English in Indonesian Kindergartens: Is It Important for Children?
Written by: Fahmi Albinna Nur Laily
“Language is the foundation of civilization. It is the glue that holds a people together.”
-Ian Donnelly on Arrival (2016)
Have you ever questioned yourself why there are lots of Indonesian people who do not understand English language? The worst part is they are often make a joke about their inability to speak English, and the impact is there will be many people thinks that inability to speak English is just a normal thing, especially children. According to English First Education (EF), the number of English ability in Indonesia still low. English Proficiency Index (EPI) score of Indonesia is 52.15, the score is below Malaysia with 60.07. Besides, the average EPI score of Asia is 53.60. Various factors become the reason why most of Indonesian have no ability to speak English, even in some educated people. One of the factor, learning English in Indonesan kindergartens is still a low priority. In fact, there are still lots of Indonesian kindergartens who have not teach English, especially in some remote areas. Many people thinks that learning foreign language will broke children’s ability of Indonesian language or local language. Unfortunately it is wrong opinion. According to The Indian Express’ researches, children who have ability to speak more than one language or bilingual will learn new languages faster as an adult than children who just have ability to speak one language or monolingual. Therefore, teaching English as early as possible is the best solution.
One of the reason why you should to learn English as soon as possible is the increasing of globalization. At this time you could easily find books or article on internet that using English. If you want to be able to compete in the modern world, the ability of English is one of the ability you should have, especially if you are pursuing an academic career. Besides academic career, the ability to speak English is also useful for those who have sports career. Football fans around the world must be admitted that English Premier League (EPL) is one of the best football league in this Earth. No doubt if every single footballer in the world is dreaming to play in this league. Besides good football skills, players who play in EPL also should have an ability to speak English well. Their English inability could be a serious problem, one of phenomenal case of English inability in EPL is Deco dos Santos. The Brazilian Chelsea player was ostracized from the senior side by Chelsea’s new manager at that time, Avraam Grant because of his inability to speak English fluently. Because of that case, there are lots of foreign EPL players took an English course.
Furthermore, one of the benefit of teaching English in kindergarten age is because the brain of young children still ‘fresh’ and have not been filled with many thoughts, it will be easier for them to understand new language. It will be different if you teach new language to junior school children or older. Some studies said that it will easier to ‘brainwashing’ early childhood than to a teenagers or adults. The strategy of ‘attack from the beginning’ is used by Belgium’s government to create their golden football generation. Belgium national team’s embarrassing failure at UEFA Euro 2000 when they hosted the tournament inspired the government to make a revolution to resurrect Belgium’s football. Instead of instant way such as recruit foreign top coach, the government prefer long-term project with changing the youth football coaching curriculum. You can see the result dozen years later, Belgium’s golden generation were born and create some great players such as Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard, and Kevin de Bruyne. The Belgium’s golden generation shocked the world after beat Brazil and qualify to the 2018 FIFA World Cup semifinal.
Moreover, teaching English as a foreign language in Indonesia is different with teaching English in a country that using English as a second language such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Philippines. However, the method of teaching English in Indonesian kindergartens should be fun and friendly because the best learning could happens when they have fun. Early childhood teachers should not teach their students in formal ways and focused on their grammar. The method of formal teaching will cut down children’s interest to studying English. One of the perfect method for Indonesian kindergartens kids is dancing and sing an English song together. Learning English through songs is the perfect way for Indonesian kids to increase student’s interest and learning the language.
In the end, as an international language, English is important for every single one of us to interact with people around the world. In this era, your inability to speak English could eliminate yourself from the world competition. Indeed, it is pretty difficult to learn English in a country that using English as a foreign language. Therefore, teach English as soon as possible is great and the only one choice for us. It is time for every Indonesian kindergarterns to teach English to their students because early childhood is the best time for them to learn new things before it is too late.
Written by: Fahmi Albinna Nur Laily
“Language is the foundation of civilization. It is the glue that holds a people together.”
-Ian Donnelly on Arrival (2016)
Have you ever questioned yourself why there are lots of Indonesian people who do not understand English language? The worst part is they are often make a joke about their inability to speak English, and the impact is there will be many people thinks that inability to speak English is just a normal thing, especially children. According to English First Education (EF), the number of English ability in Indonesia still low. English Proficiency Index (EPI) score of Indonesia is 52.15, the score is below Malaysia with 60.07. Besides, the average EPI score of Asia is 53.60. Various factors become the reason why most of Indonesian have no ability to speak English, even in some educated people. One of the factor, learning English in Indonesan kindergartens is still a low priority. In fact, there are still lots of Indonesian kindergartens who have not teach English, especially in some remote areas. Many people thinks that learning foreign language will broke children’s ability of Indonesian language or local language. Unfortunately it is wrong opinion. According to The Indian Express’ researches, children who have ability to speak more than one language or bilingual will learn new languages faster as an adult than children who just have ability to speak one language or monolingual. Therefore, teaching English as early as possible is the best solution.
One of the reason why you should to learn English as soon as possible is the increasing of globalization. At this time you could easily find books or article on internet that using English. If you want to be able to compete in the modern world, the ability of English is one of the ability you should have, especially if you are pursuing an academic career. Besides academic career, the ability to speak English is also useful for those who have sports career. Football fans around the world must be admitted that English Premier League (EPL) is one of the best football league in this Earth. No doubt if every single footballer in the world is dreaming to play in this league. Besides good football skills, players who play in EPL also should have an ability to speak English well. Their English inability could be a serious problem, one of phenomenal case of English inability in EPL is Deco dos Santos. The Brazilian Chelsea player was ostracized from the senior side by Chelsea’s new manager at that time, Avraam Grant because of his inability to speak English fluently. Because of that case, there are lots of foreign EPL players took an English course.
Furthermore, one of the benefit of teaching English in kindergarten age is because the brain of young children still ‘fresh’ and have not been filled with many thoughts, it will be easier for them to understand new language. It will be different if you teach new language to junior school children or older. Some studies said that it will easier to ‘brainwashing’ early childhood than to a teenagers or adults. The strategy of ‘attack from the beginning’ is used by Belgium’s government to create their golden football generation. Belgium national team’s embarrassing failure at UEFA Euro 2000 when they hosted the tournament inspired the government to make a revolution to resurrect Belgium’s football. Instead of instant way such as recruit foreign top coach, the government prefer long-term project with changing the youth football coaching curriculum. You can see the result dozen years later, Belgium’s golden generation were born and create some great players such as Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard, and Kevin de Bruyne. The Belgium’s golden generation shocked the world after beat Brazil and qualify to the 2018 FIFA World Cup semifinal.
Moreover, teaching English as a foreign language in Indonesia is different with teaching English in a country that using English as a second language such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Philippines. However, the method of teaching English in Indonesian kindergartens should be fun and friendly because the best learning could happens when they have fun. Early childhood teachers should not teach their students in formal ways and focused on their grammar. The method of formal teaching will cut down children’s interest to studying English. One of the perfect method for Indonesian kindergartens kids is dancing and sing an English song together. Learning English through songs is the perfect way for Indonesian kids to increase student’s interest and learning the language.
In the end, as an international language, English is important for every single one of us to interact with people around the world. In this era, your inability to speak English could eliminate yourself from the world competition. Indeed, it is pretty difficult to learn English in a country that using English as a foreign language. Therefore, teach English as soon as possible is great and the only one choice for us. It is time for every Indonesian kindergarterns to teach English to their students because early childhood is the best time for them to learn new things before it is too late.
Komentar
Posting Komentar