Mindset change needed to increase standard of english

PETALING JAYA: A change of mindset is needed if English is to be reintroduced as the medium of instruction in schools.
Principal of Stella Maris Secondary School Datuk A.R. Peter said that it is not enough to change the system to English without ingraining it into the minds of students and teachers alike.
"The language should not just be implemented into the system; students should not just learn grammar in the classroom. They have to speak, read and write in their everyday lives," he told theSun, adding that this needs much time and effort to bear fruits.
He also reiterated that this would not diminish the use of Bahasa Malaysia but it would further enhance the English language.
"This is just a means to an end, it should not be politicised. We don't want to fall short in the world when it comes to our quality of English while at the same time we don't want to diminish the Malay language," he said.
He said that students will be bilingual and will not be scared to speak more than one language fluently.
"We have become insular and our students are finding it hard to compete when they continue their tertiary education, especially overseas," added Peter.
He said that students these days are divided because they do not have a common language they can all relate to.
"What we see happening nowadays is that the Chinese students mingle with each other only and so is the same with Indians and the Malays, this is because they speak different languages and this forms segregation," he said.
He added that a common language would bode well in fostering bonds between students and even the society.
"It is not like in those days when we all spoke English and we could go to all cross-sections of society to communicate, this fostered bonds for us with other races as well," said Peter.
He also said that it will take a holistic effort from ministers, teachers and other parties to increase the quality of the English language in the country.