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The PPSMI Conundrum

Posted by narrowband - 06/11/11 at 12:11:50 pm

Let’s face it. We are just not there yet. Some teachers can’t even converse fluently in English, and you want them to teach in English? I’d rather have the knowledge imparted to me in a language the teacher feels most comfortable using. The last thing you want is some teachers become too focused on the delivery rather than the content. Just tell me whatever I need to know, in whatever way you feel comfortable, and I’ll do my own translating when the need arises.

If the teacher feels uncomfortable teaching in English, he or she may choose to get the lesson “over and done with” quickly, covering the bare minimum without going the extra mile to include other good-to-know’s or tips. I’m not saying learning in English is a bad thing. I’m all for English as a medium of instruction, even if it’s just for Science and Math. But the fact remains that we do not have enough qualified teachers to do that. Furthermore, I personally find learning in BM is just as effective.

I agree that we tend to use strange terms like “janjang” (“series” in English), “penyahpecutan” (BM for “deceleration”) and so on, but at the end of the day it’s the concept that’s important. It doesn’t really matter how it’s delivered, as long as it gets delivered. And if it helps to make the delivery more effective, the teacher can throw in its English-equivalent terms as an added bonus. I grew up learning everything in BM and when I entered uni, I found the BM-to-English transition both redundant and enlightening.

Everytime I came across a new English term, I felt joy in successfully relating it to its BM-equivalent word. Japan, Germany and China are examples of technologically-advanced nations that do not use English as a medium of instruction in their education system. Practically, I think we should not be too worked up about the whole PPSMI issue. We can instead focus on what is being taught in schools (factual/accurate History syallbus?) rather than how it’s taught.

Honestly, learning stuff in BM is not the end of the world. Many people turned out fine. There are more pressing issues that need our attention. PPSMI is not going to stop brain-drain. PPSMI is not going to stop our kids from having to sit for IELTS or TOEFL when entering universities. I just think that the PPSMI is a little too far fetched an idea and our country isn’t quite ready for it. Don’t you think so?

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