Why do we need PPSMI?

Why do we need PPSMI?

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History – World

1. There was no lingua franca before World War 2.

The world (especially Asia and Africa) was almost equally divided by the western and European countries and Japan. Therefore, all languages had equal roles and importance.

2. The development of technology and knowledge in Japan, Korea and Germany.

These countries developed their nations since 19^th using their own native languages, in the absence of a lingua franca at that time. Later, many companies are focusing on EL as an effect of globalization and international trade. The trend in using EL is very noticeable until now as these companies are operating worldwide.

Companies like Daihatsu/Hatsudoki (1907), Honda (1946), Bridgestone (1941) Mitsubishi (1870), Volkswagen (1930s), Audi (1899), BMW (1916) Hyundai (1947), Kia (1944), Doosan (1896), Hankook Tire (1941), Samsung (1938) and many others were established before or immediately after World War 2.

3. English Language as the lingua franca after World War 2.

USA became no. 1 after defeating the Germans and Japanese in WW2. Many people including experts and scientists from all over world migrated to USA since 18^th to make their ends meet and contribute to the nation. English was used until now to unite the people in the USA.

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History – Malaysia

Gained independence after WW2, about 12 years after WW2 . At that time, the USA, Britain, Israel and Australia were leaders in almost everything.

Previously, we depended on (imported from) Britain and Australia for many things from 1950s until 1970s.

We started our industry in the 1980s or late 1970s with various policies introduced by the PM, Tun Dr Mahathir. At that time, EL was the lingua franca. In other words, we were very young and need help from all over the world. Thus, many foreign investors came to Malaysia, and we went overseas to expand our knowledge (until now). So, we are absorbing the knowledge and expertise using EL as the medium of communication.

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Why do we need PPSMI?

(Teaching and Learning Science and Maths in English)

Vision 2020

In order to be a developed country, we must be excellent in almost everything, mainly in knowledge. We were dominant a long time, from Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid until Ottoman, because we have the knowledge and technology. Today, most knowledge is presented in English Language. So, our next generations need to be fluent EL in order to master the knowledge. If not, Vision 2020 may become just a vision for an unspecified time.

Science and Technology as tools to determine advancement

Invention or innovation of something that is beneficial to human race makes a country to be perceived as advance or not. To invent or innovate something requires knowledge in science and technology.

Globalization

Many countries all over the world are changing policies with regards to EL. For instance, China is urging its people, from taxi drivers until professionals, to be good in EL since the country is producing, exporting and importing goods and services. Likewise, Japan and Korea are doing the same thing.

Economy

Our children and students must be able to communicate well in EL for the sake of competing for jobs not only from Malaysian companies but also from other foreign companies. The medium of communication is EL, definitely, in both Malaysian and foreign companies because they have to penetrate the global market.

Education

- Materials in English: Many materials such as books and journals used in the higher institutions are from other countries which are published in EL.

- Taking a long time to translate: It takes a long of time to translate and reproduce materials from EL to Malay Language. Before we can finish translating ‘one knowledge’, new knowledge appears. Hence, we will be left behind. (1)

- Translation is inappropriate for certain fields: For certain fields like IT, Medicine or Engineering, translations may sound unusual and to some extent – be ridiculous.

- Foreign students in local universities: We need to encourage more foreign students to study in Malaysia as a source of income and knowledge-sharing. Our university students need to be proficient in EL to communicate with the foreigners. For the foreigners, EL is important for them to get jobs in their home countries and go to other countries.

Recommendations

I support the effort made by Tun Dr. Mahathir when he introduced PPSMI. It is for the future, Vision 2020.

However, his vision won’t be a reality if all parties don’t plan properly to cater the needs for urban and rural students; weak and smart students.

1. Changes should be made promptly in terms of modifying the methods and materials in teaching students. Different methods and materials should be used when teaching urban and rural students, though the objective is the same – to make them proficient in EL.

2. Science and Maths teachers must be continuously trained and equipped with adequate, relevant and current knowledge (Science, Maths and EL) and other appropriate skills.

3. Teachers for other subjects like English Language are not supposed to teach PPSMI because they only have the language, but not the knowledge in Science or Maths, unless they are professionally trained to teach Maths and Science.

Conclusion

I believe that we are NOT going to lose our identity, language or culture by using EL in teaching and learning only two subjects. Other subjects are still being taught in Malay Language. Similarly, co-curricular activities are also being conducted in Malay Language. Other than that, not many Malaysians are using only EL at home; of course their own mother tongue with code-mixing / switching from time to time.

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(1) Extracted from http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/6/24/nation/4183391&sec=nation, 24 June 2008

Tun Dr. Mahathir “Although we learn best in our native languages, we cannot expect other people to continue or always be there to translate the information or findings in other languages solely for our benefit.” (Full article)

I guess it is true what Tun has said that we should not depend on other people to translate for us. By right, we should translate and understand something by ourselves. To do so, we must force our mind to work hard in learning EL. If we say no to Maths and Science in EL, it means that we tell our children ‘no’ to foreign universities, foreign interactions and foreign opportunities. Even nowadays, almost all colleges and universities in Malaysia are using EL as the medium of communication since we started accepting foreign students. So? Is it also “a big no” to local universities?

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Kindly give your comments or suggestions.

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MALAYSIA AS A FOUNTAIN OF KNOWLEDGE

MALAYSIA AS A FOUNTAIN OF KNOWLEDGE

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What do we have to be no. 1 in knowledge?

We have a group of well-established and funded institutions i.e. about 20 public universities, and many private universities and colleges. Not to forget our polytechnics, community colleges and many other bodies.

We are a small nation. Therefore, it is easy to work together in terms of logistics and infrastructures.

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What we don’t have in order to be no 1?

We don’t have an active, centralized body to monitor and coordinate research materials from all public and private universities or colleges.

Just remember: Alone, we are nobody. But together, we will be somebody.

By working together, we can produce unbelievable results better than Oxford, Cambridge or Princeton; and other internationally profit-oriented journal publications. Just remember, when they first started, they started with a zero. Today, many foreign universities and journals are successful due contributions made by excellent research and researchers from all over the world, including Malaysia.

Finally, all materials will be claimed as theirs (non-Malaysians), and other Malaysians need to spend a substantial amount of money in dollars or pound sterling in order to read an article.

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Steps to be no. 1 in knowledge?

The Ministry of Higher Education must set up a centralized department specialized in coordinating, monitoring and publishing research-related activities. Perhaps, the name could be – The Department of Malaysian Journals.

Within this department, various units should be established according to their fields of knowledge such as Language Unit, Social Science Unit, Pure Science Unit, Engineering Unit, Business Unit etc.

Experts in all fields from local universities must be selected to be the panel members not only in organizing research-related activities or training, but also selecting and editing research articles together with other government offices.

The department must establish and continuously maintain journals in all fields. There should be only one journal for one sub-field. For example, we must have various journals under the field of English Language like English for Specific Purposes, English for Teaching and Learning, English for Special Education and many others. Similar categorizations should be established for other fields like Science, Engineering etc.

All existing journals from all local universities must be abolished, and merged into one journal based on a field so that it can be monitored and further enhanced  by this particular department; not by individual universities.

All these journals must be accessed online from all over the world with powerful servers in Putrajaya or Cyberjaya. Additionally, all Malaysian schools, colleges and universities must be allowed to access these journals at minimum charges in Ringgit Malaysia.

We should give a name associated with Malaysia for each journal such as Malaysian Journal of English for Specific Purposes. This may show the uniqueness of our journal as compared to other similar journals from other countries.

All research materials and articles from all public universities and/or local private universities / colleges must be sent to the department. Let us assume if this department receives a minimum of 20 research articles per month from one university, it will have a compilation of 400 research articles from 20 public universities.

How about a year? 4,800 research articles per annum.

How about 10 years? 48,000 research articles.

How about other private institutions? They also want to be renowned in the field of education and they will also make their contributions. By then, all countries – in the West or in the East – are going to subscribe to our online journals. And, Insyaallah, we will be the fountain of knowledge just like Baghdad, Cairo and Mecca a thousand years ago. The highest achievement is to be a global leader in education. Then, we can claim ourselves as CEMERLANG, GEMILANG, TERBILANG. Once again, we will be dominant just like Rashidun, Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates because we have the knowledge and technology.

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Advantages:

We screen and select materials for publication based on our needs. No foreign journals will say no to us and reject our materials.

Having our own copyrighted materials and indexes for future use.

Collaborating in conducting research and producing materials.

National Library, State Libraries, University Libraries and school libraries in Malaysia, ASEAN or other countries can access to the online databases because we charge in Ringgit Malaysia.

Generating national income from internal and external organizations.

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Please give your comments and suggestions.

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