----- Original Message -----
From: Daniel Ashkenazy - ydaleph@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: English Education a non-modular proposal
Colleagues and friends,
Laurie's message regarding "teaching English not Bagrut" has prompted me to
write this verbose expose on the state of English language instruction in
Israel. Our English language instruction in this country fails to make the
grade. Modular Bagrut practice papers have replaced the noble benchmarks of
the curriculum. All students are suffering.
Weak students bear the brunt of the failure because they forget that English
is a language to be enjoyed, spoken and understood. They become obsessed
with passing the 3 point (modules A, B, C) or 4 point (C, D, E). The
majority of our high school graduates never reach near proficiency in the
English language. Our native speakers feel the English program is a waste of
time because they know the 5-point (E, F, G) is not based on literature or
in any way a challenge for them. Most of my English speakers can write the
5-point Bagrut in grade 10 without difficulty.
This brings me to my next major point. The majority of Jews outside Israel
speak English as their first language and each day more and more of them are
coming on Aliyah through such wonderful programs as Nefesh B'Nefesh. Their
Hebrew is not perfect but most work hard to reach proficiency. We need
provide them along with other English speakers an authentic English language
program similar to the programs they received in their birth country. We
have a unique opportunity to make this program much richer because we can
draw upon literature of all English speaking countries without infringing
upon cultural taboos or national requirements. Finally a Bagrut should be
written which reflects the standard and achievement of these students. Some
of you (including Judy Steiner) might argue that we are not an English
speaking country and cannot provide a separate program for native speakers.
I disagree, as nothing could be further from the truth. Most countries have
enrichment classes for their English students. In Canada we had such a
program for Hebrew speakers as well.
Our Ministry of Education must find the money to create such programs if we
are going to attract and retain the brightest and best youth from English
speaking countries. Our students need to achieve all the benchmarks in our
stated curriculum and not just passing the grade so they can "get rid of
English" and forget how to understand written texts. The English language is
crucial to our participation in the global community. When we fail to
provide our students with the tools to effectively communicate in that
language we fail as educators and as a country.
In the final analysis there is no excuse for students to feel cheated by the
education system. We need to provide quality English education for the weak
as well as the strong without sacrificing the future of our children for the
sake of making the grade or maintaining artificial standards. The Modular
Bagrut system fails all students especially those who are 4 or 5-point
students. I am sure most of you would agree the module Bagrut is great for
mathematics but does not meet the standards of language instruction!
Thank you,
Daniel Ashkenazy
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