Sociocultural Influences of Indigenous Teenager in Second Language

Sociocultural Influences of Indigenous Teenager in Second Language Acquisition (SLA) Experiences in Perak

Authors: Nor Azwahanum Nor Shaid (Faculty of Education, The National University of Malaysia, Malaysia)
Marlyna Maros (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, The National University of Malaysia, Malaysia)
Shahidi Abd Hamid (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, The National University of Malaysia, Malaysia)
Mohd Sharifudin Yusop ( Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia)
Speaker: Nor Azwahanum Nor Shaid
Topic: Social Psychology of Language
The (SCOPUS / ISI) SOAS GLOCAL CALA 2020 General Session

Abstract

This colloquium is aimed at exploring the experiences of Temiar indigenous teenagers acquiring Malay Language. It aims to explore the influences of Temiar indigenous sociocultural factors that may contribute to the teenager`s development of the Malay language, described by the teenagers themselves, thus constituting an exposition of language ideology. These issues emerge among indigenous pupils when they faced difficulties in adapting to mainstream education at which time they have to mix with other multiracial pupils. Due to limitations when these indigenous pupil’s develop the Malay language, this study becomes quite significant.

SMK Bawong in Sungai Siput, Perak was chosen as a research location as this school in the only secondary school in Malaysia that comprises only indigenous students. The papers within this colloquium intend to see whether the social and cultural influences impact on their mastery of the Malay language when they are studying within their own ethnic groups. The respondents of this study consist of five teenagers from the Temiar tribe and a language teacher as an informant.

Keywords: Malay Language, second language acquisition, indigenous teenager, sociocultural influences, Malay Language mastery