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Last but not least, poor language proficiency is the final reason why language shaming should not be normalised in Malaysia. In his article, Galmiche (2018) reveals that group dynamic, teachers and peers are significant in sustaining and boosting learner’s motivation and positive emotions. For this reason, emotions have been acknowledged as an important aspect of learning a certain language. Even in the educational psychology literature, emotions are treated as obstacles to achieve a certain task of teaching (Walker, 2017). Thus, it can be said that without motivation and emotions, a learner cannot overcome a language and this will lead to poor language proficiency. Even though there are many other factors that can lead to poor language proficiency such as learning environment and student personality, but motivation and emotion are really much needed in learning a certain language. Due to this, language shaming should not happen as it can affect one’s motivation and emotion and this will directly lead to poor language proficiency.
Similarly, Santa Singh (2014) also stresses the significance of motivation as the major contributor in learning a second language or a foreign language. Motivation is said to be the backbone of someone’s success in acquiring and using language to become a good communicator. In this case, the practice of giving motivation is not only useful for the new languages, but also for people who are in the process of mastering their native language. Usually, the positive vibes given by surrounding people can make smaller changes in the way they talk which will gradually bring a bigger impact. However, motivation is shifted to discourage as the people started to shame to those who are unintentionally using the language incorrectly. So, the one who experiences language shaming will feel helpless to talk again as they already feel the mixed emotion of being the centre of humiliation. This situation will lead to difficulty in mastering a language as they are not given a chance to even make a mistake.
Apart from that, when language shaming happened, people will eventually have the fear of making a mistake in their life. Kayaoglu and Saglamel (2013, p. 152) commented in his study that 'a considerable number of learners stated that they were afraid of making mistakes while some believed that it was worth experimenting with mistakes as they were opportunities for learning'. Indeed it is true that through mistakes, people are able to improve themselves better. However, in another scenario, the mistakes are treated as something to be made fun of. So, the involved people will feel embarrassed and it will lead them to distance themselves from people who used to laugh at them. They will avoid communicating with the public as they are afraid that they might make a mistake. Hence, this situation might lead to low level of proficiency as they stop to indulge and talk to other people. Certainly, those people will grow up with poor ability to master a language.
Curwin (2014) believed that fear of making mistakes can be lessened if the condition are motivating them in the process of learning. He wrote about the importance of changing perspective about students’ mistakes might help in boosting the capability of learning language. This can be supported by Gilmiche (2017), as he mentioned about the struggle faced by students. One student named Emilie explains that she feels liable to face shame in a tense atmosphere compared to the time when the classroom is in a relaxed mode. This is the time that she would answer the questions with less feeling of shame if she happened to make any mistakes. Although making mistakes is viewed in a negative light, but it actually pushes forward their ability to learn a language. People are scared of making mistakes as they are afraid of getting a bad treatment from people around them especially the one who called themselves as ‘language saver’. This group of people claim that they are giving a hard time for someone who is trying to improve their language just for the sake of protecting the language itself. However, not all mistakes are done intentionally. So, they need to help by helping them to know their mistakes in a proper manner in order to avoid them from having poor language proficiency. Thus, language shaming can be reversed with motivation and positive emotion that can help to improve language proficiency.
In conclusion, the failure to stop language shaming can lead to greater break down of someone’s future such as having low self-esteem, involving in social alienation and possessing poor language proficiency. In any event, self-esteem can influence a person’s life, whether good or bad. Due to this, the relationship between people's views of themselves including self-esteem and their success of learning are pretty much related. Because of that, by blocking any means of language shaming, the self-esteem of a learner can develop and with this, they can simultaneously improve their language proficiency at any time. Not only that, by doing so, people also can escape from social alienation with no fear in making any mistakes at the idea of social interaction.
At any cost, any kind of language shaming that includes harsh comments, constant negative feedback, mocking, and too much focus on mistakes should be reprehensible to avoid any greater harm in the future. In fact, not only Islam teaches their people to learn as many languages as they can but also, upholding a good manner in learning a particular language is completely encouraged. English may seem easy to learn compared to others, but that is not always the case. When it comes to speaking it perfectly, it is common when people do not have English as their native language to mispronounce words. In this case, Islam forbids people to belittle others for their incompetence as the prophet saying 'it is enough evil for a man to look down on his Muslim brother'.
Last but not least, language shaming should not be normalised in Malaysia and need to be stopped immediately. Hence, there are a few suggestions that can be done in order to minimize language shaming. Firstly, an advice can be given but in a good manner to avoid touching other's sensitivity or feeling. It is the nature of human beings to prefer good over bad things just like preferring good advice rather than harsh advice. So, people can improve their communication and interaction skills as well as aware about the implications brought by the practice of language shaming. Next, people should realize that mistakes can always happen in learning language as no humans are perfect and free from any mistakes. So, these mistakes should be a stepping stone for people in order to become fluent speakers. Hence, language shaming should not happen as it can be a barrier for people.
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