English<\/p>\n
I couldn't help being overwhelmed with grief on reading the
\narticle by Prof. Andi Hakim Nasution of the Bogor Institute of
\nAgriculture on the problem of mastering English in the
\nuniversities, published in Kompas on Dec. 18, 1996. The reason
\nfor my apprehension was that the article unmistakably revealed
\nthat no satisfactory improvement has yet been achieved, generally
\nspeaking, in the matter of mastering English by university
\nstudents.<\/p>\n
Although in a different branch of education, I introduced a
\nTechnical Law-English course in the fourth grade of the
\nInternational Law department at the law faculty of Padjadjaran
\nUniversity, Bandung in 1964. My proposal to install the course in
\nthe curriculum was accepted by the then deputy dean, Paul
\nMudikdo, who is now teaching in Utrecht University in Holland. At
\nthe same time, the course was also adopted by the Constitutional
\nLaw department, under the chairmanship of (now Prof. Dr.) Sri
\nSumantri.<\/p>\n
The motivation behind my proposal was the vision that law
\nstudents in the future, if good fortune allows them the
\nopportunity as officials, would then be able to give speeches and
\nconverse in English at international conferences.<\/p>\n
Now, after three decades have passed, it appears that the
\nteaching and study of English in the universities, as witnessed
\nby Prof. Nasution's writing, is still a problem. I wonder what
\nthe leadership of the faculties responsible have to offer in
\nterms of a response and explanation of the problem raised by
\nProf. Nasution in his article.<\/p>\n
The TOEFL scores brought up in the analysis should be seen as
\nserving only as a yardstick to indicate a particular degree of
\nproficiency in the pursuit of a higher stage of academic
\nlearning. But it must be borne in mind that the dire need for
\ninternational communication in business, tourism, cultural and
\ndiplomatic societies nowadays is more than just complacency, or
\nperhaps indulgence in pride, resulting from the possession of
\nTOEFL certificates.<\/p>\n
By way of conference, just listen to the superb discussion in
\nEnglish for a half hour by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas
\non the question of East Timor on the prestigious question and
\nanswer program hosted by Riz Khan on CNN at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 20,
\n1996. Questions that sounded critical and rather cynical poured
\nin by phone from Israel, Sweden, Switzerland and Portugal.
\nAdmirably, Alatas answered and explained tactfully and eloquently
\nin flawless English.<\/p>\n
While listening, I felt a hope creeping up within myself that
\nthe younger generation would be able to follow suit in the
\nproficiency of English discussions like the one demonstrated by
\nAlatas, who was in New York, on CNN.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, we should look at the examples of proficiency in
\nEnglish teaching and learning at elementary schools in Malaysia
\nand the Philippines as if we want to make improvements. It is
\nnecessary in mastering English to visualize a change of status
\nand development of the country in the international economic and
\ncultural fields in the 21st century.<\/p>\n
Our youngsters must not be left too far behind from their
\nMalaysian and Filipino brethren in the matter of English skills.
\nIn view of this ideal, we must start learning English in the
\nelementary schools, like the elder generation learned Dutch
\nduring the colonial period. As a foreign language, Dutch is
\nsurely far more difficult than English.<\/p>\n
SAM SUHAEDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/english-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }