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Chapter 9. Pragmatics of maintaining English in Malaysia’s education system

  • Asmah Haji Omar
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English in Southeast Asia
This chapter is in the book English in Southeast Asia

Abstract

The Malaysian government’s ruling that Malaysian schools use English as the medium for teaching Science and Mathematics (henceforth TSME) starting January 2003 had engendered various reactions (the switch back to Malay took place in 2010). These reactions, supportive or otherwise, cut across the boundaries of the racial groups: Malays, Chinese and Indians. After independence, English schools became national schools, using Malay as the medium of instruction, with English as a compulsory language, even for the Chinese and Tamil schools. Malay opposition to TSME in English has a nationalistic and historical basis. Chinese opposition finds a basis in cognitive concerns while the Indians seem to be neutral for various reasons. This chapter discusses the perception of TSME in English among Malaysians in the light of national language policy and planning and the government’s intent in achieving Vision 2020.

Abstract

The Malaysian government’s ruling that Malaysian schools use English as the medium for teaching Science and Mathematics (henceforth TSME) starting January 2003 had engendered various reactions (the switch back to Malay took place in 2010). These reactions, supportive or otherwise, cut across the boundaries of the racial groups: Malays, Chinese and Indians. After independence, English schools became national schools, using Malay as the medium of instruction, with English as a compulsory language, even for the Chinese and Tamil schools. Malay opposition to TSME in English has a nationalistic and historical basis. Chinese opposition finds a basis in cognitive concerns while the Indians seem to be neutral for various reasons. This chapter discusses the perception of TSME in English among Malaysians in the light of national language policy and planning and the government’s intent in achieving Vision 2020.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. Abbreviations xi
  5. Introduction 1
  6. Chapter 1. Theoretical issues 13
  7. Part I. Features
  8. Chapter 2. Singapore English 35
  9. Chapter 3. Malaysian English 55
  10. Chapter 4. Brunei English 75
  11. Chapter 5. Philippine English 91
  12. Chapter 6. Thai English 101
  13. Chapter 7. Hong Kong English 113
  14. Part II. Policy (Historical context & language planning)
  15. Chapter 8. The development of English in Singapore 137
  16. Chapter 9. Pragmatics of maintaining English in Malaysia’s education system 155
  17. Chapter 10. Language planning in its historical context in Brunei Darussalam 175
  18. Chapter 11. Diffusion and directions 189
  19. Chapter 12. The effect of policy on English language teaching at secondary schools in Thailand 207
  20. Chapter 13. Language policy and planning in Hong Kong 221
  21. Part III. Language in use
  22. Chapter 14. English in Southeast Asian law 241
  23. Chapter 15. The view from below 267
  24. Chapter 16. Curriculum and world Englishes 289
  25. Chapter 17. English in Southeast Asian pop culture 307
  26. Chapter 18. Language use in the construction of interpersonal relationships 325
  27. Chapter 19. Transfers of politeness strategies 343
  28. Part IV. Bibliography
  29. Chapter 20. Works on English in Southeast Asia 357
  30. Author index 383
  31. Subject index 389
https://doi.org/10.1075/veaw.g42.14oma

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. Abbreviations xi
  5. Introduction 1
  6. Chapter 1. Theoretical issues 13
  7. Part I. Features
  8. Chapter 2. Singapore English 35
  9. Chapter 3. Malaysian English 55
  10. Chapter 4. Brunei English 75
  11. Chapter 5. Philippine English 91
  12. Chapter 6. Thai English 101
  13. Chapter 7. Hong Kong English 113
  14. Part II. Policy (Historical context & language planning)
  15. Chapter 8. The development of English in Singapore 137
  16. Chapter 9. Pragmatics of maintaining English in Malaysia’s education system 155
  17. Chapter 10. Language planning in its historical context in Brunei Darussalam 175
  18. Chapter 11. Diffusion and directions 189
  19. Chapter 12. The effect of policy on English language teaching at secondary schools in Thailand 207
  20. Chapter 13. Language policy and planning in Hong Kong 221
  21. Part III. Language in use
  22. Chapter 14. English in Southeast Asian law 241
  23. Chapter 15. The view from below 267
  24. Chapter 16. Curriculum and world Englishes 289
  25. Chapter 17. English in Southeast Asian pop culture 307
  26. Chapter 18. Language use in the construction of interpersonal relationships 325
  27. Chapter 19. Transfers of politeness strategies 343
  28. Part IV. Bibliography
  29. Chapter 20. Works on English in Southeast Asia 357
  30. Author index 383
  31. Subject index 389
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