English for Science and Math...anyone??? hello...

After long years of colonization by the British, short occupation by the Japanese and later by the British again, Malaysia (formerly known as Malaya and The Malay Peninsular back then) had suffered much in searching for her own true identity. The Brits had left us with nothing (all the worthy commodities were sucked out from the country) but only one useful asset, which is the ability to communicate in English. My grandfather, being a former British Army stationed in Singapore, could speak and write in good English. He is definitely among thousands of other British-educated citizens who are currently in their golden period of age. If you did not believe me, try ask your grandparents. In the 1950's and the 1960's, even the uneducated population could speak good English.

Then, came the time where politicians (mostly British-educated) whose in the name of independence pioneered Nationalism, which in time declare the Bahasa Melayu as our national language. Time flies by and the millenium brings along a new age where undisputedly, English is the current lingua franca. Tun Mahathir, being a progressive leader differ from the previous, then introduce the English for Science and Mathematics Policy (PPSMI), with aims to foster greater understanding towards the language of science and technology and prepare our new generation to compete in the borderless world. What he might not see at that time is that, if the teaching of the English language itself is not efficient (some teachers still teach English by using Bahasa Melayu), how could Malaysian students master Science and Mathematics in English?? And the recognizable effects from all these is that most of Malaysian nowadays, can't even speak properly in both; either Bahasa Melayu or English. Some experts in education even say that by letting a student to master the English language (without having to be specifically associated with Science and Mathematics) is enough to make the student understand any kind of knowledge and information; mostly available in English nowadays.

I believe that the fact that many Malaysian aren't happy with the implementation of the English for Science and Mathematics policy is mostly due to our refusal to embrace the language and would rather stick to our own comfort zone. If no suppressions were received by the Malays during the series of invasion by foreign powers (the Portuguese, the Dutch, the British, the Japanese), Malaysia could possibly still remain as only some clusters of fishing settlements administered by extremely wealthy feudals or landlords. Malaysians especially the Malays really just love to stay in their own comfort zone.

A move to revoke this policy by responding to pressures by certain quarters would just be another episode of flip-flopping. If we end up changing our education system every 5 years or so, we don't even give it a chance to bear fruits. None of us now could say that this PPSMI is a bad thing, because the current batch of students are still undergoing changes. The result could only be seen when they graduated from the university and enter the job market 10 years from now.

I foresee this implementation of PPSMI as a fair ground for all Malaysian. The Malays, the Chinese and the Indians, each will face their own difficulties to adapt in these time of changes. The policymakers should ensure that this policy will make way toward success. We could not turn back time to make a new beginning, but we could always determine a better ending. And now, the decision is in our hands, the time when you have to ask "Excuse me Sir, what should i do with this?..how am i going to deal with that?..." to the pointed-nose white men sitting behind a large oak desk had long gone...wake up Malaysians!!!Its time to write our own history...

Up and rolling...

Life could be so adventurous abroad. It could help you define doors for mental stimulation, gaining life-defining experiences and giving chances for you to acquire new languages, new skills and new ways of doing things.

Unfortunately, not all things abroad are as sweet as you normally hear. Stress, alienation, culture shock and frustrations over unfulfilled demands could be disastrous to your personal life. It is true that there are those little problems that do not amount much in the long run such as confusion at the ATM, complicated forms at Ward Office and trouble to read signs at train stations and determining train routes. However, homesickness could just lead you depression, stress, grief and maybe a panic attack.

According to an article in Kansai Scene, the adaptation process involves stages with three significant ones representing a graph with the shape of a smile. The first few months to a year would be the Honeymoon Stage, where you will be experiencing euphoria. For a student of expatriate in Japan, Japanese lifestyle may likely be more interesting and inspiring than anything you have known before. You may just feel that you have finally found a perfect atmosphere to live in, your future is brighter than ever or that everything Japanese seems so wonderful for you....at first...


The Honeymoon Stage will be followed by a pendulum swing, the Rejection Stage. This is when the negative aspects of living in a foreign culture starts to kick in. Culture differences and limited language abilities hamper your communications with the locals. The lack of familiar faces, warmth smiles and recognizable dialects could just make you miss home more. If you leave the foreign country during this stage, there is a big possibility that you won't come back again. Or if you come back, this whole cycle will start all over again.

I have been through this stage and the best help is normally found at a place you are least likely to look for it. If you are in Japan, try Karaoke with crazy friends, discover new restaurants, go for a massage, hot springs or bath house or try touring all the mosques available in different regions. Try God as it was stated ""Invoke Me and ask Me for anything, I will respond to your invocation (Ghafir:60). As for me, I am very lucky as my prayers were answered, a special guest visited me in Japan during my crucial Rejection Stage. During that two weeks time, we had a very good time visiting DisneySea, Universal Studios Japan, Karaoke-ing, cycle together to have McFlurry at a 24-hour McD, have sushi near the Kamo Gawa River and many more exciting moments unchartered here. In addition to that, I have a wonderful circle of friends here that are always on-the-go for various activities, either it is an adventurous road trip or just a simple barbeque and picnic on the river banks. All of this had accelerated my life from the Rejection Stage into the next comfortable one which is the Accomodation Stage.

The Accomodation Stage is when you have adapted to the new lifestyle. You will be able to see the situation realistically and accept the difficulties without exaggerating both plus points and negative points. Although this stage marks the end of the three stages, I believe that is is just the beginning of a genuine discovery and learning that are the greatest rewards of living abroad. Try living a true life abroad. With an open mind, you will find that it is not as hard as you thought. Best of luck!!!