Language education for Orang Asli children in Malaysia

Literacy among Orang Asli children is found to be well below the national average. This paper explores the connection between language learning and meaning-making and its relation to the problem of language education among Orang Asli children. In so doing, the paper shows that language learning shou...

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Main Authors: Letchamanan, Hema, Abdullah, Nur Surayyah Madhubala, Fadzil, Kamal Solhaimi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 2021
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/92607/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/92607/1/23%20JSSH%28S%29-1532-2021.pdf
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author Letchamanan, Hema
Abdullah, Nur Surayyah Madhubala
Fadzil, Kamal Solhaimi
author_facet Letchamanan, Hema
Abdullah, Nur Surayyah Madhubala
Fadzil, Kamal Solhaimi
author_sort Letchamanan, Hema
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Literacy among Orang Asli children is found to be well below the national average. This paper explores the connection between language learning and meaning-making and its relation to the problem of language education among Orang Asli children. In so doing, the paper shows that language learning should be situated within their environment. This paper uses the findings from the observation made in an exploratory case study of Temuan children aged 7–12 in an Orang Asli village in Selangor and their struggles with language. Taking a critical view of the challenges faced by the children, this study surmised that a proper recognition of the Orang Asli community in language education is needed for effective meaning-making to ensure their genuine participation. The insight adds to the discussion within decolonisation of education on the importance of indigenisation of language education for Orang Asli children.
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institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
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publishDate 2021
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spelling upm-926072022-05-27T22:53:42Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/92607/ Language education for Orang Asli children in Malaysia Letchamanan, Hema Abdullah, Nur Surayyah Madhubala Fadzil, Kamal Solhaimi Literacy among Orang Asli children is found to be well below the national average. This paper explores the connection between language learning and meaning-making and its relation to the problem of language education among Orang Asli children. In so doing, the paper shows that language learning should be situated within their environment. This paper uses the findings from the observation made in an exploratory case study of Temuan children aged 7–12 in an Orang Asli village in Selangor and their struggles with language. Taking a critical view of the challenges faced by the children, this study surmised that a proper recognition of the Orang Asli community in language education is needed for effective meaning-making to ensure their genuine participation. The insight adds to the discussion within decolonisation of education on the importance of indigenisation of language education for Orang Asli children. Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 2021 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/92607/1/23%20JSSH%28S%29-1532-2021.pdf Letchamanan, Hema and Abdullah, Nur Surayyah Madhubala and Fadzil, Kamal Solhaimi (2021) Language education for Orang Asli children in Malaysia. Pertanika Journal of Social Science and Humanities, 29 (spec.3). pp. 443-458. ISSN 0128-7702; ESSN: 2231-8534 http://www.journals-jd.upm.edu.my/pjssh/browse/special-issue?article=JSSH(S)-532-2021 10.47836/pjssh.29.S3.23
spellingShingle Letchamanan, Hema
Abdullah, Nur Surayyah Madhubala
Fadzil, Kamal Solhaimi
Language education for Orang Asli children in Malaysia
title Language education for Orang Asli children in Malaysia
title_full Language education for Orang Asli children in Malaysia
title_fullStr Language education for Orang Asli children in Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Language education for Orang Asli children in Malaysia
title_short Language education for Orang Asli children in Malaysia
title_sort language education for orang asli children in malaysia
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/92607/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/92607/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/92607/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/92607/1/23%20JSSH%28S%29-1532-2021.pdf