Pro and Contra the Removal of English at Elementary School Curriculum

Nowadays, the removal of English for Elementary School student becomes a hot topic in most of discussion. Government's decision in curriculum 2013 affirm about all of the Elementary students are not required to use English. Many people agree and disagree with this decision and they also show their arguments. This essay will tell about pro and contra the removal of English at Elementary School Curriculum.

Many participles that agree this decision, give supports to government that it is better to the elementary students do not learn English because they still have not been able to master the basic languages which are tongue language and Indonesia language. An expert of linguist, CW Bill Watson said in his blog,  “Do not start teaching a foreign language until the students have mastered their own to a sufficient level of competence that the foreign language does not interfere with their mastery of their own language but in fact enhances it”.

Another argument is talking about the dangers from learning double languages in child. Scovel T (1999) said, “The dangers of double semi-lingual ism for early learners of a second language; the child does not develop full proficiency in either of two languages. And as mentioned above, it has been found that older learners of a language are more efficient learners, so they may need less time to reach the same level of proficiency as younger learners”. The Indonesia’s government has realized a dangerous and with curriculum 2013, the English is thought on Junior high school level.

In this age of globalization, people in Indonesia have lost their nationalism. Many participles said learning English from elementary school level can cause a person loveless his culture. It is emphasized by an expert of linguist, Astri Hapsari, S, S., M. TESOL. She said, “The concerns the discourse that led to the elimination of English in primary school curriculum because English is assessed to make students are focus to learn Indonesian language and impact on the sense of nationalism. If the Indonesian curriculum prepared with interesting content that also develop basic communicative skills of students (in this case not only the theory of grammar), certainly there should be no concern that students are not focus of the first language.”

 Whenever many participles agreed, some others also show their disagreement of the decision. Firstly, from Hurlock (1993), “these children are able to understand a foreign language as well as understanding of the native language in the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Therefore, the children are in primary school biologically golden age for learning English as a second language after Indonesian”. This opinion has gainsaid the Scovel’s opinion about the golden age to learn a foreign languange.

The second one from Prof. Yohanes Surya, “Students will not be trained more optimal to develop one of the eight Multiple Intelligences (Multiple Intelligence) which is Linguistic Intelligence (Language), the English Vocabulary owned the students will be very "minimalist" and the students will feel scared, awkward, nervous, less bold and could not even answer the question when there is a foreigner. It means people in Indonesia if they late to learn English can give many bad effects in their life.  

The last one, Indonesia has many tourism places that famous in many counties, such as: Bali, Jakarta, Lampung, Raja Ampat and many more. It succeeds to invite many tourists from other countries that increase Indonesia’s income. Also, in this age of globalization, everything is using English. It is very important for Indonesia. People have been forced to use a foreign language. As a result, people should learn about English from earlier. A member of DPRD in Bali, Sri Utami emphasized about it.  She said, “The English need to be taught starting in elementary level. In junior high school level, the students will be late for learned it and English is very important in an age globalization is especially in Bali is a tourism area”.

In conclusion, whenever the government has been made a decision of the removal of English in elementary school curriculum. I want to emphasize that I disagree with that decision because people in Indonesia should have master the English language as an international language. I do not want Indonesia always led behind other nations. In consequent, English should be taught as early as possible, but with note it must be an improvement to use of Indonesian and local languages.

References
http://www.natanews.com/1579/rencakan-penghapusan-bahasa-inggris,-dewan-tidak-setuju/
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/archive/indonesian-government-is-right-to-change curriculum/551844/
http://esl.fis.edu/parents/advice/myth2.htm
http://edukasi.kompasiana.com/2012/11/14/akibat-dan-dampak-jika-bahasa-inggris-dihapus-dari-kurikulum-muatan-lokal-sd-508177.html

Look Like Fathin Shidqia

“Brumm…brumm... It was my motorcycle sound. “Well, it is done! You are very clean and very good condition” I said when I was checking my motorcycle.  Hello, my name is Tina, I am 18 years old. I am a sweet girl who always cheerful and fun. Today, I have a plan to go to my friend’s birthday party -Intan- in a café. Of course I wear my best suit. Before I left, I used to check my motorcycle first that I called “White”.

“How beautiful you are, White! Ok Lady, are you ready to go? Of course you are ready”. I said. My beloved mom came to me; she gave me a suggestion before I go. I smiled to her, I kissed her smooth hand and I said, “Mom do you want a piece of birthday cake? I will bring it to you later.” My mother only smile and she said, “I want you to bring your boyfriend to me, you never introduce him.” What? That was a shocking question! Honestly, I do not have a boy friend. Make a relationship is not my priority for this time.   

I started my journey. “What a beautiful Sunday!” I yelled in my heart. I look around; it seemed many people enjoy their life. Also, I see some couples were sitting in a park. I remember my mother’s question. “Am I should open my heart again? I said in heart.. Unfortunately, I just had broken heart five month ago and I still cannot forget it yet. As a result, I thought about that all the way until I arrived. When I arrived in that cafe, I was very excited because my entire best friend could come to this party too. They were Indah, Dimas, Rafi and Intan. We were so excited because we never since we were so busy with our activities.

“Tina, you look beautiful!” Indah was excited. Dimas added “Yeah, you are beautiful as usual”. I said "Thank you guys, I miss you very much! Oh Intan, Happy Birthday honey! This is a gift to you". When we enjoyed the party, another guy came and talked with Intan. I looked him carefully. He wore blue shirt, jeans and shoes. He was a neat person I thought and he also a handsome boy. I was very curious about him, his success to steal my attention. Then, Dimas introduced him; I realized his name is Nanda. He was a student in Universitas Andalas. A strange moment was happened when he was shaking my hand and looked at me so long.

“Nanda? What is the matter?” I asked. “No, I think you like Fathin shidqia lubis the winner of X-factor Indonesia.” He said.

Wow, I was really happy whenever I have never thought about it. During the party, I talked with him. He called me Fathin. Actually, he was a very nice person; he also had very high sense of humor. I glad to talk with him. I never feel so happy before. Unfortunately, we must go because the party was over. Before I left, Nanda ran to me and he asked my phone number, so we share our phone number. At night, I was laid in my bed when Nanda sent a message “Good evening Fathin, how are you?” I surprised, jumped from bed and I replied that message. As a result; we spent all night to reply the messages.

A week after that, we were still in a good communication. One day, I went to a book store. When I picked up a book from that place, someone also picked up the same book. There are two hands in a same book. I look up to that person and it was surprised, he was Nanda. What a funny moment.

”Hay Nanda, why do not you say will be here?” I asked.

“Sorry, I do not have credit haha” he laughed.

“Are you alone here? I am here with Dimas, he is over there”. He Said.

“Yes, I am alone here” answered me. And then we talked again, I felt something that I never had before. My hearts was beat too fast and I was happy talked with him. Ooh I did not know what I feel. It felt so strange to me. That looked like my feeling to my ex-boyfriend. “that is really strange. Do I falling in love again?” I asked myself.

Next day, I ran into Dimas in a Park. He greeted me as usual. Then, he gave me a shocking question.”Ehm..Tina, I saw you and Nanda are closer now. Do you love him?”       “Huh? N…No, I am not, It…It was strange. Why do you think about that?” I said.

 “No, nothing.” said him. And then, Dimas showed a strange expression, it was looked like he hid something big from me. What happened? I thought about that all night, I was very curious.

Next day, I got the answer why Dimas showed strange expression. I saw Nanda in a park with a beautiful girl with holding hands each other. Actually, she was more beautiful than me. I realized she was Nanda girlfriend. Oh, my heart beat so fast, my body was shaking and I cried. This was my second heartbreak. Very hurt! Why Dimas did not tell me about this?

I called Dimas with my cell phone immediately, he said, “sorry Tina, I am afraid to make you hurt. I know you love Nanda, and He has same feeling with you. But, he has a girlfriend already. This is a difficult choice for him between you and his girlfriend. As a result, he should choose her girlfriend”. I closed the phone. My eyes did not stop to cry. Everybody in that park saw me, but I did not care. Then, I went home and cry louder.

Yeah, I could understand what he felt. Maybe I only too hope something that very impossible. The funny things are my story was really same with the Fatin’s song lyric “Aku Memilih Setia”. Therefore, I do not like that song anymore. From now, I will start my life and forget my feeling about him.

-The End-                   

This story is based on my true story. The inspiration comes when I was listening to the radio in my bedroom, the radio speaker played “ Aku Memilih Setia – Fathin Shidqia Lubis” song, that song told  about a girl and a boy het falling in love each other, but the girl has a boy friend already. As a result, the girl should choose to faithful with his boy friend. Although it describes my feeling, main character is different. When in that song the girl should faithful with her boyfriend, in my story the faithfully person is the boy. Honestly, the true moment is the song represents what I feel in that moment, so I make this story in narrative text assignment in writing 2.To make this story, I change the name of the main characters and I hope the reader can enjoy reading my story. 

My True Hope

Yeah, after I pass the terrible exam, I glad to say, welcome to the third semester! I aware this semester must be more difficult than the last semester. Now, I still get five primary subjects that are developed from the old ones. There are writing 2, listening 2, speaking 2, structure 2 and phonology. I feel so excited when I am thinking what will happen in this semester, especially in writing 2. Actually, I have some hopes in this subject that I want to show. In this part I will show all of my hopes in this subject. There are about the lecturers, the lesson and the mark.

My First hope is for the lecturer. Now, I have two new lecturers, they are Mr. Muhammad Ansyar and Mrs. Leni Marlina. I have never met the two lectures, but my reading ‘s lecture – Mr. Zainil- have told us little bit about Mrs. Lina ( The nickname of Mrs. Leni Marlina) that was one of the best student college in Indonesia. Meanwhile, I have searched information from the senior about Mr. Muhammad Ansyar; they said he was a very good lecturer. Honestly, I am very curious and not be patient to study with them.  I hope they will be patient to help us because we are in k1 have difference ability.

The second one is about the lesson. I realize his subject is developed from writing 1. I still do not have the syllabus yet, so I do not have any idea what will we study. However, it will be sure that is more difficult from the old one, but I sure I can do it. I will do my best this semester. In order to improve my ability, I will try hard because in my imagination I will write a book or a novel in English. It sure I must learn about writing with more specific.

The mark is the last one. Last semester, my mark in writing 1 was not too disappointed, but I still do not satisfy yet. The best way to improve it is, I should study hard and do not forget to do the assignment because the mark depends on the ability.  I also hope this semester I do not repeat my mistake in last semester. I should make my paragraph or an essay is unity, coherence and also with correct grammar.

In sum, Actually, I have some hopes in writing 2 subjects.  There are about the lecturers, the lesson and the mark. Even though I do not have any idea to learn about this subject, but I will do my best to improve my ability and get a good mark. I realize the best mark depends on the ability.

Unforgettable Experience

After I graduated from IC class, I got five primary subjects in the second semester; there are Listening 1, Writing 1, Speaking and Pronunciation, Reading 1, and Introduction To Linguistics. The most interesting one is writing 1. It was my first time for studying about writing with more specific.  During I studied writing 1, I had unforgettable experience. This essay will tell about my experience during I studied writing 1 last semester; about the lecturers, the lesson and the situation in classroom in writing one.

My lecturers in writing 1, a couple of the best lecturers, were Mr. Saunir and Mrs. Witri. They were very good lecturers. Mr. Saunir never late come to class, it sure he also forbade us to come late. When a student late, Mr. Saunir did not allow him join with his class.  It sometime happened to me. Oh, that was an embarrassed memorize! Meanwhile, Mrs. Witri is only two weeks teaching us, she should get permission for some reasons. As a result, I had a new lecturer that replaced Mrs. Witri.  He is Mr. Hafidz, my lecture in PABP class. Actually, the changes of the lecture made me little bit confused because Mr. Saunir, Mr. Hafidz and Mrs. Witri had different treatments to teach us, so I should force myself to understand the class. 

The second one was about the lesson. In writing 1, we started from to know what the paragraph is, what the component of a paragraph, unity and coherence and also the kinds of a paragraph. I realized my writing was totally wrong; it was not unity and coherence. As a result, I tried hard to improve my ability in writing. After we finished study about paragraph, we started to develop a paragraph into an essay. We studied about the component of an essay and the kinds of an essay first, before the lecturers gave us an assignment to make a good essay. I think the lesson was very fun and challenging.

The last one is the situation in the class room. We are in K-1 class had many different abilities in writing. Even thought we are different, we still excited to learn a new thing.  Also, my classmates were not stingy to answer my question when I did not understand the material. They gave me a big support and always say “you can do it Fio!” That could be an evidence when the exam day, I could pass the exam with my own ability and graduated from writing 1 subject.

 In conclusion, my experience when I studied writing 1 last semester was unforgettable experience. There are about the two best lecturers, the lessons and the situation in classroom which are very excited. In addition, I got new abilities about writing that I never knew before. That was very interesting moment that I will not forget in my life. I was enjoyed studying writing 1 last semester.