Teachers hope more students will take up ‘dying subject’

PETALING JAYA: Teachers are hoping the new English Literature syllabus will attract more students to take the “dying subject”.

“The literature paper is not an English Language paper.

“It teaches values, focuses on people and how they identify with things; whereas English Language is associated with grammar and other usages,” said SMK (L) Metho­dist English teacher V. Ramani.“Literature is about life. It allows for the personal bonding between text and student.

“You see a sense of maturity in students who are not quick to judge or point fingers.”

Ramani said the school had the biggest intake among the seven pilot schools nationwide.

“We offer it as a compulsory subject to the first two science classes.

“The boys have analytical minds, so it’s a fantastic combination when we add humanity to their learning,” she said, adding that the examination format and questions will be based on the Cambridge Internatio­nal General Certificate in Secondary Education (IGCSE) Literature (English) curriculum standards, although the choice of books will remain the same and the examiners will be local schoolteachers.

She said the Cambridge IGCSE curriculum challenges students to explore literary texts, themes and characters, and to develop their own interpretation.

SPM Literature in English is content-­based so if students read a poem and are able to interpret it, they will score marks especially if they have studied guidebooks and sample answers.

“Cambridge IGCSE Literature (English) is also content-based but is more interested in understanding the student’s perspective and how he justifies it.

“Two students can have different opinions and answers, and still get an A grade.”

While welcoming the change, she said the lack of teachers trained to teach the subject and mark the paper must be addressed.

“As it is, we don’t have enough English Literature and English Language teachers,” she said.

“We’re on the right track with the Cambridge IGCSE curriculum but we must have good teachers.”

She suggested that the exam be held in November, like the other SPM papers, as students need more time to get used to the answering techniques.

Principal Prisca Chambers said SMK St Mary was the only national school in Sarawak offering the SPM Literature in English elective subject yearly since 1992.

“For the pilot project, we have 30 students in each group, made up of a combination of arts and science students.

“We struggled with the Cambridge IGCSE curriculum the first year, as there were many new things to learn. But the girls enjoyed it.

“They have a good command of English and could appreciate the texts,” she said, adding that sitting for the paper earlier allowed the students to focus on their core science and arts subjects held later.

Both teachers, having close to 50 years of teaching English literature between them, said the number of the subject’s takers was dwindling.

“It’s a dying subject, with fewer students wanting to take it up, which in turn leads to fewer schools offering it.

“I hope the revamp will appeal to schools and students.

“Literature builds character and develops critical thinking skills. It also improves students’ English proficiency,” Chambers said.

The schools were among those selected for the Education Ministry’s pilot project, which runs from 2017 to 2020, to expose students to the Cambridge IGCSE Literature (Eng­lish) examination held last month.

Following the pilot project, the SPM Literature in English subject will see some changes in its offering in all schools nationwide, starting with Form Four students next year.

The previously two-year course will be cut short to 18 months.