LITERATURE IN MALAYSIAN SCHOOLS

DR HUSNIAH SAHAMIDFACULTY OF EDUCATIONAL STUDIES

UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

Literature in Malaysian Secondary Schools

• History & Development - Early Reading Programmes - Literature• Texts, Exam Format

Background

Early independence: English• selection & use of texts : school1976: medium of instruction Malay to English• Use of literature through English Language

reading programmes• Literary materials for exposure to language

READING PROGRAMME

1.English Language Reading Programme (ERLP)

• 1979: Piloted - residential schools • 1983 : all secondary schools - Graded texts : learner abilities

ERLP

• Books in boxes:• primary vocabulary list• key grammar items• Target: - learners read 100 books in 3 years

READING PROGRAMME

2. Class Reader Programme (CRP)

1990:• weaknesses in ERLP• Lacked structure to improve English1993: • CRP implemented• Part of New Integrated Secondary School

Curriculum (KBSM)

CRP : Aims

• expose learners to materials written in English• motivate learners to read: reading habit• increase language proficiency through

teaching materials• can enrich & consolidate learning• generate interest in literature• Prepare for study of literature

CLRP

Incorporated:• specially written texts• abridged forms of texts• Classification levels: - Elementary - Intermediate - Advanced

CLRP• Ministry of Education (MOE)• Support for use• Preparation for Classroom

Teaching files :- Teaching notes- Exercises- Activities

NOTE : not examinable

CLRP

• Teachers lacked training• Use of literary materials• Little impact• Little/no improvement in English language

standards

LITERATURE COMPONENT

• 1999 : MOE change in policy• Teaching of literature to all secondary

students• Secondary English school syllabus

Schedule of implementation

2000• Forms 1 and 42001• Form 2 and 52002• Form 3

Weightage

• SPM language exam - 20% of total marks

• Teaching:• ONE of five English period per week

AIM: LIT COMPONENT

• Enhance students proficiency• Contribute to personal development • & character building• Broaden outlook: other cultures, world views

STUDENTS ENABLED:

• Give personal response to texts• Awareness of how language is used• reflect, draw upon moral lessons• Understand , appreciate other cultures

LITERATURE TEXTS 2011Form 1

Poems

1. The River -Valerie Bloom 2. Mr Nobody - author unknown

Short Stories 1. Flipping Fantastic -Jane Langford

Form 2:

Poems 1. I wonder - Jeannie Kirby 2. Heir Conditioning - M. Shanmughalingam

Short Stories 1. One is One and All Alone - Nicholas Fisk

Play 1. Rumpelstiltskin -Angela Lanyon

Form 3:

Poems 1. A Fighter's Line- Marzuki Ali 2. Leisure - Willian Henry Davies

Form 4:

Poems 1. In the Midst of Hardship -Latiff Mohidin (The Malay version is found in this blog)2. He Had such Quiet Eyes -Bibsy Soenharjo

Short Stories 1. QWERTYUIOP -Vivian Alcock 2. The Fruitcake Special -Frank Brennan

Play 1. Gulp and Gasp- John Townsend

Form 5:

Poems 1. Nature -H.D. Carberry

2. Are you Still Playing Your Flute -Zurinah Hassan

Form 5 Novels for 2011 Pahang,Terengganu, Johor,Sabah,Sarawak and Labuan

The Curse by Lee Su Ann Step by Wicked Step by Anne Fine

Perlis,Kelantan,Kedah, Penang and Perak schools)

LITERATURE AS AN ELECTIVE

• 1998 : MOE• Elective subject - F4 & F5• Literature in English – SPM• Texts in Cycles:• First Cycle, Second Cycle etc.

Expose Learners to

• variety of texts types, language forms, conventions of written mode

• Respond creatively & critically• Gain insight: varied experiences of life :

conflicts, crises, relationships• Relate & appreciate environment

National Philosophy

• Developing individuals• who are intellectually, spiritually and

physically enriched

SPM Literature in English

Examination FormatCandidate asked to choose :• one question from each component:• A, B, C and D

Short Stories

Section A:• 6 texts to be studied. • Only 4 short stories selected for testing each

year. • Each short story tested individually.• Candidate required to answer ONE of four

questions.

Novel

• Section B:• 3 texts to be studied. • All 3 novels will selected for testing each year. • Each novel tested individually. • Candidate required to answer ONE of three

questions.

Play/Drama

Section C:• 3 texts to be studied. • All 3 plays selected for testing each year. • Each play tested individually. • Candidate required to answer ONE of three

questions

Themes

• Section D:• 3 themes to be studied. • All 3 themes selected for testing each year. • Each theme tested individually. • Candidate required to answer ONE of three

questions.

Extra Response (s)

• Candidates allowed to answer two or more questions from each component.

• Examiner will choose highest marks the candidate has attained for ONE question.

KESUSASTERAAN DALAM BAHASA INGGERISSENARAI KARYA

BAGI PEPERIKSAAN SPM

TAHUN 2008, 2009, DAN 2010

Novel and Drama

• Novel• Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury)• Fasting, Feasting (Anita Desai)• Holes (Louis Sachar)

• Drama• Julius Caesar (William Shakespeare)• The Lion and the Jewel (Wole Soyinka)• An Inspector Calls (J.B. Priestly)

Short Story

• Naukar (Anya Sitaram)• Cinderella Girl (Vivien Alcoc)• The Landlady (Roald Dahl)• A Common Story (Kassim Ahmad)• Neighbours (Robert Raymer)• Harrison Bergeren (Kurt Vonnegut Jr. )

Poetry

Theme: Relationships• Tonight I Can Write (Pablo Neruda)• Ways of Love (Chung Yee Chong)• A Prayer for My Daughter (Yeats)• The Way Things Are (Roger McGough)• For My Old Amah (Wong Phui Nam)• How Do I Love Thee? (Elizabeth Barret Browning)

Poetry

Theme: Perceptions of Self• Birches (Robert Frost)• I Am (John Clare)• This Is A Photograph of Me (Margaret Atwood)• Waiting to Go On (Hugo Williams)• Daring Tears (Craig Romkema)• The Traveller (Muhammad hj Salleh)

Poetry

Theme: Conflicts• Dulce et Decorum Est (Wilfred Owe)• The Man He Killed (Thomas Hardy)• Death of A Rainforest (Cecil Rajendra)• The War Against Trees (Stanley Kunitz)• A Quarrel Between Day and Night (Omar Mohd

Noor)• "Crabbed age and youth cannot live together ‘’

(Shakespeare)

• END OF NOTES