I strongly recommend all of you to have a read on this blog post by Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, The Star chief editor.
If you want me to show my stand on this issue, I would say that I support the government’s move to teach Maths and Science in English instead of Malay or Mandarin. Wong Chun Wai has got his point, we Malaysians are particularly poor in English, and that hurt when we are trying to apply for positions in MNCs.
The fact is that most students prefer to answer the questions in English. That is a fact. The results have showed that the use of English has not affected their performances in these two subjects, again, that is a fact. English is a global language. It is also the language of the Internet.
- Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai
Ya, English is the language of the Internet. See, I’m also writing this blog post in English. Anyway, I agree to Datuk Seri Wong that this should not be a political issue nor a racial one. This is something to do with our children’s education. To those Malay or Chinese extremist, studying Maths and Science in English doesn’t mean we forget our root. It does not mean we forgo our mother tongue. We MUST still learn our mother tongue but we have to admit that English is the global language and if our children do not master it, it is not going to do them any good in their future career.
Look at some of our national leaders, some of them do not have good command of English. When they attend international functions or conferences, how are they going to communicate with diplomats from all over the world?
Where did you receive the information that English has become the international language?
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE1
I live in London and if anyone says to me "everyone speaks English" my answer is "Listen and look around you". If people in London do not speak English then the whole question of a global language is completely open.
The promulgation of English as the world's "lingua franca" is impractical and linguistically undemocratic. I say this as a native English speaker!
Impractical because communication should be for all and not only for an educational or political elite. That is how English is used internationally at the moment.
Undemocratic because minority languages are under attack worldwide due to the encroachment of majority ethnic languages. Even Mandarin Chinese is attempting to dominate as well. The long-term solution must be found and a non-national language, which places all ethnic languages on an equal footing is essential.
An interesting video can be seen at http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_YHALnLV9XU Professor Piron was a former translator with the United Nations
A glimpse of Esperanto can be seen at http://www.lernu.net