Schools ineffective in English lessons<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Most English classes at formal schools have been
\nineffective in encouraging pupils to speak the language, an
\nexpert in language teaching says.<\/p>\n
The schools' teaching puts too much emphasis on accuracy,
\nparticularly in grammar, so that pupils loose confidence to speak
\nfor fear of making mistakes, E.V. Surardjo, President of the
\nIntensive English Course, said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Also hampering the English language learning process is
\novercrowded classes at the formal schools, Surardjo said as
\nreported by Antara.<\/p>\n
\"It is difficult for a teacher to attend to individual needs
\nof students in a big class,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ideally, for an effective English lesson, a class should not
\nhave more than 20 pupils. Many schools in Indonesia still cram
\nmore than 40 pupils into each class, he noted.<\/p>\n
Education experts agreed that the level of English of
\nIndonesian high school graduates is still appalling.<\/p>\n
English is now taught from the third grade of primary school
\nup to the completion of high school -- a total to 10 years of
\nEnglish studies.<\/p>\n
Surardjo said the weaknesses of the English language learning
\nprocess at schools have given rise to the mushrooming of private
\nEnglish courses in Indonesia's major cities.<\/p>\n
\"These courses do not put as much emphasis on accuracy as they
\ndo on the students' ability to communicate,\" he said. \"Accuracy
\ncomes second. The main thing is to get the students to speak.\"<\/p>\n
Surardjo noted that if formal schools were to change their
\nmethod of teaching and, at the same time, reduce the size of
\ntheir classes to no more than 20 students, then they should be
\nable to produce graduates who can speak the language well. (emb)<\/p>",
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