Proficiency Standards of Melaka Non-Optionist in-Service Teachers

Abstract

In the state of Melaka in 2011, 90 non-optionist primary school teachers underwent the proficiency course under the new policy of “Strengthening the English Language” (MBI) which is run for 12 days by the teacher trainers with the help of master trainers from schools. This research intends to look into the proficiency levels (OPT test scores) of non-optionist teachers in the state of Melaka from Melaka Tengah and sub-urban districts, namely Jasin and Alor Gajah and their pedagogy standards in terms of the first dimension, proficiency. It will also see teachers’ self-assessed levels as related to knowledge of the language, teachers’ self-assessed levels regarding competencies in the use of the language as well as teachers’ self-assessed levels when it comes to modeling for language learners and the findings indicate only the first research question, regarding the differences between the non-optionist teachers’ OPT test scores and their self-assessed pedagogy standards for proficiency were found to be significant. All the other three research questions are discussed descriptively. These findings indicate that after several months of undergoing the MBI Proficiency course, teachers seem to have a lower level of proficiency. It may be due to the constant pressure with the growing demands of teaching in a primary school as well as a heavy workload, thus not enabling them to constantly upgrade their own levels of proficiency in terms of fluency as well as accuracy. Further implications of the research findings are discussed in the paper.

Keywords: Proficiency; Teachers’ Professional Development; Pedagogy Standards for English Language Teaching