Jamaican Students Underperform

[Joemaican]

Re: Jamaican Students Underperform

As I stated earlier in this post the people who are making these unsubstantiated claims, either have little or no experience in the realioty of education. Or as with the author of the news report. He is simply trying to drum up support for his business

[Q3210]

Re: Jamaican Students Underperform

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/dizzy.gif[/img] Confusing to say the least. What business does the author have and by what means would it benefit him for what you insinuate?

[Dyoll_73]

Re: Jamaican Students Underperform

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Joemaican</div><div class="ubbcode-body">As I stated earlier in this post the people who are making these unsubstantiated claims, either have little or no experience in the realioty of education. Or as with the author of the news report. He is simply trying to drum up support for his business </div></div>

Why the need to impugn the motive of the author of the report? You could offer facts and well-reasoned arguments instead.

It's possible that a student who didn't pass English went on to pass other subjects. Basic English comprehension would allow the student to grasp the question, and besides, awkwardly written sentences, or even poor grammar, may factor less than knowledge and understanding of the material - in the view of the examiner. So it is possible to have less than a mastery of English and still manage to pass <u>some</u> other subjects. I would suggest, though, that this is not something that would happen on a large-scale basis; indeed, it would be unusual. There are subjects that will require considerable writing - history for example - which you cannot score a A or CXC 1 without being able to write very well.

In the long term, that inability to master English, oral and written, will catch up with that person.

[Wahalla]

Re: Jamaican Students Underperform

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Basic English comprehension would allow the student to grasp the question, and besides, awkwardly written sentences, or even poor grammar, may factor less than knowledge and understanding of the material - in the view of the examiner. </div></div>.. This I think is flawed. Failing English at CXC does not mean not gasping English... Think of what an exam in English.... Does it require pass in CXC english to read and comprehend a news story in the gleaner ????? Does it prevent a complex discussion ????? Part of the reason may be that Jamaicans think in a polygot of Patwa and English.. I know that is how I think..

A pass in an exam English language is too often a gate keeper.. The guy I mentioned who won the Jamaican scholarship got an A in history... And as I recall many of his cohort had to resit English language O'level in the lower six....

Does a failure at CXC English language mean in competence in English ????? Sorry I dont beleive that is true...)

As I recall there was a case of a student getting an A in English Lit and failing English Language in 1980....this may be exceptional but it does demonstrate there is something not quite right for using passes in English as a yardstick to demonstrate competensy in English.....

As I recall unsurprisingly I struggled at English in fifth form and failed my mock exams in it.. I got a C at cambridge and 11 at CXC.. I beleive Earl Moxam got a II at CXC as well.. I also suspect that id I took the exam today I would fail it....

Incidentally what does the CXC exam consist of ?????

[Dyoll_73]

Re: Jamaican Students Underperform

Wahalla,
If I recall correctly, CXC English consisted of the multiple choice section that deals with grammar and comprehension, as well as persuasive and creative writing. Those are not the exact descriptions as they appear on the papers; that's just how I recall it. Also, the exam is in two parts. In my case, I got a II for English. I suspect that it was the creative writing part that prevented me from getting a distinction. I was never good at story-telling, but I loved the persuasive writing section.

The lack of competence in English that I'm talking about is not reflected in the fact that the student gets no less than a CXC I (or GCE A). No. I'm talking about basic grammar, putting together a well-constructed and coherent sentence, etc. One could have these basic skills and still fail the English exam. My point is that it is not just for passing the exam, but life itself, will require that one has acquired more than the basics.

As I said above, it is possible to fail the English exam and yet pass some other subjects. You cited two examples of passing History and English Literature with distinctions while failing English Language. I would submit that these are extremely rare examples from which one cannot deduce anything conclusive about English comprehension vis-a-vis passing other subjects. If you can score a distinction in History - which is pretty rigorous for that level - you should be able to score a passing grade in English. I scored a distinction in History and, I'm telling you, it required a lot of writing. I would say that those individuals are more than competent in English (especially to pass English Lit with A). Perhaps, something psychological was going on in that exam. You never know.