`Mastery of English very important'

Last week's 2003 National Debating Championship reflected the importance of English as a foreign language for high school students. A student's like or dislike of English depends very much on the way the teacher delivers the lessons, as confirmed by several students in conversation with The Jakarta Post.

Febi, 18, is a second-year student at a state senior high school in Central Jakarta. She lives in Palmerah, West Jakarta, with her family:

I like English, but it's really difficult for me, and the lessons at school are not at all interesting.

I don't like the teacher, and the lessons are dull. Under such circumstances I've been experiencing more difficulty in understanding the materials.

I don't know, but if the way the teachers taught us were more attractive and fun-filled, perhaps it would help me a lot to like the subject more.

Worse still, I have to like the subject, regardless of my personal dislikes. I have to study hard now so as to pass the English practical test in the final exam. The new system stipulates that English, among other compulsory subjects, should be tested verbally.

If students fail this exam, it means that they will not graduate from school. This means they would have problems continuing with their studies later on.

Therefore, like it or not, I have to take extra English lessons to upgrade my English skills. Well, from now on, I have to learn to like English for the sake of my future.

Fitri Lestari, 18, is a third-grade student at private SMU Bunda Kandung, Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta. She lives on Jl. Poltangan, South Jakarta, with her family:

I like English very much, even though there is nothing special about the daily lessons. There are no private or extra-curricular English activities at my school.

But I love the way my teacher delivers the lessons. It is interesting, and I have a good rapport with the teacher.

That personal rapport has helped me a lot in learning English. If we are free from fear of the teacher, we then find it interesting to study English. Otherwise, it's hard for us to love the subject or even take in the simplest lesson.

I think it's sad that many boys in my class don't appreciate it or pay serious attention in the English class. Some even fall asleep during the lessons.

In my opinion, mastery of English is very important now, when competing for jobs in the future. I don't want to be left behind, as many other teenagers out there are now quite good at English.

Also, I have to be serious in learning English because the new system requires students to speak English well in a final, oral exam. Sometimes I practice English with my classmates and it has helped me get good grades.

Winaldo, 17, is a second-grade student of private SMU Regina Pacis, Palmerah, West Jakarta. He lives in Joglo, West Jakarta with his family:

I enjoy studying English because it's the international language. My interest in English helps me to understand better the materials in all subjects.

But the most important reason is that I want to get a good grade in that subject at school. Luckily, the teachers are very good at teaching the subject in class. They are funny, so we find it relaxing when doing exercises.

Also, I like the listening class because we have to listen to Western music. We learn about the use of the language in songs, which really helps us, because theories won't help us that much to understand the subject.

Unfortunately, I haven't had much of a chance to practice English with my classmates. I tried to do it with my close friends, but it only worked for a while. After that, I didn't practice English at school.

I think it would be better for the school to compel all students to speak English on a given day. I would certainly agree with that!

In my opinion, many youngsters now have quite good mastery of English. I wish I could practice English on a day-to-day basis, but nobody seems to appreciate the importance of the language.

-- Leo Wahyudi S