“The end justifies the means”
This paper seeks to demonstrate how the format of the current UPSR (Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah) examination influences the style of teaching of English in Primary Schools from Year 1 to 6. “Teachers teach for the test” is a common expression used to justify approaches to language teaching, and a...
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| Format: | Book Section |
| Language: | English |
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Faculty of Communication and Modern Languages, Universiti Utara Malaysia
2007
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| Online Access: | https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/3219/1/Mic2.pdf |
| _version_ | 1825740106975150080 |
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| author | Hughes, Michael J |
| author_facet | Hughes, Michael J |
| author_sort | Hughes, Michael J |
| collection | UUM |
| description | This paper seeks to demonstrate how the format of the current UPSR (Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah) examination influences the style of teaching of English in Primary Schools from Year 1 to 6. “Teachers teach for the test” is a common expression used to justify approaches to language teaching, and as the ‘test’ has only reading and writing components, oral and listening skills are given scant recognition for any contribution in preparing for the
‘test’. It is not the place of this paper to suggest wholesale changes to the UPSR examination, but that the preparation for this final test can be made more efficient by developing the students’ skills of listening and speaking as a foundation and efficient springboard to prepare them for the reading and writing elements of the test. This paper details changes in the assessment system for primary level one only, as the final three years of the child’s teaching can be dedicated to the intense preparation for success in the examination. This preparation
will be much easier and more efficient because the children will be able to build on a foundation of communicative skills, prior to embarking on the more academic skills needed for the examination. This will serve the pupils in two ways, by allowing them to be more communicative with their language skills and give them a good foundation for the grammar, reading and written exercises which are the sole features of the UPSR examination. I will also give practical examples of level 1 Primary Schools examinations which can be more communicative and still be faithful to long term UPSR preparation. Versions of this scheme are already being carried out in Kelantan and a report on this will also be presented. |
| first_indexed | 2024-07-04T05:21:19Z |
| format | Book Section |
| id | uum-3219 |
| institution | Universiti Utara Malaysia |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-07-04T05:21:19Z |
| publishDate | 2007 |
| publisher | Faculty of Communication and Modern Languages, Universiti Utara Malaysia |
| record_format | eprints |
| spelling | uum-32192011-05-29T08:50:08Z https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/3219/ “The end justifies the means” Hughes, Michael J LB1603 Secondary Education. High schools PE English This paper seeks to demonstrate how the format of the current UPSR (Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah) examination influences the style of teaching of English in Primary Schools from Year 1 to 6. “Teachers teach for the test” is a common expression used to justify approaches to language teaching, and as the ‘test’ has only reading and writing components, oral and listening skills are given scant recognition for any contribution in preparing for the ‘test’. It is not the place of this paper to suggest wholesale changes to the UPSR examination, but that the preparation for this final test can be made more efficient by developing the students’ skills of listening and speaking as a foundation and efficient springboard to prepare them for the reading and writing elements of the test. This paper details changes in the assessment system for primary level one only, as the final three years of the child’s teaching can be dedicated to the intense preparation for success in the examination. This preparation will be much easier and more efficient because the children will be able to build on a foundation of communicative skills, prior to embarking on the more academic skills needed for the examination. This will serve the pupils in two ways, by allowing them to be more communicative with their language skills and give them a good foundation for the grammar, reading and written exercises which are the sole features of the UPSR examination. I will also give practical examples of level 1 Primary Schools examinations which can be more communicative and still be faithful to long term UPSR preparation. Versions of this scheme are already being carried out in Kelantan and a report on this will also be presented. Faculty of Communication and Modern Languages, Universiti Utara Malaysia 2007 Book Section PeerReviewed application/pdf en https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/3219/1/Mic2.pdf Hughes, Michael J (2007) “The end justifies the means”. In: The Second Biennial International Conference on Teaching and Learning of English in Asia : Exploring New Frontiers (TELiA2), 14-16 June 2007, Holiday Villa Beach & Spa Resort, Langkawi. Faculty of Communication and Modern Languages, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok, pp. 1-11. ISBN 978-983-42061-2-3 http://staf.uum.edu.my/tleia2/ |
| spellingShingle | LB1603 Secondary Education. High schools PE English Hughes, Michael J “The end justifies the means” |
| title | “The end justifies the means” |
| title_full | “The end justifies the means” |
| title_fullStr | “The end justifies the means” |
| title_full_unstemmed | “The end justifies the means” |
| title_short | “The end justifies the means” |
| title_sort | the end justifies the means |
| topic | LB1603 Secondary Education. High schools PE English |
| url | https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/3219/1/Mic2.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hughesmichaelj theendjustifiesthemeans |