FOCUS READING GROUP (FRG) Reflection

 Name: Manase Richard Masela 

Here are the questions for Reflection: 

1. What have you learned from this passage? (Please write in 200 words) 

       After I took several times to read this article, I have learned some important things as followed. First, English language has truly become the most problem faced by each countries of ASEAN not only five of them but some countries in Asia. Second, is about effects of teaching English as what already mentioned by this article that when second language to be taught for some primary level would be brought sensitive issues such as it can replace the national language and mother tongue of the students themselves. On the other hand, as part of ASEAN’s member, Indonesia included the largest and diverse also its populations around 220 and speaking more than seven hundred languages, otherwise Indonesia was not colonized by Britain or united stated. Those reasons convincing me regarding the English language would be easier to be understood and communicating the language by Indonesian learner. In fact, in my mother’s home village, adults even children were interacting used their mother tongue named “Waidida” they were not using Bahasa Indonesia, now comes the problem they have to dealing with learning English as an international Language and Bahasa Indonesia as a national language. Briefly I can say that this article make me realized something I have been through without knowing its difficulties. 

2. Please read some supporting articles (find it by your own) and make comparison with this article, e.g. Article related with English as an ASEAN language. (This will lead you to answer question number 3) 

3. What do you think the implication of English as an ASEAN language for Asean Education and Indonesia particularly? (Write in 300 words) 

       Still related to the passage above an article I have read entitle “English in ASEAN: Key Effects” written by Oliver S. Crocco. By comparing with previous article can be seen from its titles and contents almost the same. First, let see from similarities side, overall both article were talking about English Language that been an official language of ASEAN which is has several obstacles for the government especially to optimized English in curriculum of their education system in each countries of Asia. Such as, how the language used as well as the national language and their local language which is of course will be affected. Second, differences sides, according to the article written by Andy Kirkpatrick, he was argue that language instruction in the process of learning should be the mother tongue of each regions or even country because, it is really important and also for forming characters of cultures and attitudes to respect their multilingualism. Otherwise, in the article written by Oliver S. Crocco, he said that “the education system should pay more attention to providing exposure to various English accents and developing students’ intercultural competence in classroom to achieve this communicative goal”. As result it would be benefit for the country in facing problems in globalization era. 

       From what has been mentioned above can be assumed that those two articles are quite concern about how English is very important for the member of ASEAN because, their working system in international side thus, the language used must be an international language. In contrast, since English officially became the language instructions for ASEAN, still has caused toward multilingualism regional of Asia countries. Based on article I red also some facts I experienced in my mothers’ village, I think English as an ASEAN language for Asean Education quite help ASEAN’s member in developing their own country in introduced culture and access of information from international side. Other side, English also has been lingua franca to ASEAN’s member to argue about business such as contributions, economy and education in conference they attend. Can be said that, when they don’t have any English skill, then how they will argue their ideas. Therefore, it is important to a country for mastering English. Unfortunately, the more they mastering English, they will hardly learn their local language or mother tongue. Therefore, the system of education should be able to agree with the question. Do English should be language instruction for all subjects?. At the end I really need to say that, I strongly agree with this statement “Global but local” what I understand about this statement is even we learn English to against this globalization era we should keep thinking and acting locally. The more as Indonesians’ educator who teaching English and enable our students to communicate by using English properly without change perception about national and local language that they owned.