Monday, November 17, 2008

独中生为什么要念完高三考统考?

感谢吉隆坡循人中学辅导主任 郭富美老师爱心分享

在独中念书的同学,有的在高二就报考大马教育文凭考试(SPM),结果有些同学考完SPM就要离校去学院念书,不再继续念高三考统考了。
如果是这样决定的话,其实还满可惜的。因为SPM持有者,按教育部规定只能念基础课程(Foundation Programmes)、国内外的大学预科班(Matriculation)、A水平或者中六STPM,不能直接念大学一年级的学士课程。而如果有统考证书(UEC),只要中等成绩,大概是五科B,就能直接念大学了。高三课程等于先修班/基础班课程在独中念书,其实最终目标应是一纸UEC证书。如果只想念到高二考取SPM的话,为何当初不干脆念国中就好?


独中生升学管道多

UEC证书对你的升学比较有利。除了马来西亚的国立大学不能申请外,全世界的大学任你去。如果你仍然坚持要念本地大学的话,其实也没问题,继续念中六就是了。只是本地国立大学的门槛实在太窄,就算是非常优秀的国中生也很难挤进去。近年来,竞争者除了中六STPM生,还加上大学预科班(Matrikulasi)的学生,使得本地国立大学的门槛更是窄上加窄。

UEC通行全球大学,SPM还需念预科或中六!
如果你还是想念本地国立大学的话,不如像许多独中生一般,先在国外拿学士学位,再回到马来西亚申请修读硕士课程,机会更高。以我自己为例,我在独中毕业后,就以UEC到台湾完成我的心理学学士学位,回到马来西亚后,工作了七年再申请念马大的辅导硕士班,四年后顺利毕业。所以我会鼓励你,如果你想继续留在国内升学,不如就直接进入本地的私立大学与学院。他们都非常欢迎独中生,因为华校生的学习态度,还是比较认真和积极的。

UEC证书大多直升大学一年级
至于到国外升学,如果你有看到董总五十周年庆的短片,世界各地都有独中生献上对董总的祝福。从最邻近的新加坡,到香港、台湾、中国、日本、印度,再到澳洲、纽西兰,或远至欧美国家及俄罗斯,都有独中生的足迹。全世界的大学都接受统考文凭,绝大部分的独中生都是直接进入大学就读一年级。

国外大学提供优厚奖学金予UEC考生
最近这几年,中国、香港和台湾的大学为了能成为世界级的国际化大学,纷纷提供优厚的奖学金给独中生,其中香港理工大学更是提供每年六至十份奖学金给独中生,每份奖学金一年五万马币,足够支付学费、住宿费及生活费。成绩不错的话每年都可拿到,而且不用还钱,你说吸不吸引人?我个人倾向鼓励同学往国外升学,原因是国外大学的设备、师资都比本地强得多,学习的收获也会更大。趁年轻有机会应多往外面的世界跑,开拓眼界,将来视野会比较开阔,思想也会比较成熟开放。

用母语考UEC,比用英文考预科更有利
最后我认为,同学们应要离开家里一段时间,因为可以锻练自己独立,学习打理自己的生活,加强自己的生活技能。而且国外生活水平高,总需要学会节省,可以训练自己精打细算。此外,国外大学大多有提供工读机会,在校外可以找到兼职工作,赚点生活费也是不错的。用母语母文来考试更为有利很多同学误以为去学院或大学念预科课程,就等于是念大学,其实你还是在大学的门槛之外。因为你必须以英文去考预科课程,再以这个成绩来申请大学。甚至有的同学还认为先到学院以英文念预科,有助于提升英文水平,有利于念大学。但是大学录取你,是根据你的成绩,而不是你用什么语文来考。若你以最擅长的母语来应考,肯定有助于你考得好成绩。反之,如果你的英文本来就不太行,仅仅准备一年就要用英文来考,其实是满危险的。以你的短处与别人的长处竞争,注定要吃眼前亏。这也是为何独中坚持母语教育的缘故,唯有以我们最熟悉的母语来学习基础知识,才是最有效的。
用母语考UEC,比用英文考预科更有利

节省完成学业的时间
由于高三的课程可以直接衔接大学一年级的课程,所以你实在不需再念大学先修班/STPM/大学基础班/A水平等课程。统考十月考,十二月就放榜,马上就有成绩可以申请大学。如果是其他课程,至少要等三月底SPM放榜,五月才能开始念。STPM及A水平是一年半的课程,考完后至少都要再等三个月才放榜。最近因为国民服役的缘故,本地大学都延至七月才开课,弄得来,比起读完高三考完统考直接上大学,至少多拖了一年的时间。

节省求学开支
除了国中的STPM课程是免费之外,独中高三的学费还是比其他学院所提供的课程便宜得多。以吉隆坡循人中学为例,高三一年的学费是RM2,860,其他学院的课程至少都需要一万令吉以
上。现在大学的学费算是满高的,不如先省下这一年的钱,用来付大学一年级的课程费用。还有,别忘了,当你到学院去念大学预科的课程时,你还没有念大学,却开始在付大学的生活费了。算算看,在学院附近的餐室吃一顿午饭,和中学的食堂价格比一比,每个月的餐费要增加多少?别忘了,还有交通费(或住宿费)、服装费(大学没有校服穿)等等。

多用心,考好统考没问题
不念高三?没有理由!
这些年来,依然有少部分的同学在高二或高三SPM放榜后就离校,他们的理由是统考课程很难念,没有把握可以把统考考好。我发现这批同学是比较欠缺信心的,也许成绩一向来都是在升留班边缘,所以希望快快离开。其实,如果你一向来基础不是很好的话,换另一个课程也会面临同样的问题。另一个同学给我的理由是,可以获得自由,没有校规的约束。其实只要你满了十八岁,谁都不会想要继续管你了。早一年和晚一年,其实真的没有差别。

高三是沉淀期,可以规划未来生涯
经过忙碌的高二,高三是沉淀期,也是准备再出发的时候。这一年,你需要决定中学毕业后,要到哪间学校念什么科系。收集大学的最新讯息,比较各科系的差别,最后找出最适合自己的选择。这个过程,其实是很需要时间去探索的。

高三当学会干部为个人增值
高三是中学的最后一年,多珍惜与同学相处的机会。到高三,很多同学都是学会的重要执委或干部,多投入课外活动有助于你学习领导与组织,这些能力都是课本教不到的,但却是你将来申请奖货学金或申请工作时,很重要的条件。

为中学生涯画上美丽句点
每一年,当我看到同学准备毕业特刊,忙着在属于自己的版位写感言赠言,以及为自己的班级版位作出精心的设计时,我是充满期待的。这一本毕业特刊,记录着同学们六年来的点点滴滴,能为自己的中学生涯,划上最美丽的句点,真是一件很美的事。

8 comments:

Chloe Ng said...

then why dont you study senior three?
aikss =(
so bad.

Melvin Lee said...

agree with shimin!

After years, i saw one of my facebook friend posted on fb and realized this was you ! :)

Zzzz said...

There's only one thing to wish that the English level can be like 1119 or IELTS,so we don't have to spend another RM5xx to take IELTS

J said...

I'm sorry, but it only took the first paragraph of the statement to had me disagreeing with the entire post.

First off..

UEC通行全球大学,SPM还需念预科或中六!

This is true. UEC grants international access to many educational institutes. But what difference does it make if one chooses between foundations/matriculation in comparison to UEC? The gizz here is that both UEC and foundations/matrics take a year to complete. The author who wrote this has a misconception about foundation and matriculation. Not all programs are like A-Levels, which takes a year and a half to complete. Essentially, this point is invalid in so many ways. Taking UEC is like taking any other foundations/matrics. Why? Because you spend a year completing it for the sake of furthering studies overseas.

UEC证书大多直升大学一年级

Unfortunately, there wasn't much convincing proofs about why you should take UEC. Similar to any certs from Foundation/Matrics, you earn the privilege to go to any places. One thing I noticed about UEC holders? The number of students is more concentrated in countries such as China, Japan, HK, Singapore. In comparison to foundation/matrics student, the concentration is higher in places such as Australia, NZ, the States, SG too. This point isn't so much of an argument. Both certs from two different program grants different forms of international access. I'd say this boils down to a country's specific preference for educational qualification.

国外大学提供优厚奖学金予UEC考生

If it's about money, I can't argue. But there are very scholarships out there that function similarly to a UEC scholarship. Many sponsor you a free education without demanding a single penny in return. Once again, invalid argument.

用母语考UEC,比用英文考预科更有利

This entire heading screams what I call the Chong Hwa bias. Deep to the core, this is why many Chong Hwa students fail to perform well with English/BM-related subjects, regardless of the importance the two languages hold. Chong Hwa students, let's not deny this. How many of us decided that acing Chinese-related subjects is more important than English/Bm subjects? I've seen so many students who abused this the wrong way. Because Chong Hwa is a Chinese based institution, we focus on acing Chinese subjects because it holds the most period counts. Yet, it does not scream that English is not important or beneficial in that sense. I understand the rise of Chinese language on an international level. But this is bias, bias, bias. Many countries still run on English as a language medium. Just because you are proficient in English and you are a straight A holder in UEC, doesn't mean you don't need English in life to succeed. Many UEC holders who aren't English proficient, end up giving so much bad impression. Some mates of mine can't even write proper English.

节省完成学业的时间;节省求学开支

Like I mentioned in my first point. Time and Money shouldn't be a valid point in argument. Or else, the argument is invalid because you're not arguing based on the efficacy of UEC, you're arguing based on UEC + other factors. UEC = Foundation/Matrics =/= A Level.

Why? Again, because most foundation/matrics take a year to complete. Not every course is like A Lvls. In terms of money, I think it is a bad argument. Not necessarily just because something is cheap or expensive means that it is effective. Choosing between UEC and other programs is a freedom of choice.

多用心,考好统考没问题

I beg to differ, does that mean college students are not diligent? I can assure you most college/uni students are far competitive in comparison to UEC students from certain classes. Some UEC students treat UEC as another year to fool around. This again, invalid.

高三是沉淀期,可以规划未来生涯;高三当学会干部为个人增值;为中学生涯画上美丽句点

Enough with the biased argument. Who says entering a foundation/matric does not allow you to plan for your future/instill new values within one's self or provide an amazing experience in life? This is utterly garbage.

J said...

(following the previous comment)

I can understand if the author is trying to argue based on the efficacy of UEC in comparison to other programs. But what I see here is total bias, a propaganda to persuade Chong Hwa students who have other plans post-Senior Middle Two to drop their plans and consider pursuing UEC. There is very little statement that argues about why UEC is superior to the other courses, which is why I'm not buying it.

The only valid point I see here is the "International Access" (not really anyway). The rest about money, time or certification does not say anything solid.

Just because we are graduates of Chong Hwa, it doesn't mean we are better than others. I'm sorry to say. In the end, it is what you currently do that defines you, not what you used to do, where you came from.

The last three points, in my opinion says that the author is someone who prefers to be in his/her comfort zone. You can have amazing experience in college/uni too you know? You just need that extra courage to make new friends. The fact that the author is not encouraging us to be explore new areas in life is extremely wrong. Considering the fact that you gain socialization skills when you mingle with new people, and it is, a required skill no matter where you go.

The first few points about how Chinese is much more beneficial to us and how UEC shorter in terms of duration do no account. As a Chong Hwa graduate, I have never claimed either language to be superior, I find both equally helpful for but I take pride in the ability to speak in English because it is my first language. Why bicker about how Chinese is better than English?

Dear Senior Middle Two students or soon-to be UEC students. Take my words if you trust me. I am a 2010 graduate from Chong Hwa and I am currently 21 years old, in my final year of achieving my degree before making my mark in life as a working adult. I will not say what your teacher wrote is wrong, but I'll say it is bias. The way she portrays life after high school is too idealistic. In the real world, nothing is fixed. You are always in the flux of changing and adapting. You can ask other Chong Hwa graduates to verify this piece of news. Graduating top from Chong Hwa does not guarantee you will be the top in College or Universities.

Let's not forget that a number of us thrive in other languages. The convince one to stay for UEC simply because it is Chinese-based is very based. The author has forgotten that some of us do better in other languages. Thus, why is it wrong if other students chose foundation/matrics over UEC?

Don't get me wrong. I was raised in an bilingual environment. I speak conversational Chinese and English. I do not think either language is more important over the other. Sometimes, we need to learn Chinese to have know our identity.

But this post here is obviously preaching too much Chinese culture while somehow implying that English is far less important.

Again, I do not condemn either language. But I'd ask readers to critically evaluate between two different programs and not be deceived by the idealistic portrayal of UEC. UEC or not, you will have a point in time where you'll suffer in life. This is a rite of passage as an adolescent to an adult.

Thank you for sharing this shimin.

#5596 said...

I wholly agree, UEC is only attractive for certain students with certain prospects. It wasn't an attractive option to me as I wanted to pursue a law degree.

KLBA Chin said...

I am from Chong Hwa Private high school ! a pure 独中生. I sat for my UEC back to 1976.

I have no problems in getting to any Colleges and Universities except the local university !

wahaha said...

以下是郑丁贤写的, 感觉笔者过于夸大统考的功能。顶尖很多大学都不承认,当然如果你的目标是非英语系大学跟野鸡大学,统考可能很好用。
"大家不知道,还是有很多外国大学不接受统考的,尤其是顶尖的大学。不是统考水平不行,而是这是一个小国家60间中学举行的“內部考试”,並且未得到这个国家政府的承认;其水平很难作评估。

大马华社却以为,统考可以通行全世界。

No way。统考不是公开考试,它缺乏国际能见度和识別度,这些大学也不会特別去体谅大马华人办学辛苦。所以別自欺欺人了!"