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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Locally Trained Teachers are Capable of Teaching English in Schools

Why is there so much distrust and lack of confidence in locally trained teachers to teach English in schools that thousands of native speakers of English have to be brought in to teach these teachers? And to use the term "Master Teachers" sort of brings us back to the days when we were colonised by these 'masters'. And what happend to those hundreds of English teachers who were sent to do their first degrees in TESL, TESOL, Literature and ESP in the UK between the years of 1992 to 1996, supposedly to improve the standard of English in Malaysian schools? Shouldn't we tap those resources first before spending valuable Malaysian Ringgit on a project that is at best a way for these "Master Teachers" to collect materials and later on publish books for their own benefits? Malaysian teachers teaching English have done a bad job. They follow the syllabus to the letter, that is to prepare students for real-life communication, when in fact, what the syllabus dictates is not what the students actually face in their real-life situation. Maybe that is the situation, oh, you high and mighty, should address first before anything else!

12 comments:

  1. I think that the locally trained teachers are not teach english as well because there are many reasons about this. First of all, they have language problem like influence by their own mother tongue and Malay which are our national language . Further more, in foreign they are able to teach english because it is their mother tongue and the syllabus of teaching this language also very easy if compared to here. In our country,most of people did not emphasize english language in their daily life.
    Anbarasi A/P Mohan,
    6GEP.

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  2. I think locally trained teachers are capable of teaching English in schools.They have high specification to teach students in Malaysia.That is because they have to teach a tough module than another foreign country.They also understand what their students trying to say and they can guide them how to make a good sentences in English.If schools use teacher which is good in English but bad in local language,it will be a teaching program,not teaching and learning program.Maybe students were not catching up what their teacher is teaching.


    Noor Jannah,
    6GEP

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  3. What Anbarasi said about local teachers having L1 influence when speaking English is true. On the other hand local teachers understand their students more and will be able to use different ways to foster that understand, for example using translation, like what Jannah said.
    Thanks for the comments

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  4. sir.,i'm tini..I disagree with locally trained teachers can teach english well in school..first, i think locally trained teacher be a english teacher because a parents wish.This can effect their student. Student just study a basic of language in english.Next,locally teacher also does not use a level language that same with oversea teacher.This will make a difference between student in our country and abroad..lastly, teacher of locally trained are not comitment went give homework to their student.This will make student become low in english..

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  5. I disagree that locally trained teachers are capable of teaching english well in schools.This is because local trained teachers have less disclosure in english language.Many teachers teach this subject in simple way such as using basic words and pronouncation .So,our student just know basic word and pronouncation in english.Sometime local trained teacher also teach the student with mixture between english language and their local mother tongue.Most of local trained teacher also sometimes speak with use their slang.This can effect student and cause them having difficulty to understand what their teacher is saying..

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  6. im ruzaini i agree with this point because locally trained teacher in Malaysia is good.i said like this because education in malaysia are higher than other country and in other words Malaysian English Teacher have a better teaching and many knowledge that can be give out to the student.this why i agree with this topic

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  7. Dear Syairah
    Thanks for the two comments. It's interesting to read both of them. But remember not all teachers are able to teach English. On the other hand there are those who are very capable in teaching English. There is no denying that. So, there are two sides to the coin after all. thanks once again.

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  8. Dear Zaini
    Thanks again for this comment. I consider it a vote of confidence to boost the morale of all the teachers teaching English in Malaysia. It is a daunting task in itself without having people telling us we cannot do it! Thanks once again.

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  9. yes amar. this is me at STAR. Why? do you know me?

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  10. I think this is all unfounded fear. We have nothing to fear except fear itself - someone said that! Anyways, no offence, but having read the comments before this confirms for me, that yes, we indeed need more exposure to the language. Who better to deliver it? That would be a definite yes for the native speaker!

    This is language we're talking abt. It is NOT street language we are clamouring for. That anyone can pick up a language, no matter how pidginised it sounds, is a well known fact. But academic language has to be learned. In Malaysia, it is a reality that we do not necessarily use the language for interpersonal use. Except for a few who do use the language at home, many of us don't. Therefore, our grasp of the language is minimal, with horrendous L1 interference to boot.

    With native speakers, students would be forced to pay attention to how the language is actually spoken and written. A huge, major benefit, if one gets that kind of exposure from a native speaker.

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  11. Zaini, where does it say we have a better education system than other countries?! Have you actually checked this out, or is another one of the blase comments that M'sians are infamous for?

    Buildings alone do not make a better school.

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