SERDANG, May 22 – A group of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) researchers succeeded in developing a Malay Language Enlightenment Programme aimed at providing exposure specifically related to the teaching and mastery of Malay grammar to BM-subject teachers.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vijayaletchumy Subramaniam who led the group, said the programme was aimed to enhance the knowledge of basic grammar of the Malay language among teachers.

Thus, the first step “Program Murid Cendekia Bahasa Kebangsaan” was introduced to monitor the level of mastery and excellence of students in BM. As a result of the programme, it was discovered that grammatical knowledge among the students was at a minimal level and their performances were not up to mark.

Dr. Vijayaletchumy from the Department of Bahasa Melayu, Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, UPM, added that the same knowledge was tested on some teachers to assess their level of proficiency, and the results revealed that the level of their grammatical knowledge was also at a minimal level.

Aided by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Che Ibrahim Salleh, Sivaneswary Sivaratanam and Thiviyah Manicam, he said through the programme, teachers could use, deploy and teach BM in various techniques to students, in a more efficient manner and with more confidence.

The programme featured several key slots, including pre-tests, post-tests, knowledge slot and innovative teaching. Each programme included some language enhancement slots, including mastery of the Malay grammar, morphology and syntax.

He also said the programme was meant for teachers and students of both secondary and primary schools in all over the country but it could also be introduced in foreign countries such as Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei which made it compulsory for BM to be in their education system.

He added the programme had benefitted all Malaysians as those who sit for Sijil Peperiksaan Malaysia (SPM) must pass the BM subject before they could pursue their tertiary education in other sectors such as academic and skill training.

“With this programme, learning of BM could be further improved,” he said. – UPM.

Date of Input: 05/06/2017 | Updated: 05/06/2017 | ctsakinah