The English Language in Malaysia

So many, many, many people have talked about this subject. About the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English. To continue or to drop or to modify.

Today I came upon this article in The Star written by P. Gunasegaram and my opinion is that this is the best yet. Clear and critically thought out. I am in total agreement on many points.

I lay out here some of my points and I invite you to continue to read what he wrote.

1. The command of English in Malaysia has deteriorated much and is really bad today.

2. The usage of English as a medium of instruction for the two subjects will improve standards of both the language and the subjects; and it has done so.

3. Malay should still be continued to be used on other subjects as this is our national language and we should have a good command of this language.

4. In addition a good command of the English language will enable Malaysians to be more competitive in the world market. Certainly.

5. Let's not confuse the issue by bringing in other things like if the passing of the English paper is necessary or not for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia. Let's wait first, until the English language proficiency improve further.

6. Although grammer is important, again let's wait first. Let's have people being able to use the English language for communicating effectively first. Let's remember that English speaking people do not learn the language grammatically until after when they've learnt how to speak and write reasonably okay first.


Friday June 12, 2009
Let’s just stick to English
Question Time
By P. GUNASEGARAM

Whether Science and Maths should be taught in English should be decided solely by considering the welfare of the students and the country.

Our people should know how to read, write and speak the national language but, at the same time, to gain knowledge, they should learn and use English – Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In 2003, before he stepped down as Prime Minister in 2004, Dr Mahathir made a major policy change in terms of education.

It was considered drastic at that time and made over the opposition of both Malay and vernacular language advocates.

He basically decreed that Science and Mathematics should be taught in English simply because that was the fastest way for Malaysians to access the rapidly changing developments in those fields.

Continue to read by clicking on the link below.

http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?file=/2009/6/12/columnists/questiontime/4100862&sec=questiontime