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10 – 12 November 2009 CoSMEd SEAMEO RECSAM PENANG

LANGUAGE AND THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF MATHEMATICS & SCIENCE Dr Leong Yong Pak Universiti Brunei Darussalam yongpak.leong@ubd.edu.bn. 10 – 12 November 2009 CoSMEd SEAMEO RECSAM PENANG. Presentation. Mathematics, science and technology in the modern world

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10 – 12 November 2009 CoSMEd SEAMEO RECSAM PENANG

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  1. LANGUAGE AND THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF MATHEMATICS & SCIENCEDr Leong Yong PakUniversiti Brunei Darussalamyongpak.leong@ubd.edu.bn 10 – 12 November 2009 CoSMEd SEAMEO RECSAM PENANG

  2. Presentation • Mathematics, science and technology in the modern world • Teaching of mathematics and science in Brunei • Government policy • Socio-political-cultural issues • Assessment issues & Language factors • Curriculum alternatives • Q&A

  3. Mathematics, science & technology • Mathematics, science and technology are key learning areas in the modern world • English in Commonwealth countries & USA • International higher education and employment opportunities and language • Use of mother tongues as bridge languages of instruction (SEAMEO Study)

  4. In Negara Brunei Darussalam • Mathematics and science were taught in English from Year 4 (Primary 4) until 2008. • Mathematics and Pelajaran Am (General Studies) were taught in Malay from Year 1 to 3. • Science and Maths are now taught in English from Year 1. • Why the switch in 2008? • Non-Govt schools? • BBC Research Project Findings?

  5. Government Policy • Malay the sole official language in Brunei • Education system is “dwibahasa” • AS and A Brunei-Cambridge GCE • Most scholarship holders study in UK • Malaysian Government policy – The Constitution • Twinning universities? 2+1; 3+0? • Importance of English, Chinese, Malay, others?

  6. The Star online: Tues 20 Oct 09 Teaching of Science and Maths in BM for Year One could begin in 2011 • The Education Ministry is looking into the possibility of implementing the teaching of Sc and Maths in Bah Malaysia for Year One students beginning from 2011, a year ahead of schedule.

  7. The Star online: Tues 20 Oct 09 • Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said on Tuesday this would depend on several factors, including the adequacy of teachers, how soon the new curriculum could be drafted and whether the text books for Sc, Maths and English would be ready by next year.

  8. The Star online: Tues 20 Oct 09 Teaching of Science and Maths in BM for Year One could begin in 2011 • Govt policy influenced by • Socio-political-cultural factors

  9. The Star online: Mon 10 Aug 2009 • An apology to parents • PERTH (Australia): Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has apologised for the actions of the Federal Territory Education Department officers who locked out 70 parents when they tried to convene an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of the school’s Parents Teachers Association (PTA) recently.

  10. The Star online: Thurs 20 Aug 09 • Ministry to act against those who switch to BM too soon. • PUTRAJAYA: Action can be taken against teachers who start teaching Mathematics and Science fully in Bahasa Malaysia from next year instead of waiting for the actual implementation in 2012. • Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said such teachers would receive warning letters as the policy on the Teaching of Mathematics and Science in English (PPSMI) was on-going.

  11. The Star online: Thurs 22 Oct 09 • 97pc of parents in 7 schools want teaching in English to continue • KUALA LUMPUR: The Parents Action Group for Education wants all national schools to be given the option to continue teaching Science and Mathematics in English.

  12. The Star online: Thurs 22 Oct 09 • Its chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said an opinion poll carried out in seven schools in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur showed that 97% of parents wanted their children’s schools exempted from the scrapping of the policy of teaching Science and Mathematics in English.

  13. The Star online: Tues 20 Oct 09 • Pressure from parents • From different socio-cultural backgrounds • For Malay and for English • Govt problem: Cannot please everyone • Some want Malay • Some want English • Some Chinese • Some Tamil • Other indigenous languages?

  14. The Star online: Fri 10 July 09 • PPSMI: 'Declining scores prompted policy reversal' (Update)

  15. The Star online: Fri 10 July 09 • KAMPAR: The command of Malaysian students in Science and Mathematics subjects have been on a steady decline forcing the Government to revert the teaching of the subjects to Bahasa Malaysia and other vernacular languages. [Meaning? Who?] • Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Trends Report showed Malaysian students’ position in Mathematics dropped to 20 from 10 while Science went down from the 20th place to 21. [Data? Who?]

  16. The Star online: Fri 10 July 09 • "Data showed that when English was not used to teach the two subjects 30 years ago, there was an increase in the number of graduates and professionals.“ [36 years ago, 1973? Eng & Malay] • "And when it was changed in 2003, our students could not cope with the change in language," he said Friday. [Data???] • Research study on content or language?

  17. Assessment & Language Factors • Assessment of content and the assessment of language • L2 students: Measuring language proficiency or content knowledge • Cambridge Int’l Exam Report: - “longer questions need to be read carefully” - in the muscle cells, respiration occurs to … • release (NOT ‘produce’) the energy that is then used for muscle contraction • Candidates score in drawing graphs, specimens and calculations

  18. Language Factors: Research Findings • Heppner, Heppner & Leong (1997) – Form 6 Chemistry & Biology students’ reading and writing abilities • 3-Year BBC Project (1998-2000): Longitudinal study of using both English and Malay in the teaching and learning of Pelajaran Am and Mathematics from Year 1 to 3 • Romaizah, Venville & Treagust (2007) - Primary pupils’ concept learning in science - Upper Pri cannot explain concepts in English - Lower & Upper Pri can explain in Malay

  19. Lang Factors: Research Findings – Lower Pri Maths • BEd Primary (3-Year Inservice) • Graduation Exercise • Lower primary maths - most pupils can do the maths - a few pupils in each class have difficulties with the English word problems - with hands-on manipulatives and appropriate activities nearly all pupils can learn in English (less demand on English)

  20. Lang Factors: Research Findings – Lower Pri Science • Primary 1 science • High ability pupils: - verbal responses correct in Eng & Malay; - can draw & write in both Eng & Malay • Average pupils: - verbal responses correct in Eng & Malay - can write in Malay; - make some spelling mistakes in English • Low-achievers: - verbal responses incorrect in Eng - make spelling mistakes in Eng & Malay

  21. Lang Factors: Research Findings – Lower Pri Science • Primary 1 science: Interventions • Individual assistance: Making connections in Malay and Eng; expanding vocab & practice - Average pupils improved their spelling in English - Low-achievers improved writing in Malay; and some verbal vocab in Eng

  22. Past curriculum alternatives • Parents in Selangor-KL want option for schools to retain PPSMI • Parents’ choice – entire school / split choice? • Entire school? Back to SRK and SK? • Within same school, like before 1974 … ? • Both Eng & Malay streams in a sec school • Special classes: for Malays to learn in English; Remove classes

  23. Future curriculum alternatives • Special classes for maths, science, physics, chemistry, biology in English? • Choice to learn sc and/or maths in Eng or Malay – special primary and sec classes? • Or extra classes/club activities in Eng for those who wish to and can to learn in English? • Or allow govt. and/or private schools to continue PPSMI so students can take international exams to enter twinning and foreign universities? • Probably all these will happen after the next general elections anyway … • In the meantime … • BUAT TIA! Improve testing of maths and science content NOT language!

  24. Finally … • Terima kasih, Sehh, Nunri, Thank you! • PRAY THAT EDUCATIONISTS CAN ADVISE POLITICAL MASTERS WISELY • PRAY THAT POLICY MAKERS CAN DECIDE WISELY… • AND THAT WE CAN ALL ACT WISELY …

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