Is English difficult?

Responding to Aloysius Haryono's letter English is difficult on Jan. 15, 1997, I think one of the biggest problems for people learning English as a foreign language is the use of "to be", and to a certain extent also "to do" as an auxiliary verb.

Mr. Haryono's example: "What is the national car 'Timor' stands for?" is typical of the misuse.

Many students and also working adults, may say, "Arnold was often came here." Mr. Haryono might ask, "Is it possible?" It is. Sadly, the pattern occurs frequently. "To be" poses another problem because it is used in the passive voice. This is a common form used in Indonesian, often to avoid mentioning who the subject actually is, but we find it hard to use it correctly in English. Why?

"To be" is a permanent obstacle for us in our efforts to use English. Schools, courses with a million promises and courses on TV, are apparently unable to teach their students to use the verb correctly. Mr. Haryono may be right in his assessment that something is wrong in the education method. I see that our teachers rely heavily on translation. However, the Indonesian language does not use "to be", so where does one translate from? Inversely, the use of 'adalah' is ludicrous.

Students should learn the English language as it is, without always resorting to translation or comparison. Most students cannot practice English outside the class. They prefer not to use it because they are afraid their friends will tell them they are showing off. Moreover, they do not have exposure through extensive reading which would give them unlimited opportunity to become more familiar with English.

S. HARMONO

Jakarta