teaching aids such as linguaphone

Today's Star online reports that DPM suggests using more teaching aids such as linguaphone to help students improve their English. Pro and Con in using linguaphone. For language teachers, they are well aware of the methods (and i am using this word as an education jargon), and their plus and minus points. Personally, linguaphone has its advantages, but its main disadvantages is the cost. The govt. will have to spend thousands and millions of ringgit to place these sets into schools, and in time, they will become white elephants. Besides, one set, for how many students? Meaning, how many students can use the linguaphone set at any one time? Use the tape recorder and play the recording for the whole class????--then what is the point of having the teacher? In addition, which English will be taught via linguaphone? Who is the model? Hmmm...not for it, ultimately...

Watching a variety show...there is this young man from Taiwan who is quite impressive with his tricks. Hmmm...i guess magic is one thing that i would like to learn...but they are all expensive (to learn the tricks are expensive)....ah well...no pain, no gain...I have tried once, incorporating magic tricks into the English lesson. Quite good. especiallly the mathematical tricks.

hai...have a lot of work but mind very blank now...mind wants to relax and surf net...hai..must force it to do some work...documentation to do...read news about an aide to the Selangor exco, who fell to his death...hai...dun want to say too much...but politics sure is dirty...assuming there is foul play: suicide, murder? assuming no foul play: sleep walking, slip and fell? dunno lah....politics sure is a dirty game...I shall stick to be an academic...

The future of English in malaysian schools

The forum on the future of English in Malaysian schools gave me two insights--one, irregardless of what happens, what policies may be changed, what decisions have been made, i still hold that responsibility to be an English educator and make that difference to the people, and students who come into contact with me. Two, the forum attracted parents as well, and it was good to see this healthy state of concern among parents. I hope there will be more expressions of such concern by parents, educators, etc.