I haven't been up here, renewing this blog for quite some time. Things come up, travelling, working, moving house and the start of a whole new semester is making me a bit dizzy... Today, at this time I decided to just talk about something that every Chinese SPM student in Malaysia are talking about and the dilemma they are facing right at this moment. I can type in Chinese and it is really better for me to do so but I want the nation to know (even for those who does not know Chinese, parents in particular) the importance of Chinese language.
I came across this online newspaper title on FB and I acknowledged the dilemma and hardship that SPM Chinese students are going through , especially those who are planning to take Chinese as one of the subjects. I gone through that, that is why I totally understand how one feels when it comes to this issue.
Malaysia, just like a lot of places in the world are having a merit based education system. Everyone is always asking, "How many A's you got for PMR/SPM?" ; "Which school are you graduated from?" ; "How is your result in school?" and so on. This education system is putting pressure on students in this nation to get a certificate and a result slip which shows "straight A's". It is encouraging in a way as student would work very hard to score for a better result, but at the same time it is discouraging as students, though scoring "straight A's" would be incompetent besides studying.
As for Chinese, it is undeniably one of the hardest subject in SPM. In fact, it is THE killing subject for those who want to score straight A's or to pass all subjects. Paper are getting tougher and tougher each and every year and many Chinese students dump Chinese because it would affect the overall result. What makes things worse is the attitude of parents who look so much into results and encourage their kids to dump this subject just for the sake of getting straight A's.
I was a 2010 SPM leaver and I was contented with my result. Before I start, let me just bring you on a tour of Chinese in my life. I was born in a family whereby my dad is a so-called "banana" and he doesn't speak a word of Chinese. My mom, though a Chinese educated person used to talk to my brother and I in English. 4 years later, I was admitted into a kindergarten where I started to learn Chinese. As a matter of fact, I did not do well for my Chinese and neither did my brother. When I was 6, my dad decided got me registered into a quite prestigious SK(at least it was in my hometown). My mom, she re-registered my name in a SJK(C) after knowing it and insisted us studying Chinese till SPM.
Seriously, I did really bad for my Chinese even up till UPSR. I was so lucky to get a pretty grades for my UPSR and went into the one and only Chinese government high school (SMJK) in my hometown. I started picking up the hobby of reading and writing novels when I was in high school to improve my Chinese. It was a big leap when we need to start learning old Chinese languages and it was a bigger struggle when I went to Form 4 where we need to translate old Chinese into modern Chinese language.
My brother was facing the same problem and the idea of dumping Chinese always crossed our mind as we know that we need to get a good result to "survive". At that time, my mom insisted us on taking Chinese and my dad who doesn't read and write(though learned to speak after years of listening to our conversation) encouraged us to not give up on Chinese. In the end, I took up tuition, handed in articles, wrote novels, blogging, read more Chinese novels and finally I made it.
My brother was facing the same problem and the idea of dumping Chinese always crossed our mind as we know that we need to get a good result to "survive". At that time, my mom insisted us on taking Chinese and my dad who doesn't read and write(though learned to speak after years of listening to our conversation) encouraged us to not give up on Chinese. In the end, I took up tuition, handed in articles, wrote novels, blogging, read more Chinese novels and finally I made it.
I got 9As out of 10 subject in my SPM and the only B+ is not Chinese. In fact, I got an A- for my Chinese.
Students and parents nowadays never find a way out, everyone just wants to get the easy way out and dump Chinese for SPM. Yes, one might say that it doesn't affect much by dumping Chinese but it doesn't affect much either picking up Chinese as one of the subject.
Malays, Indians, Europeans, Americans and so many other races in the world now are learning Chinese. I have friends who are 100% English- educated begging us(those who know Chinese) to teach them how to speak, read and write.
Malays, Indians, Europeans, Americans and so many other races in the world now are learning Chinese. I have friends who are 100% English- educated begging us(those who know Chinese) to teach them how to speak, read and write.
From the global economy point of view, China is developing rapidly and it might one day monopolize the whole economy. Though English is THE language in communicating, don't you think having one more language in hand is in a more advantage position?
Sorry to say but I was never proud to say that I scored for my English in SPM because I think English is the very basic and we are bound to do well for it. As for Chinese, I am proud up till today that I have one more language in hand. It may had affect my overall grades for SPM but I never regretted for taking up Chinese. I'm glad that both my parents insisted me in learning Chinese.
Chinese, just as other language is not a formula or something dead. It represents a culture and a developing mindset of the people. The history of Chinese is dated back almost 4000 years, and it had evolve in such a way to be more reader-friendly. If you look into the language and get your passion out of it, you will see find a whole new universe in it. Chinese is not about memorizing all the points and vomit it out in exam to score an A, it is about the understanding, the appreciation, the application to go around the whole language and to make it look pretty. Just because our education system is as such where people looks at your result, by scoring a B for Chinese does not ruin the certificate. It may not be essential for college or universities application, one who take Chinese would definitely stands a better chance of getting a job in the future.
Unlike other subjects, Chinese is THE subject where most Chinese students fear of. Same goes to parents when they dreamed of their genius scoring brilliant results for SPM but with a flawed B in Chinese. Think of the good side, scoring a B gives you a better chance of getting a job in the future; getting an A tells people how strong your kids are in facing the toughest subject and still breakthrough.
So for those SPM candidates who are still in a dilemma, my advice is GO FOR IT! Do not be afraid of not scoring well, learn to love the subject and do not neglect it just because it is assumed to be not as important as other core subjects. Do not leave it aside just because it is hard and "people say it's hard to score". Try you best and face it. DON'T BE A CHICKEN!! You'll not regret it.
Disclaimer: The above blog post is only of personal point of view, it has nothing to do with anyone besides my self. Totally based on self-opinions and experience as a SPM leaver who did well(I do not know if A- is considered well for you) in Chinese language.
