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MUET 21 JUNE 2017

Talking points By MAWAR MUSTAFA IN our Feb 15 issue, we covered the two tasks that MUET candidates are required to carry out in the Speaking paper. In this issue, let us run through a few things you need to bear in mind as you prepare for the test.

Parents just aren’t doing enough

BEFORE THE TEST 1. Check your schedule The test is conducted over several days and candidates are grouped into different sessions. Make sure you check the schedule (date, day and time) of your session carefully, when you receive your registration slip. The test is divided into two sessions for each day and you need to adhere strictly to the schedule. If you need to sit for another test on the same day, inform the teacher in charge beforehand so that he can solve the problem for you. Do not skip the session on the stipulated day and time, and suddenly pop in at another session. Also, if the number of candidates from your school is large (for example, if it exceeds 2,000), make sure you find out exactly where your examination centre is located (in which building, on which floor and in which room). There can be as many as 20 examination centres.

Most parents are worried sick about their children’s safety online yet the majority aren’t doing anything to protect their kids. Those who have, still aren’t doing enough.

2. Remember to bring your MyKad and MUET registration slip If you forget to bring your MyKad, inform the teacher in charge as soon as possible so that he can arrange to verify your identity and candidacy. Without proper identification, you will not be allowed to sit for the test. Photocopies of identity cards are not accepted, even if they are in colour. 3. Be punctual Before the test starts, all candidates will wait in a room reserved only for candidates of that particular session. For the morning session, the candidates will enter the room at 7.30am. An invigilator will register the candidates’ attendance and sort them into groups. You have approximately until 7.50am to make your appearance at the examination centre. The examiner will then come into the waiting room to brief you about the procedures of the test. If any of you have any enquiries, this would be the ideal time to ask the examiner for clarification. For schools that instruct their students in the MUET, it is a common practice for them to assign their students to their respective groups earlier, according to the order in which the students have been registered. However, if a group member turns up late, he will not be allowed to sit for the test for that particular session. 4. Do not waste time While waiting for your turn, have a practice session with your group members. This is especially important for candidates who are meeting each other for the first time. You want to familiarise yourself with your group members, so as to avoid any awkwardness during the discussion. Remember, one of the things that the examiners will look at during Task B (which is Group Discussion) is how well the group members interact with each other. Thus, one thing to avoid during the second task of the Speaking paper is to give an individual presentation without responding to your group members’ opinions.

WE aren’t doing enough to protect our kids. A whopping 95% of Malaysians worry about their children’s safety online, with over 60% of parents claiming that their children were cybercrime victims. Yet, less than half of those surveyed actually acted on those fears. Parents here are grappling with their children facing cyberbullying, online predators and privacy concerns, but only 48% have actually done something, reveals Symantec Asia Pacific (Asia Consumer Business) director Choon Hong Chee. The measures taken range from basic steps like only allowing Internet access with parental supervision and checking browser history, to more savvy actions like installing trackers on their kids’ devices. Protecting children online, he says, is weighing heavier on parents now more than ever before. On June 14, The Star reported that mobile chat apps like WeChat and BeeTalk are the main tools for sex predators in Malaysia, based on Bukit Aman’s statistics. Since 2015, a whopping 80% of reported rape cases involved sex predators who started out online. In June, British paedophile Richard Huckle was given 22 life sentences by a London court for abusing 23 Malaysian and Cambodian babies and children for almost a decade. Parents, Choon says, are afraid that their children will give out too much personal information online, be lured into meeting strangers or get involved in illegal activities like hacking. It’s the same in Indonesia, he says, with 98% of parents there sharing the same fears as their Malaysian counterparts. In Indonesia, 73% say their children have already experienced online crime, he adds, referring to the recent Norton Cybersecurity Insights Report. Released on May 31, the global report surveyed 21,302 mobile device users aged 18 and above, including 1,000 Malaysian participants. Nearly all parents surveyed worry about their children’s safety online and in particular, how their actions would have repercussions on the family, Choon says. Social media has become a weapon for cybercriminals to find and exploit their potential victims, he points out. He advises parents to take proactive measures to teach their children online etiquette as more young Malaysians adapt to the fast-evolving digital world. In Singapore, children are seen as a source of vulnerability. Nearly three in 10 parents’ online security have been compromised by their children’s actions, he says. “Children are becoming increasingly comfortable with smartphones and tablets so parents must be proactive in educating their children on online safety. “There are many chat apps that scan a place and identify strangers nearby you can meet up with. It’s dangerous. As a parent, strangers targeting kids is my biggest fear. Education on online safety must start when you hand your kids their first device and that could be as young as three.” Most parents, when interviewed, say they were at a loss on how to protect their children online, saying they were struggling to understand the Internet world themselves.

5. Practice makes perfect As mentioned earlier, it is a common practice for some schools to assign their candidates to their respective groups earlier. One advantage is that the students get to practise with the group before the actual test. Over time, the students would have familiarised themselves with each other’s speaking styles and this would come in handy during Task B. Candidates would be able to anticipate how their group members would likely approach the topic. Being grouped together earlier also allows candidates the opportunity to plan several strategies beforehand. For example, the group members can take into consideration each other’s strong and weak points and devise ways to help each other during the group discussion. One strategy might be to appoint a group member who has the best speaking ability to lead the discussion. After numerous practices, the group members would also have gotten comfortable with each other. This eliminates shyness and can boost a candidate’s confidence in speaking up. So, if you are grouped into your MUET Speaking group earlier, make the most of it and carry out as many practices as possible. DURING THE TEST The Speaking test starts with the examiner asking the candidates to read the question carefully for both tasks (Task A and Task B). The time allocated for reading the question is one minute, after which the examiner will ask if the candidates have understood the situation given, as well as the speaking tasks. Any doubts about the question should be cleared up at this time. For example, if there is a word that is keeping you from understanding the question, you can request that the examiner explain its meaning. If you do not understand the task assigned to you, you can also enlist the examiner’s help to explain the situation. However, do not ask for a translation. Now, look at the two tasks below.

TASK A

Situation The majority of Malaysians worry about their children’s safety online. In your opinion, what makes parents worry when their children go online? A. Parents are worried that their children will face cyberbullying. B. Parents are worried that their children will fall victim to online scams. C. Parents are worried that their children will fall prey to sexual exploitation. D. Parents are worried that their children will get involved in illegal activities like hacking.

TASK B

Situation The majority of Malaysians worry about their children’s safety online. In your opinion, what is the most worrying thing about children going online? A. Children will face cyberbullying. B. Children will fall victim to online scams. C. Children will fall prey to sexual exploitation. D. Children will get involved in illegal activities like hacking. Let us assume that you do not know the meaning of the word “scam”. The examiner, upon your request, might explain it as “to swindle”. If you are still unclear, the examiner will probably attempt to enlighten you further by giving an easier explanation, using the word “cheating” for example. If you still do not understand and request for an example of a scam, the examiner may not entertain it because it might become part of the answer required. These two tasks may appear daunting for candidates who do not know how to keep children safe online. This is understandable because specific knowledge is needed to fulfil the two tasks. If you are an avid newspaper reader, you would be familiar with such topics of general interest as they are usually covered in the news. Sunday Star, for instance, published a report on Aug 14, 2016. Read the article (on page 7) and pay close attention to the parts printed in blue as they can help to improve your presentation.

Consider these two answers for Candidate C in Task A:

ANSWER 1

In my opinion, parents are worried that their children will fall prey to sexual exploitation because nowadays, many young girls like to chat with strangers on social media. From these chats, they get to know many people and some are bold enough to go out with people they barely know. There are cases where girls have been harmed by online predators. That’s why parents are worried that their children will fall prey to sexual exploitation.

ANSWER 2

In my opinion, parents are worried that their children will fall prey to sexual exploitation. Last year, The Star reported that based on Bukit Aman’s statistics, mobile chat apps like WeChat and BeeTalk are the main tools for sex predators in Malaysia. Since 2015, a whopping 80% of reported rape cases involved sex predators who started out online. In June last year, British paedophile Richard Huckle was given 22 life sentences by a London court for abusing 23 Malaysian and Cambodian babies and children for almost a decade. These alarming facts provide strong evidence that children are especially vulnerable online and that their safety can be compromised. Thus, it is hardly surprising that the majority of Malaysians worry about their children’s safety online. I believe that one of their most pressing worries is that their children will fall prey to sexual exploitation.

The first answer given is an example of a discussion at the social level. Compared to the second answer given, the opinion is not supported by any facts or statistics that would lend credibility to the claims made. The second answer is given sound support, based on statistics from Bukit Aman and reports of a high-profile criminal case. It is these facts that significantly raise the level of response to that of an academic discourse. These facts are available from the above article. Therefore, it is a worthwhile effort to keep yourself informed of many issues by reading the newspaper. After reading the article, why don’t you and your group members attempt Task A and Task B for your next practice?