Articulation of medium of instruction politics in the Malaysian Chinese press

Ng, L.L. (2012) Articulation of medium of instruction politics in the Malaysian Chinese press. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 35 (2). pp. 206-218.

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Abstract

In postcolonial multilingual societies, matters of education are deeply rooted in the discourse of ethnicity. In Malaysia, the interface between ethnicity and education is reflected in recent debates on the choice of medium of instruction (MOI). In 2002, the Malaysian government introduced English as MOI by replacing Malay, the national language, for teaching mathematics and science, at the school level. However, in 2009, the policy was reversed to Malay. This policy initiative has been actively contested in the Malaysian media. Through an analysis of news reports on the controversy published by the Malaysian Chinese newspaper, Nanyang Siang Pao, this paper aims to illustrate how a sizeable ethnic minority is able to position itself vis-à-vis a national policy. To explain the ethno-political construction of MOI debates in the newspaper, we use two concepts, namely, ‘plurality of struggles’ (Laclau, 2006a, 2006b; Laclau & Mouffe, 1985) and ‘transmission of the speech of others’ (Bakhtin, 1981). These notions are contextualized in the macro-context of a multi-ethnic polity in which Chinese society, Chinese press and Chinese education are seen to co-construct community interests.

Item Type:	Article
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Additional Information:	Dr. Ng Lee Luan obtained her PhD in Applied Linguistic from University of Otago, New Zealand. She teaches postgraduate courses related to research methodology and second language acquisition at the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics. Her current research interest includes computer assisted language learning, online learning, the use of computer assisted qualitative data analysis system in deciphering data in qualitative research. She is also a certified trainer for the software, NVivo. -------------- Dr Ng Lee Luan Department of English Language Faculty of Languages & Linguistics Building University of Malaya 50603 Kuala Lumpur MALAYSIA Tel No. : 03-7967 3164 Fax No. : 03-7957 9707
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Computer-assisted language learning; computer-mediated communication; second language acquisition; language proficiency, education and policy; ethnicity, language politics; discourse, interactional input, negotiation of meaning, second language acquisition, vocabulary retention, vocabulary acquisition. Qualitative study, computer assisted qualitative data analysis, critical thinking skills, threaded discussion board, use of videos in language teaching.
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics
Divisions:	Faculty of Languages and Linguistics
Depositing User:	Ms Saidatul Azura Radzi
Date Deposited:	16 Dec 2014 00:43
Last Modified:	16 Dec 2014 00:43
URI:	http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/9807

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