Maths & Science in English

It's been a rage last week due to this issue - Use Bahasa Malaysia to teach Science and Maths again.

Teaching Science & Maths in Bahasa Malaysia in English was implemented 7 years ago, when I first enter Form 1. Which means that I studied Science & Maths in Bahasa Malaysia in my primary years. Although, I don't really like the idea of suddenly changing our Science & Maths into English... I had to cope up with it and as humans adapt to changes, Science & Maths in English are enjoyable now.

However, since the last 7 years, there are so many people protesting against the use of English as a medium of teaching Science & Maths. The most popular reason is that students can't keep up with with their studies. Most of them are those from rural areas. Is that because of their lack of trying to learn the language? They can take up English language and try to learn the language instead of just protesting against the use of it.

I have friends.. mainly Chinese. Their English are not that super fluent since their mother tongue is mandarin, but I've never heard them complain about the use of English in Science & Maths. Plus, some of them are more fluent in Bahasa Malaysia compared to English. In fact, some of them manage to score really high marks. They even came to ask me to teach them to improve in their English(not bragging about me here). That proves that they are willing to learn. If you all want to protest to return Bahasa Malaysia as a medium of teaching Science & Maths, then they can also say that they want Mandarin as a medium of teaching Science & Maths. But they did not, because they are pretty sure that the Government won't allow it and that Science & Maths in English is not a bad thing. As long as you have the will to learn it, you'll realise that it's not living hell.

The young generations nowadays starts their Science & Maths in English(standard 1) and slowly progress without ever learning it in Bahasa Malaysia before. Compared to us that suddenly have to switch from 6 years of learning it in Bahasa Malaysia and suddenly to English, I think they are having an easier time to cope with it. Honestly, you all just need to spare a little bit more time to learn English. Me, being a Chinese and unable to speak Mandarin.. Also only truly learnt the language when I first came to UTAR(Watch loads and loads of Taiwanese drama). Although I didn't really learn the writings. But, I'm sure that Bahasa Malaysia and English have a lot more in common compared to English and Chinese characters??? Definitely...

Undeniably, Bahasa Malaysia is the National Language of Malaysia, but it's high time to learn that English is THE International language. It truly won't hurt to learn another language instead of just sticking to one language. I hope our Yang Berhormat Dato' Seri Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein will stand strong in his principles and not waver. Because, I can be sure that IF Bahasa Malaysia is implemented as a medium in teaching Science & Maths again, the childrens will be having a far more difficult time when they enter college and university because, it is a known fact that higher studies uses English in the Science & Maths.

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"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power." --- Alan Cohen

"No person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow." --- Alice Walker