Aryani Mawadah_1420302165_Argumentative Essay_Final Project

WRITING 3 FINAL PROJECT

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

Should English Subject be Removed from Elementary School Curriculum?

Curriculum 2013 has become polemic since it was stated in the last 2012. This curriculum involves government wisdom of removing English subject in elementary school. Then, the vice of education and culture minister, education sector,  Musliar Kasim explained an issue of removing English subject from Elementary School Curriculum was depended on two reasons. First, it was worried that it will burden the students. Second, it was worried that the elementary school students will not focus on learning national language, Indonesian language.

Although the government argued that English would burden the students, in my opinion I totally disagree with that because English in Elementary school is taught in interesting way to avoid burdening the students. Then, despite the government worried that English would impede the students in learning Indonesian, I think it can be justified because most of the children nowadays have been taught Indonesian by their parents since they are baby.

The anxiety that English will burden the elementary school students is the first reason why the government published removing English subject issue. They argued that English subject will cause the students think too hard because in our country the context of using English is as foreign language or EFL (English as Foreign Language). I totally disagree with it because mostly the students in Elementary school are just guided to learn simple words around them in English. Besides that, many English teachers explain English in exciting teaching method such as through singing a song related to the materials, playing games, and other exciting teaching methods. So that in my opinion, it  is not a wise decision if English would be removed. As we know, English is an international language. Most of the people in the world use English as their communicative language. So that, it is important in globalization era to give the elementary school students an experience about English because people cannot avoid interacting with people from other countries in this era. On the other hand, if English is removed from elementary school curriculum and given from junior school, it will more burden the students instead because it is a new thing for the students. So that it is too late if English is given from junior school. Therefore, it will be better if the elementary school students are recognized English as a base knowledge for facing English in the next education stage.

The second government anxiety is elementary students will not focus on learning Indonesian language. How can it happen? In elementary school curriculum, Indonesia subject is given about five to six lesson times (about 175 – 210 minutes) per week while English is just given two lesson times (70 minutes). So that how can the government state English will impede the students in learning Indonesian? Moreover, other subjects except local language are taught in Indonesian language. Besides that, nowadays parents also train their children speaking in Indonesian since they are baby. As the result, when the children enter pre-school or primary school they will learn Indonesian more easily. So that I believe Indonesian learning in Elementary school will still focus although English is also taught. So that removing English subject from Elementary School curriculum because it might impede the students in Indonesian subject is not reasonable.

As the conclusion, the government reasons to remove English from elementary school curriculum cannot be justified.  If it is truly done, it will block the elementary school students to see more about the world. Elementary school students need English to learn more about other countries for example when they are browsing on the internet. Through English, they can enrich their knowledge then. Besides that, if elementary school students are not taught English, they will find more difficulties in learning English later. When they find difficulties in learning English in the next education stage, it will burden them and it will block them to follow the world advancement. If it is let, Indonesian young generation will be left by others. By the time, it might endanger our country because Indonesian directness is on them. So that the government should rethink of removing English from elementary school curriculum.

Reference:

Aprisama, Sigit. 2014. Perlukah Menghapus Pelajaran Bahasa Inggris di Tingkat Sekolah Dasar?. Available on http://wacana.siap.web.id/2014/05/perlukah-menghapus-pelajaran-bahasa-inggris-di-tingkat-sekolah-dasar.html#.V2ZLoU_2Rdk retrieved on 19^th of June 2016 at 14.52

Hapsari, Astri.2012. Polemik Pelajaran Bahasa Inggris di Kurikulum SD. Available on http://www.sekolahdasar.net/2012/11/polemik-pelajaran-bahasa-inggris-di.html retrieved on 19^th of June 2016 at 14.55

Written by: Aryani Mawadah

NIM          : 1420302165