Improve with immersive language experiences

THE presence of vernacular schools and international schools made affordable for Malaysians complements the public schools that we have.

However, conservative forces, especially among the Malays, point fingers at these two types of schools for their lack of emphasis on Bahasa Malaysia. This, according to these short-sighted people, breeds racism and creates disharmony in our society.

In the past 24 years of writing about politics and education, I have always maintained that vernacular schools and international schools are not at fault in regards to racial and religious disharmony. I have written about many aspects that I believe are the real culprits, and language has never been one of them.

What I usually emphasise is that if formal and informal education do not stress the importance of a shared history, a shared spirituality in values of acceptance, inclusiveness and compassion, then religion and race-centric history will reign supreme as the master of all social disharmony. The fact that university professors in the social sciences keep silent when politicians and community leaders or religious teachers attack other races is also an important reason for our social disharmony.

Today, I wish to address the issue of the importance of Bahasa Malaysia in international and vernacular schools. I would like to outline several important strategies that could perhaps be made mandatory by the government, or, better still, could be taken up voluntarily by these schools more effectively.

Firstly, I would like to suggest that every week, one day is chosen to be made a Bahasa Malaysia day when everyone interacts in the national language. I don’t mean changing the teaching medium – teachers who teach subjects in the English medium can still continue to do so, but once they leave the classroom, they will have to communicate in Bahasa Malaysia. This means that Bahasa Malaysia will be the communicative medium for office and administrative work outside the classroom.

Students who, say, need to go to the toilet, administrative office or teachers’ room must all ask for permission in Bahasa Malaysia. Even in the canteen or cafeteria, for one day a week, everyone must speak in Bahasa Malaysia. Any child or teacher who disobeys must be reprimanded. This must be taught as a regime, and not a democracy.

Secondly, the role of parents is imperatively critical. We are now facing a situation in which most parents are isolated in their own Malay and non-Malay social enclaves. This must change, but it will, of course, take time; in the meantime, parents must do this for their children: Use Bahasa Malaysia at home on the same day their children have to use it at school.

No, I’m not saying don’t use your mother tongue, of course. But parents can try to use BM for simple things like assigning chores. Simple phrases like “Tolong basuh pinggan kamu”, “Apa kamu mahu makan hari ini?”, etc, can be repeated to the point that the children become accustomed to hearing the language and their tongue becomes used to the pronunciation.

Parents must report such activities to schools at parent-teacher meetings where the conversation must also be in Bahasa Malaysia.

Parents must also encourage their children to watch Malay films of worth as well as listen to Malay songs that are good and with easy-to-pronounce words.

Thirdly, drama classes in international schools should also endeavour to produce plays in Bahasa Malaysia. It does not matter whether the plays are culturally themed Malay or not, but the language must be in Bahasa Malaysia. The vernacular schools must also have one class in storytelling in Bahasa Malaysia about important figures in history, whether real or legendary. Telling stories is a key to the appreciation of language.

The Education Ministry can offer many, many prizes for writing simple and complex essays in Bahasa Malaysia on many topics so that it becomes a competition that is culturalised rather than just as an exercise. A separate competition for vernacular and international schools is best so that these schools do not have to compete with public schools.

Fourthly, holiday camp programmes 100% in Bahasa Malaysia can be run by the schools, sponsored by the government, with exciting activities (and strict safety features, please!). Two weeks at a camp speaking Bahasa Malaysia every year will go a long way in creating an interest and effective pedagogy. Day camps can also be initiated during short breaks for an immersive Bahasa Malaysia experience.

We need to be serious about the future of Bahasa Malaysia not only in our children’s lives but also in all of our lives. We should not blame politicians or individuals who accuse us of racism if we ourselves do not change the way we look at our nation and honour the culture and language of the Malays. Don’t blame others for disharmony when the fault lies also very much with us.

There is a Malay saying which is relevant in this matter, I think: “Masuk kandang kambing mengembik, masuk kandang lembu menguak” (Enter the goat’s pen, bleat like a goat; enter the cowshed, moo like a cow – basically, when in Rome, do as the Romans do).

Prof Dr Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi is Professor of Architecture at the Tan Sri Omar Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Studies at UCSI University.

The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.