YOURSAY ‘Goreng pisang seller Azizah knows what Muhyiddin does not.’

'Even teachers nowadays can't speak English!'

David Dass: The interviews by KiniTV give an insight to English learning and English teaching in Malaysia.

An early study done by British language experts for the government concluded that Malaysians lacked motivation to learn English. It said that for Malays in the rural areas there was no environment for the use of English.

Another conclusion was that few Malays read English books. Recent studies show that extensive reading of fiction helps shape the character and personality of the individual. The experiences of the characters in the book, one’s thoughts and reactions to issues and dilemmas help the individual learn from the experience of others.

It follows one would learn more from the great works of literature like Shakespeare. The BBC had a list of a 100 books that individuals should read to equip themselves adequately for life.

A very crude survey conducted by me of young people here and in the UK showed Malaysians read about 10 percent of the 100 books and UK residents about 80 percent.

Flamescanner: Wow, frankly I'm pleasantly surprised by the comments made by the two persons interviewed for this story.

Azizah hit the nail on the head when she said “correct the teachers first” and the second interviewee, Sakun, stated that parents need to ensure that they speak English at home.  Simply amazing.

Mind you, this is from the ordinary folk and not a so-called 'eminent' group of citizens. It goes to show that the 'moderates' in the country actually cuts across the social strata of the country.

There is hope yet and this is a great way to end the work week.

Bluemountains: Indeed, goreng pisang seller Azizah knows what the education minister does not. What a joke!

When you sacrificed quantity for quality, you should not complain. Furthermore, teachers who are not proficient in English are teaching the subject to take advantage of the extra 10 percent salary for teaching critical subjects.

Wiser: The deputy PM, who is also the education minister, is puzzled why students after spending six years in primary school, another six years in secondary schools and perhaps another three years in tertiary education - a total of 15 years - cannot speak English.

For 15 years, somebody is not doing their job. The system is crap perhaps? Who should be held accountable? The students? The teachers? The headmasters? The director-general of the Ministry of Education? The policymakers?

Hmmm, who else have we missed out? Is it finger pointing time? Meanwhile, our learned students suffer.

Hafidz Baharom: When even parents know what a minister of education is baffled about, chances are the Education Blueprint was only for the consultants.

Sub: This is what I have been saying, English is taught in Malay. That means when a student read a passage, the teacher explains it in Malay.

The Analyser: "They should make the education system more stringent."

That's the catch cry of discipline obsessed parents who cannot see beyond exams. Their goal is similar to the Japanese/Korean system where education is actually teaching/learning slavery. Good for passing exams, useless at producing citizens.

If you want to produce enlightened innovators then what is needed is innovative teachers/less homework/less tuition/fewer exams. It's called education.

The Duke of Dreamland: I'm a Chinese Malaysian. During my medical undergraduate days in Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, South India, I made a short visit to London.

While I was being driven to Heathrow Airport, the white London cab driver asked me my nationality. When I proudly answered “I'm Malaysian”, he was clearly caught by surprise.

I asked him why, and he remarked that he did not expect Malaysians to speak such a high standard of English. I was on the verge of telling him that Malaysians spoke the Queen's English but decided to hold my tongue.

But I dare say I was 'proud as a peacock'! Those were the days before the advent of "ingenuous Manglish".

Chew Swee Yoke: Yes, indeed our English has suffered because of short-sighted government policies. I remember that in the 60s, our English standard was considered one of the highest in the region.

When I studied in Birmingham University in 1966-68, my English was good enough to enable me to be within the top four debaters and I was competing with English boys and girls.

The Reaper: Why am I not surprised at all? I was brought up during the GCE (General Certificate of Education) days, my kids went to Chinese school but I spoke English to them all the time to ensure their future is secured. They are now marketable young men.

Change Agent: Hello DPM, who is the education minister? If you are puzzled then you must have been in slumber land all this while.

I have spoken to these so-called English teachers, guess what, not one of them was able to communicate fluently in English. How do you expect the students to be proficient?

Cascara: I will put it bluntly - the reason for our poor English is former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad's 'Learn, speak and use English last' policy.

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