SPEECH FOR MR CHAN SOO SEN , MINISTER OF STATE FOR EDUCATION AT THE CONFERENCE ON TEACHING OF MALAY LANGUAGE JOINTLY ORGANISED BY

SPEECH FOR MR CHAN SOO SEN , MINISTER OF STATE FOR EDUCATION AT THE CONFERENCE ON TEACHING OF MALAY LANGUAGE JOINTLY ORGANISED BY
MALAY LANGUAGE SUPPORT GROUP, CLUSTER EAST 3
AND MALAY LANGUAGE COUNCIL, SINGAPORE
SATURDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2004, 9.00AM
CHANGI VILLAGE HOTEL – LE MERIDIEN, NETHERAVON ROAD

Mr Yatiman Yusoff, Senior Parliamentary Secretary,
Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA), and Chairman of Malay Language Council of Singapore

Mr Jimmy Tan, Cluster Superintendent, East 3

Paper presenters

Teachers

Ladies and gentlemen

Good morning

Introduction

1. It gives me great pleasure to be with you this morning at today’s Malay Language Conference on the Teaching of Malay Language for Primary School Malay Language teachers. The conference aims to showcase innovative teaching approaches and strategies to enhance the teaching and learning of the Malay Language.

2. I applaud the initiative made by the Malay Language Support Group, East 3 Cluster, and the Malay Language Council of Singapore for organising this conference. We must continue our efforts to preserve our mother tongue. Proficiency in our mother tongue enables us to access the rich cultures and value systems that we have inherited. Thus, mother tongue language teachers play an important role in educating our young. When they help their students acquire proficiency in the language, they also help them to better appreciate the unique traditions and outlooks that make them who they are. With this appreciation, their charges will have a greater understanding of their cultural identity.

3. Our mother tongue language teachers are facing increasing challenges. More students now come from homes where English is the dominant language. At home, these students use little of the mother tongue or with limited proficiency. This changing profile is also evident among P1 cohort of Malay Language pupils where about one–quarter of them speak English at home. Hence, a substantial proportion of students who study Malay Language now do not have adequate exposure to the language at home. Given the important responsibility of providing a mother tongue education for our young, Malay Language teachers must strive to motivate their students to learn the language well. They should see how best to make the learning of Malay Language enjoyable and relevant to the students. Teaching methods must evolve to adapt to a changing social and linguistic environment. We need to find ways to relate effectively to our students, understand what interest them, and prepare meaningful lessons that also encourage them to use Malay widely in their daily interactions with their peers and family members. Innovative teaching methods in the classroom make a real difference to how well students learn. Thus, the theme of today’s conference ‘Cultivating the Spirit of Innovation’ is very apt.

4. The ability to use a language effectively will improve if students use frequently all the four language competencies – listening, speaking, reading and writing. Opportunities for students to practise the four language skills in authentic situations must be created. With the close support of all parties, teachers, school leaders, parents and the community-at-large, we can create the opportunities for them to use high quality Malay Language. Let us venture out to expand our students’ horizon, teach them to work closely with the Malay community, and nurture them to be socially responsible. Let us help them understand that every Singaporean has a role to play in enhancing the well-being of the community and the nation. This role includes the competent use of their mother tongue.

5. I strongly urge teachers, parents and community groups to join hands in the development of our students’ literary appreciation. Encourage the students to take part in language activities organised by the MAECs of their community clubs. Introduce them to Malay organisations such as the Malay Youth Literary Association or 4PM (pronounced as empat PM) and the association of Malay writers, ASAS 50 (pronounced as ASAS lima puluh) and many other Malay language organisations in their pantun, debates, forums, poetry recitation and creative writing activities. Encourage our students to contribute their creative writings to Berita Harian which features weekly contributions penned by students. One day, we may discover a Munsyi Abdullah among our students – who can tell.

6. Active participation in language activities motivates students to explore and generate ideas and communicate their thoughts. Exposure to the aesthetics and their own history, culture and traditions brings about an appreciation of the richness of their heritage. All these will get our students to think, listen, speak and write good quality Malay language continuously. The Malay language enrichment activities which they participate in will also help to promote understanding, bonding and teamwork amongst them. They will learn the ethos and values of being part of a team and develop positive traits such as perseverance, resilience and adaptability. It is only then they could internalise the meaning of the Malay slogan, “bahasa menunjukkan bangsa” (Literal meaning: language reflects the culture/race or the English equivalent, a tree is known by its fruits).

7. I would like to suggest that Malay Language teachers collaborate with the local Malay language organisations to promote a higher level of Malay Language usage among our students. This collaboration, like the one we currently have between the Malay Language Support Group, East 3 Cluster and the Malay Language Council of Singapore, will help to strengthen the spirit of community support for schools. If we re-instil the sense of bonding and a mutual sense of responsibility among schools, parents and community, we can help our students achieve their full potential in the learning of Malay language. When the collaborative efforts of East 3 Cluster Malay Language teachers and community groups bear positive outcomes, other clusters will be encouraged to do likewise, not only in enhancing the learning of the Malay Language but also our other mother tongue languages.

8. A conference of this nature aims at sparking awareness of our students’ needs and providing cross-fertilisation of ideas. I hope that you will leave this conference inspired and encouraged to continue the good work that you have started with your schools. Our students will be the ultimate beneficiaries.

9. Once again, I would like to commend the efforts of the East 3 Cluster Malay Language Teachers Organising Committee for making this conference possible. I look forward to more such conferences in future.

10.     Allow me to end my speech with a pantun,
                           Naik perahu naik kereta,
                                 Jangan dilupa basikal lama;
                           Bahasa Melayu bahasa kita,
                                      Ayuh lestarikan bersama-sama.
(Literal translation: Travelling in a boat and in a car, let us not forget our old bicycle; as Malay is our language, let us preserve it together.)

11. I wish one and all a fruitful conference. Thank you.