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