The
declining standard of spoken and written English is a frightening trend today.
Very often Mathematics or Bahasa Melayu classes at tuition centres are full
while English language classes are half empty. There are many reasons why
students are not willing to learn English.
It is
difficult to comprehend why many of today’s students carry ‘a give-up attitude’
and quickly throw in the towel when the going gets tough, especially learning
English at higher levels. A student preparing at the eleventh hour will not
burn his midnight oil studying for an English test the following day. Students
in examination classes usually spend their time studying ‘important’ subjects
and English is usually neglected. This remains an unexplained phenomenon.
Secondly, it could also be said that certain aspects of the English
Language examination leave much to be desired. As a result, average students
feel that it is a waste of time and effort preparing for an examination which
they could easily pass but need extraordinary ability to obtain a distinction.
Years of neglect of the English language has finally hammered the last nail
into the coffin.
There
is a drastic change in some aspects of learning the language in the lower
secondary classes and upper secondary classes. This, at times, even leaves the
best students gasping for air. The suffocation occurs when there is very little
writing earlier but at the later stages, there is an uncompromising need to
develop skills that demand years of learning and training but has to be
mastered in about two years or less.
Furthermore, the science subjects are an added attraction to students
who dislike language and literature studies. This could explain the drop in the
number of students who do English literature every year.
Learning a language is actually fun. But, learning a language for
examination purposes is demanding. Second language learners do not acquire
those skills but have to learn them. Mostly, they need practice in speaking and
writing. The latter demands wholehearted commitment that includes
concentration, willingness to learn including completion of tasks set, reading,
memorizing, vocabulary practice, writing and rewriting. Students who have
neglected these skills in the early years find it difficult to start anew. The
fact that an average Malaysian student has at least seven to eight subjects to
deal with does not help either.
Certain second or foreign language learners have an advantage over the
first language learners, as they are usually able to read in their first
language. However, this theory seldom applies to Malaysians. They may be able
to read in their mother tongue but when it comes to reading English texts, a
majority of rural students and probably not a small number of urban candidates
have failed to master that skill. There are students shying away from reading
almost every day. Therefore, skills like skimming, scanning, guessing,
predicting and drawing conclusions are just too much to expect from them.
Imagine a 17-year-old student who can just smile when asked to read a text in
English!
It is
true that practice makes perfect. It is only through practice that one is able
to progress in stages of learning a language from writing a few sentences to a
complete composition. The major element is lacking or perhaps even missing in
our students and so are the sub-skills that go with it. The main defect
actually took place a long time ago; failing to master the mechanics of forming
the letters of the alphabet, failing to learn punctuation rules, failing to
build proper vocabulary and failing to learn the rules of grammar and syntax.
It could be more of failing to try.
It
must be borne in mind that intelligence has very little to do with language
learning. It is a skill that is innate. Motivation, interest and diligence have
stronger influence on learners. It must be noted that nothing can be mastered
in a twinkle of an eye.
(650 words)
Reference:
Anajee Singh, J.S.Solomon, S.Sarojini. (2006). Write
it Right : How to overcome the fear and avoid the pitfalls of writing
compositions. Selangor Darul Ehsan: Pelanduk Publications (M) Sdn Bhd.
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