Q2 - TLT Assignment

Q2: Recall a situation where English was seen as prestigious?

            Well, I can’t recall any moment in the country’s history when English was seen prestigious but, what I can recall is the time I can remember that the language was prestigious. I can’t say that the time frame I would be giving is overly accurate. Therefore, I hope that the information that I am about to give can be bared.

             As written in the history books that I have been forced to study during my schooling years, I realize that during the British colonial years in Malaya, English is seen as a very prestigious language. It was known to be the language of those whom hold a political position in the government during those times. It was to make the communication between the British and the Malayan government easier. All of those whom want to hold a staff position in the government sectors must know the language and enrol in English speaking schools during the time. There was even a time when we had schools based on the language that the curriculum was taught in. There were English schools, Malay schools, Tamil schools and Chinese schools. Each of these schools have their curriculum taught in their favoured language as those whom join the schools at the time are of those people which their mother tongue is of that particular language. Probably because it makes it easier for them to learn and the communication is easier as it could be understood by their respective learners.

            The other time that I remember that the language was popular and is at its most prestigious stage was when the Education Ministry decided to change the whole syllabus into English except the Bahasa Melayu/Malaysia. It was the one time that the English Language was at its peak moment and was obvious to everyone across the country. It was at these moments that all citizens realized that the language was essential for the future generations to have a better future. Math and Science – including physics, biology and chemistry – were taught in English. During the early years of these implementation, there were students whom faced problem of learning these subjects in English but, later on they became accustomed to the system. Students were actually starting to understand everything that’s taught in English although not very successfully but, there were improvement.

However, the change of curriculum from Bahasa to English had caused certain parties to be unsatisfied. It was argued that the implementation of such way might cause the depletion of the national language. It is argued that the implementation might cause the national language to be a dead language as everyone find the English language to be overly essential for the world today. It was argued that, ‘if a country such as Japan which is successful can stand by their national language why can’t a country such as ours stand by our national language despite of how important the English language is to the world.’ I do not have any comments on the statement. However, I would suggest that these parties not be too stereotypical. Learning the English language does not mean to kill the other languages. The survival of the national language is in the hands of its own people and we are its people. As much as the national language depends on us for its survival, we depend also on the English language to survive not only in the country but, outside the country as well.