Hiyya guys. I would like to begin this entry by saying I’m sorry for not updating but I realised it doesn’t make any difference since my readership is non-existent anyways.
So, yesterday I watched that Discovery Channel documentary “Mad About English”. Basically it’s about these Chinese people and their journey to learn English in preparation for the Olympics. Personally I thought the documentary was well done and inspirational but this entry is not about that.
After watching this documentary it immediately made me think of the recent hullabaloo about the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English (ETeMS or PPSMI) and the idea either to take it back to BM or pick from an assorted 5 middle ground options (read article here). Adding to the absurdity of this issue is the fact that said issue has been politicised to such an extent that it’s no longer an issue of effectiveness but that it might threaten national unity and the position of BM as well as erosion of culture and mother tongue. This is of course a perfect example of what I refer to as “politricks” i.e. an alibi when there is no obvious reason to justify an action by these people.
So, yesterday I watched that Discovery Channel documentary “Mad About English”. Basically it’s about these Chinese people and their journey to learn English in preparation for the Olympics. Personally I thought the documentary was well done and inspirational but this entry is not about that.
After watching this documentary it immediately made me think of the recent hullabaloo about the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English (ETeMS or PPSMI) and the idea either to take it back to BM or pick from an assorted 5 middle ground options (read article here). Adding to the absurdity of this issue is the fact that said issue has been politicised to such an extent that it’s no longer an issue of effectiveness but that it might threaten national unity and the position of BM as well as erosion of culture and mother tongue. This is of course a perfect example of what I refer to as “politricks” i.e. an alibi when there is no obvious reason to justify an action by these people.
"No reason, that is, that could not be instantly refuted by a literate teenager"
~Noam Chomsky
I truly don’t get it. How does learning Science in English threatening to the erode culture? Is this language some form of culture turpentine or something?
Kidding aside, I have never ever seen someone lose their ability to speak their mother tongue or lose any bit culture because of learning Science and/or Math in English. Maybe some of the people who study abroad have a faux-accent we make fun of for a bit but that’s just temporary. The thing is, almost all the Nobel Laurels I’ve seen are proficient in English even though they come from countries where English is not their first language. From that we can clearly see that Science and Math’s medium of delivery is prevalently in English. Think about it, if China, one of the biggest economic power-houses in the world is starting to embrace English why are we running? My point is, if we do not prepare our children with the ability to converse in English we are just handicapping them. In Universities Science and Math related subject are though in English anyway. And I doubt anybody in the working world is gonna ask for a “kunci kira-kira” anytime soon. The thing is like it or not, English is an important thing to learn and if we strip Math and Science we have only 1 subject for Malaysians to learn that oh so important subject. I mean we barely speak good English as is:
This was found in our local Planetarium
In conclusion, I think that we should just keep teaching Science and math in English cause in the long run, for the country’s sake at least, isn’t it the better thing to do? Maybe this pie chart will explain it better than me:
p.s: I don’t usually write about politics in my blog partisan or otherwise since this is only a personal blog. This blog is just a way for me to vent or share something with a few close friends. That why it’s call MyRefuge not RantingsbyAA. If you have a view or something to add please do so. Opinions are always welcome here. All I ask is that you do so in a rational way.
3 Verbal Bashing/s:
Meh. I agree with you.
yeah. I don't understand these poeple who want us badly have math and science in BM. I already feel comfy learning them in English, plus I found them to be easier in English. Haih....what an absurd country we have huh?
aiya...those mistakes. How can I make them huh? I've shown a complete idiot by making such mistakes...haih:(
Post a Comment