Chapter 1

The Theory of Practice by Henry Widdowson 

I was introduced to Applied Linguistics in my undergraduate years but the course was previously quite blurry and unclear. We were sure that more than half of the class was clueless about what was going on during the lectures. In our knowledge, Applied Linguistics was very systematical and a technical theory, just like other courses that offer theoretical course outline.

From the reading, I am now enlightened that Applied Linguistics doesn’t mess with theoretical knowledge but more with practical applications. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I was curious how linguistics studies can be made practical in our daily life and through this course, I hope to see and get enlightened with the use of Applied Linguistics that can be tangible with my surrounding.

Since it was mentioned that applied linguists function as mediators, I was reminded that through English for International Communication studies, the communicators or the language practitioners work as mediators. The closest relation that I could translate into is that the mediators map out discourse they encounter every day to bridge the gap between two communicators of different worlds.

Seeing Applied Linguistics being used as a real-world problem solver, I am intrigued to see the actual practicality of this subject and how it could be made useful in our daily encounters. I have two questions regarding the application of Applied Linguistics:

1.    How can we as language practitioners make Applied Linguistics useful and as an enhancement in our basic use of daily communication?

2.    Without the help of Applied Linguistics, would our methods of teaching or instructing still be relevant?

The common problem related to language is lack of mastery. Recently, after the new era of Malaysia, higher position officers are demanded to master English. The known reasons of the demands are that especially the ministers shall be visiting summits and have meetings outside Malaysia that require them to communicate in English, and to decode and encode information better since Malaysia is multiracial and has a wide, various practice of language.

This has not been recent as language issue has been around quite some time in Malaysia. However, in my opinion, the problem arises once in a blue moon as official statements given by the ministers are usually delivered in Bahasa Malaysia and seldom that it requires the officials to have conversations in English. Nevertheless, the seldom notion is where the problem takes place.

In conclusion, the question is, how are we as Applied Linguistics practitioners able to help instill the mastery of English in people who are assumed not in learning phase?

Source: http://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/mustahak-penjawat-tinggi-awam-kuasai-bahasa-inggeris-178481