Issue 8: Tertiary Level Education of Tamil Language Issue 8: Tertiary Level Education of Tamil Language
Issue 8: Tertiary Level Education of Tamil Language
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Pre-Panel Discussion
1. Is doing Tamil Literature in Junior Colleges detrimental to University application?
• Many have a misconception that taking Higher Tamil is detrimental to University applications. Many parents advise their children against taking Tamil Studies as it is not in line with the mainstream courses. Parents and students alike think that if you take Tamil, you will either become a Tamil teacher, media broadcaster, news reader, radio jockey, court translator, etc. However, some argued that they got into top courses in Universities despite doing Tamil Literature in Junior Colleges.
2. What do you expect in a Tertiary level Tamil Education?
• History-related: Ancient history about Cheran, Chozhan, Pandyan, etc. could be taught. History about Tamils in Singapore could be taught as well. There should be emphasize on the diasporic movement of Singapore Indians, their achievements and the struggle they faced to bring Tamil to this level. These lessons must be made compulsory for all tertiary level students.
• Non-Examinable: The students don’ t wish to jeopardise their grades. All of us do feel this innate need to be in touch with our culture. That ' s the reason we keep going back to our songs and movies and all that. So if we could learn about our history, a good percentage will sign up.
• If there is no requirement to speak in Tamil.
• For example if you see Tamil literature, they ' re all on classics. They changed the syllabus recently to local literary texts, but it ' s still in pure Tamil. That in itself is a turn-off. So maybe we can bring in short stories in spoken Tamil.
• Lectures and lessons have to be interactive. Teacher can gather ideas from the class instead of just giving resources.
• Not enough avenues for students to learn about Tamil society issues. Tamil teachers need to start discussing world issues in Tamil.