn the two most difficult subjects in their entire school life in a foreign language. To understand the concepts is one problem, to learn the concepts in English is another.
They also said that this move will undermine our national language; Bahasa Melayu and will only benefit the urban students. On the other hand, people who are agreeing with this method of teaching claimed that it will improve our children English and it would be easier to search for references since lots of important information is written in English.
Politics aside, my stand is quite clear. Yes, English is important, but there are other ways to improve our English rather than to instil it in these subjects. I think that we should improve the way English language subject itself being delivered to students. After almost ten years of formally learning English language, from kindergarten to university, many of us still couldn’t grasp the language firmly. (Yes, always blame the education).
So, the way of teaching and the syllabus should be revamped. I don’t learnt Science and Mathematics in English during my primary and secondary school, but when they teach us in English during my university years, I and most of my colleagues don’t experiencing any problem.
To say the least, students must have a firm understanding on the basic concepts in Science and Mathematics. Although many said that people like me, have no vote in this matter since we already understand English quite well and thus, it would not be a problem for us to understand the subjects. Anyway, since I am planning to have my future children raise here, I think my vote count.
What about you? Do you think the medium for learning should be restricted to a certain language? And for Malaysian, which language is better for learning?
P/S: Please mind your language when you comment about Malaysia. I don't want to be brought to the court like other bloggers. Malaysia Boleh!
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Bluecrystaldude
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28 comments:
:) :) :)
FC? Yay!! :-D :-D
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I'm with you regarding this rather I say politically-spiced-up issue. Language is language; we learn it best by speaking it out. Math and science, need no speaking to be understood. We need to think. 8-)
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congrats te mon!!!
well, let's focus on why-malaysian-schools-have-failed-in-teaching-proper-basic-english before we fight about which language is better :-P
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Gagay! :* :* :*
They're having riots against it, again? What's new, I wonder? 8-)
agree with u...English is veryyyyyyy important,but to implement at the early stage for science and math is not a good idea..do read article below....pity them... Undecided
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/100432
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i on the other hand thinks that it is a wonderful idea learning maths and science in english. start early, that's what i think. the thing is malaysia seem to be sinking deeper and deeper in a pit of backwardness. our ancestors won malaysia's independence because they were able to speak english fluently and stand up against the british. i wonder what they'll say now knowing that most malaysians can't even speak english. i mean come on man, during hang tuah's time, they spoke more than 10 languages!! how hard is it to learn another one?!
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=-O =-O
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How are u Blue? Busy studying ke? 8-)
I think they shld focus more on eng lang first, and teaching sc and math in eng is actually good. Let them get more eng faster and earlier, so they can speak and understand eng better. Eng is always very important! :* :* :* :*
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I prefer in English bcoz earlier exposure with scientific and math terms will benefits them later on, BETTER QUALITY kot..
Is there a reason it couldn't be taught bilingually? The concepts may be a bit of a challenge in either language, but it seems to me that the best time to learn terms in just about any tongue is when you're young enough that you still have a child's ability to absorb vocabulary. The longer you wait, the harder it gets.
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I think that all languages should be taught. I nobody speaks english very much there then you really dont need to teach it.
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I don't have anything against both subjects being taught in English but I do have problems with teachers not properly equipped to teach the subjects in English. I mean, we do have to ensure that all teachers are capable in teaching in English first. I remember having a boring time in class for one of my subjects in College because the lecturer wasn't fluent in English (all my classes were in English).
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agree with lina.. sometimes the prob is not the students but the teachers.. few of them, i said few not all, sucks ( i dont know what is the more proper word to replace this word) in English. so when they have to teach their students in English, the failed. i heard many teachers turned out to be kind of jokes to their students. and got few scenarios where the students teach their teacher to pronounce certain words.. so i dont really know where this problem stands. 1st of all, government needs to prepare the teachers before they implement this Math-and-Science-in-English thing. then only we can focus about the effect or how it helps our education level, either it gives more benefits or it becomes a burden to the students
te mon!! yer so fast ah!!!
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same, i think, in japan.. =-O =-O =-O =-O =-O
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tissue for us GP!
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though am not from japan, most of mah friends (japanese friends) are owso having a debate with which lang would they use to teach junio hs, if it would just be jap or eng.. =-O
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Malaysia boleh..!! (tetibe).. Alahai.. sekarang ni yang merana adalah kanak2 ribena yang akan masuk sekolah nanti.. Haaaaaa.. Yang makcik2 n pakcik2 ni tak payah pergi sekolah dah.. depa tak tahu camne budak2 ni kat skolah.. btw.. background gambar tu cam pernah tgk je. haha..
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Thought I was leaving a link, back, but for some reason suppose it wasn't taken. Mind is a far right political blog, but I do visit around to break up the pressure of all the political comments--I do have to get relief at times. I have two blogs the first I list is the oldest only 6 months and the second only about 1 month, anyway here they are and would appreciate the visit: pennypatch1.com/id220.html and totus-blog.blogspot.com
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