THE NATIVE SPEAKER PROGRAMME IN MALAYSIA: BOON OR BANE?

Abstract

Malaysia acknowledges English as a global language when the government brought in native English speakers (NESs) to help local English teachers teach in primary schools through a programme called English Native Speaker Mentoring Programme (Program PenuturJati Bahasa Inggeris). Since a number of Malaysians have voiced their doubt of such a measure (MELTA, 2010), this qualitative research evaluated the role of NESs in the programme through the perspectives of three levels of implementers namely the Native English Speakers (NESs), Non-native English Speakers (NNESs) and District Officers using semi-structured interview method. The results of the study provided encouraging evidence to show that the respondents generally perceived the role of the NESs in multiple dimensions, depending on how one values NESs’ contribution throughout the programme. The findings suggested the role of the native English speaker served as reflection of how much Malaysian teachers need training in professional teaching. However, despite the commitment shown by the NESs, the issue of poor execution of programme by MoE as well as the resistance of the local teachers arisen, much to portray the ugly truth of such high-invested programme. Strategies on how to improve the role of NESs are also discussed to demonstrate how to maximise their expertise to create a dynamic collaboration and gradually improve the local teachers’ skills and quality of teaching.