Lack of interest hampering learning of English language

A GENERAL lack of interest in English is the main barrier to learning the language in Brunei, according to a study on vocational and technical institutions.

Students are hesitant to learn English because of perceptions and attitudes of others towards the language, said Dr Corazon Sampang in her paper "Sharing the result of a survey on teaching and learning English in Vocational Technical Education Institutions, Brunei".

"They are not confident and are afraid of making mistakes," said the information and public relations manager of Seameo Voctech, based on the findings of the survey of six local technical and vocational institutions.

"Literal translation from their mother tongue, ie Malay, is apparent when they speak or write in English," she said at the first English Language Seminar Workshop yesterday.

Dr Sampang said that it was important to use standardised material to make learning more interesting and to retain the interest of students in the language.

"Once a teacher is successful in increasing the learner's interest in English, then everything else will follow. Furthermore, exposure to the target language alone will help to acquire it," she said.

She said that the 24 teachers in the survey have the necessary educational qualifications and background, with many rating themselves excellent in listening, reading and good in speaking and writing.

The teachers also rated their students as fair in listening, reading, writing and poor in speaking, she said.

Another speaker Suciyati Hj Sulaiman, a lecturer at Universiti Brunei Darussalam's Language Centre, emphasised the importance of upholding professionalism and quality of English teachers.

In her working paper, she said that "a manual on how to be a professional teacher does not exist."

"An educator is the only one who can make the fundamental changes to increase their effectiveness in teaching, uphold their professionalism and their status of a quality teacher," she said.

Suciyati added that fundamental changes are not adequate, as the support and encouragement of progressive professional development programmes can complete the puzzle of upholding professionalism and quality of teachers.

About 40 educators attended the workshop, which aims to facilitate the knowledge and understanding in English language teaching and learning in the 21st century.

Entitled "Strengthening the Teaching and Learning of English in Vocational Technical Education Institutions and Secondary Schools in Brunei Darussalam", the seminar-workshop hopes to inspire participants to cooperate, synergise and move on with their teaching tasks in renewed vision and direction.

A collaboration between Brunei's Seameo Voctech and Singapore's Seameo Regional Language Centre, the seminar-workshop featured three speakers: Alyn Pang Khee Meng, from Singapore's Seameo Voctech Regional Language Centre, Dr Sampang and Suciyati. The Brunei Times