Attitude of PISMP Students in IPBA toward English
Attitude of PISMP Students in IPBA Towards English by Azizi Hj. Basar
Mohd. Naqiuddin Sumardi
Hazriq Aswad Zaini
The purpose of the study was to determine the attitude of PISMP students in IPBA with respect to English. All 35 students of the PISMP programme were selected to answer the survey questionnaire which was adapted from that of a previous study. The results of the study indicated that the PISMP students generally have moderately positive thoughts and emotions about the English language and the culture of English speaking people. 1
Introduction
IPBA is a teacher-training institute. There are about 500 students undergoing various courses such as the PISMP (Persediaan Ijazah Sarjana Muda Pendidikan) and Bachelor of Education (TESL) programme. The PISMP programme began in 2004. It was started as part of the Malaysian government’s effort to produce teachers for both the primary and secondary schools. PISMP students in IPBA are pursuing various courses such as Music
Education. Though they may not be B. Ed. (TESL) students, they are still expected to be proficient in English as the nation emphasises proficiency of the English language in her attempt to compete globally with education systems of other nations.
Statement of the Problem
Past studies (for example, Gardner and Lambert, 1959, 1972; Jayatilaka, 1982) have shown that some undergraduates lack competency in the English language because of their attitude towards English (as cited in Coulby, 1984). As the PISMP students are to be trained to be teachers in an education system that emphasises on the English language, it is important that they have the right attitude towards English. If not, then perhaps as Coulby suggested, they may continue to lack competency in the English language. There is thus a need to determine the attitude of PISMP students towards English.
Research Questions
This study hopes to answer the following questions:
1.
Do PISMP students have a
Mohd. Naqiuddin Sumardi
Hazriq Aswad Zaini
The purpose of the study was to determine the attitude of PISMP students in IPBA with respect to English. All 35 students of the PISMP programme were selected to answer the survey questionnaire which was adapted from that of a previous study. The results of the study indicated that the PISMP students generally have moderately positive thoughts and emotions about the English language and the culture of English speaking people. 1
Introduction
IPBA is a teacher-training institute. There are about 500 students undergoing various courses such as the PISMP (Persediaan Ijazah Sarjana Muda Pendidikan) and Bachelor of Education (TESL) programme. The PISMP programme began in 2004. It was started as part of the Malaysian government’s effort to produce teachers for both the primary and secondary schools. PISMP students in IPBA are pursuing various courses such as Music
Education. Though they may not be B. Ed. (TESL) students, they are still expected to be proficient in English as the nation emphasises proficiency of the English language in her attempt to compete globally with education systems of other nations.
Statement of the Problem
Past studies (for example, Gardner and Lambert, 1959, 1972; Jayatilaka, 1982) have shown that some undergraduates lack competency in the English language because of their attitude towards English (as cited in Coulby, 1984). As the PISMP students are to be trained to be teachers in an education system that emphasises on the English language, it is important that they have the right attitude towards English. If not, then perhaps as Coulby suggested, they may continue to lack competency in the English language. There is thus a need to determine the attitude of PISMP students towards English.
Research Questions
This study hopes to answer the following questions:
1.
Do PISMP students have a
References: Charanjit Singh s/o Darbara. (1998). Attitudes of undergraduates towards English in Two Faculties at the University of Malaya Gardner R.C. (1960). Motivational variables in 2nd-language acquisition. (Abstract of doctoral dissertation,Mc Gill University) Hamida Bee. (1996). Factors Influencing the performance of UUM matriculation students in learning English Jayatilaka, T.D. (1982) Motivational and attitudinal variables in the learning of English as a second language : A case study of Malaysian University students Spolsky, B. (1969). Attitudinal aspects of second language learning. Language Learning, 19, 271-283.