Many clever students need loads of easy English input, not hard science and math. Plenty of research internationally shows that hard content subjects taught in English are NOT the best avenue for most pupils, and can even be counter-productive – best to learn these in your first home language. That ensures best cognitive development.
Too many learners here are being pushed too quickly up the “Everest” of complex academic English without really mastering the most common 1,500 words and the basic structures of English “plain talk”. Malaysians learning English, especially outside the largest urban areas, need to have loads more easy “comprehensible input” – mainly through lots and lots of voluntary lighter reading and extensive listening for fun, largely outside the classroom. This can also improve writing and speaking. There’s a lot of research to support this (see www.ijflt.com ).
“Easy” means you already know about 98% of all the words you’re reading or listening to.
One great resource for all learners is Voice of America Special English, on shortwave and now online (www.voaspecialenglish.com ), cost-free. Every day, there is 10 minutes of world news, Continue Reading →