Teacher claims that there is 'scientific' English and 'English English': Blogger

Teacher claims that there is 'scientific' English and 'English English': Blogger

A teacher from a local brand name primary school reportedly told a parent that an exam question should have been read in 'scientific English' instead of 'English English'.

In his post, local blogger Mr Brown said that a friend had shared the story with him.

As posted on his blog the P6 science question tests students about the properties of the common light bulb's filament and were asked which of the options below were true.

A. It determines the brightness of the bulb.

B. It must be made of a material of a high melting point.

C. It melts when there is too much electrical current passing through it.

D. It gives off light energy only when an electrical current passes through it.

They were then given 4 choices:

1. D only

2. A, B and C

3. B, C, and D

4. All of the above.

While most students had picked (4) as the answer, the teacher and the school's Head of Department (HOD) insisted that the correct answer was (2).

Why? The blogger's friend told him that the HOD said this is because if read in the manner of 'scientific English' is meant to be read, option (D.) would have been read as "It gives off light energy only (pause) when an electrical current passes through it.

When the parent told the HOD that a comma should have been inserted in the option if it is to be read with a pause, the HOD insisted that it was the 'scientific' way of reading the option.

She continued to add that a layman would not be able to differentiate between the scientific way of reading the question and normal way of reading it. But since, the students have been studying the subject for 4 years they are expected to be able to read the question correctly.

However a better way of phrasing the option was also offered by the blogger: "It gives off only light energy when an electrical current passes through it."

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