Spell your way to English proficiency

The increasing popularity of RHB New Straits Times National Spell-It-Right Challenge indicates the growing awareness of the importance of mastering the English language, writes NURJEHAN MOHAMED

IF last weekend is anything to go by, spelling is winning popularity with schoolchildren.

The RHB New Straits Times National Spell-It-Right (SIR) Challenge saw record numbers of participants turning up at the first two venues in Sungai Petani, Kedah and Arau, Perlis.

A total of 116 primary and 206 secondary students tried their luck in the Kedah leg while 55 primary and 63 secondary students vied for the crown at the Perlis competition.

Last year, there were 64 primary and 84 secondary entrants in Kedah, and 28 primary and 32 secondary contenders in Perlis.

Looking at current registration numbers, a similar trend may continue at other state challenges in the coming weeks.

Among the reasons for the fourth season’s early success could be a change in rules.

Instead of school teams of four, participation is on an individual basis and up to 10 students per school can enter.

This means that those keen on spelling can enter without having to find a group to be eligible to do so.

This has also paved the way for several good spellers from the same school to advance to the finals.

Three of the top five spots at the Perlis secondary competition were taken by three of eight SMK Derma students, with second-former Pang Zheng Bin leading the pack.

And SMK Sultan Badlishah’s Vivien Khor Wei Wen and M. Dharshana took home the second and third prizes in the Kedah state challenge.

Opening the competition to students from private schools which use the Malaysian national curriculum might have also contributed to higher numbers.

This development comes at a time when English in Malaysia is increasingly being used as a shared language across communities and an international medium of communication, which underpins the relevance of activities such as the SIR Challenge.

In the recently released English First (EF) English Proficiency Index (EPI), Malaysia came out tops among non-native-speaking Asian countries and ninth globally. Malaysia is the only country outside of Europe placed in the “high proficiency” category.

The 42 countries and two territories included in the exercise undertaken by education provider EF were placed in five categories ranging from “very high proficiency” to “very low proficiency”. The EPI calculates a country’s average English skill level using the best available data from four English tests completed by hundreds of thousands of adults every day. All the tests include grammar, vocabulary, reading and listening sections.

The index was calculated using combined test taker data from 2007 to 2009, which included test results from 2.3 million test takers.

EF states, however, that the EPI is not guaranteed to be representative of the country as a whole as the test takers are self-selected.

Still, the dominance of English at the workplace is undeniable and this is an important factor in encouraging students to master the English language.

This was recently highlighted by University of Malaya (UM) vice chancellor Professor Datuk Ghauth Jasmon.

UM, as the country’s oldest university, had to “buck up on the command and use of the English language to improve graduate employability”, he said.

This was based on feedback from employers who evaluate the institution’s students during their industrial training.

It is said that spelling is the cornerstone of language.

The participants of the SIR Challenge — winners or not — stand to gain much more than just the tangible results of monetary reward and certificates of participation.

They may also find a greater desire to expand their vocabulary through reading as well as the confidence to use the English language more frequently.

New Straits Times

Watching Spell It Right on the television is also one way to increase one's vocabulary. Even though, some might think it's for kids, it's not and it's quite educational since we can learn new words that we might never heard of.

Reading whatever you can can get your hands on, buying books whenever there is any International Book Fair (which coincidentaly will be starting this coming 22nd April until 1st May 2011 at PWTC), going to the library, reading newspapers, books, references, googling information in English etc will also increase your English proficiency informally.

Another way is one old fashion way of finding pen pals from overseas where you can write to him/her in English and exchanges news about each other's country, culture, history, life and many more.

P/S : Good news for Tun Dr Mahathir's fans. On Sunday, the 24th of April 2011, Tun Dr Mahathir will be signing his memoir at PWTC for the International Book Fair at 10 a.m. So, be sure to be there at that time.

Which language? Let parents, students vote on it

WHEN it was announced that the policy of teaching Science and Mathematics in English would be abolished, Noraini Yaacob was among the many parents who rushed to move their children from national schools to international schools.

"At one international school, more than 400 parents queued up to register their children. The ratio was about eight locals to one foreigner. Despite the long waiting list, parents were still persistent in getting their children in."

Noraini managed to put two of her three children in an international school but admitted that it was woefully expensive.

She, therefore, welcomed the statement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak that the government will study the possibility of using two mediums of instruction in schools for Science and Maths.

Two languages? How can it be executed? Should some schools teach in English, and others in Bahasa Malaysia? Or should each school offer two mediums of instruction?

Former Bar Council president Ragunath Kesavan said a referendum should be held in schools.

"Science and Maths will be taught in the language agreed by parents at the referendum. As such, some schools will teach the subjects in Bahasa Malaysia and some in English."

Another option, said Ragunath, was to pick a few schools in a town or district to teach Science and Maths in English.

The third option, he said, would be to divide the number of classes in one school equally or based on needs, with some classes teaching in Bahasa Malaysia and the rest in English.

"There are three options currently in terms of the language the two subjects can be taught in at primary schools, namely Bahasa Malaysia in national schools, and Mandarin or Tamil in national type schools, so why not another option?"

He said well-to-do families had the means to send their children to international schools but the poor did not.

"This widens the divide between the rich and the poor. Every citizen should have equal means to education."

Malacca Action Group for Parents in Education chairman Mak Chee Kin said all parent-teacher associations across the country should take a stand on the matter during their annual general meetings or perhaps even call for an extraordinary general meeting.

"If the majority of parents want the two subjects to be taught in English, then let it be, or vice versa.

"Once this has been done, logistics and planning will be easier. The authorities can easily mobilise teachers, distribute books and software accordingly."

Mak said the option of choosing the medium of instruction could help the government save the millions of ringgit that had been invested.

"English-based books, materials and software need not be discarded. Also, the amount spent on training teachers to teach in English will not go to waste."

Education authorities, he said, should not assume that all rural schools wanted the subjects to be taught in Bahasa Malaysia and all urban schools, in English.

"Wherever the schools are, let the parents decide. You will be surprised with the outcome."

Parents Action Group for Education chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said each parent must be allowed to indicate to their children's school the medium of instruction that was preferred.

The school will then collate the preference and this will determine the number of Science and Mathematics classes to be conducted in Bahasa Malaysia and English.

"While most of the classes will be taught in the language chosen by the majority of parents of the school, each school will also offer a minimum of one Bahasa Malaysia and one English option class at every level."

Azimah said examination questions and textbooks could continue to remain bilingual. She stressed that a decision on this matter should be made immediately.

"The propensity to learn is highest between pre-school and primary school, and by allowing the English option to begin as soon as possible will ensure a smooth and seamless transition into Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia, diploma or pre-university levels."

Azimah said the ministry should consult parents before making a decision.

"The preamble of the Education Act 1996 states: '...pupils are to be educated in accordance with the wishes of their parents.'"

Muhammad Haykal Muhammad Bakhtiar, 15, said, however, the students should be the ones to decide.

"I prefer it to be taught in English, so I should have that choice. The same goes for others who prefer it in Bahasa Malaysia."

New Straits Times

I would definitely send my future kids to an international school as well as I want them to master the English language.

What would you guys and gals do to ensure that your kids can master the English language?

A bombshell dropped on Anwar Al Juburi

After the revelation by fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin about how Anwar Al Juburi had conspired against the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak so that he will not be the next premier, Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) had just lodged a police report at the Dang Wangi police headquarters.

The report called for the police to investigate the 4 persons that had been named by RPK, namely Nik Azmi Nik Daud, John Pang, blogger Din Merican and Lt-Col Azmi Zainal Abidin.

However, they had forgotten to mention the most important person in the conspiration plot which is the de facto of PKR, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who surely do not want to see anyone else filling the post that he had long been dreaming about, a post where he nearly got his hands onto until he was ousted by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for misusing his power as the Deputy Prime Minister during his reign of terror, sodomy and bribery.

Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Najib expresses his gratitude on the turnaround of the event where the truth finally prevailed.

Many bloggers had been commenting on the issue. Read what had been written about it by marahku, bigdog, barkingmagpie, apanama and rockybru.

Meanwhile, earlier in the news tonight, Lim Guan Eng seems to be avoiding the questions posed by reporters about the latest development in which he said sometimes things can be taken out of context.

Lim Kit Siang on the other hand seems to prefer to remain mum on that issue. However, I am sure that those leaders in Pakatan Rakyat had been aware of the real culprit who conspires to bring down Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak but being true to themselves, they will still support Anwar Ibrahim.

Dr Mahathir : BN will win Sarawak

Nothing much to say, only Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had expressed his confidence in Barisan Nasional winning in Sarawak.

Just look at the video from The Star here.

Crystal Clear Sex Video

ANWAR : IT WASN'T ME!!

Ohh Ahh Azizah LR