Astro has embarked on a programme to teach proper English through its Astro ‘Kampus’ programme. In order to do this Astro has created a gruesome character called ‘Aunty English’.

In one episode, gruesome Aunty English - made more ghastly with some garish make-up -

frightens the wits out of a poor teenager. She stands threateningly over him and barks orders at him.

Obviously, the person who thought out this brilliant idea has no idea of psychology, let alone the psychology of learning or pedagogy.

In fact, any person with some common sense will tell you that all learners - no matter their age - learn more effectively when they are encouraged and given positive reinforcements. Terror tactics have no place in the learning process.

I would like to say in Astro’s favour though that in two other episodes I have seen of ‘Kampus’, Aunty English has softened slightly but it is not enough.

It is also unclear who the target audience of Astro ‘Kampus’ is. Campus implies students. But one episode involves a couple conversing in a room. The woman in the scene is trying to put their baby to sleep.

Aunty English pops up on the television which is left on and corrects the woman’s English. The relevance of this scene to Astro ‘Kampus’ is completely lost on me.

After each episode, Aunty English signs off with the word ‘okay’. Surely Aunty English should know such words are slang and should be discouraged among students in an English class.

Astro must have spent quite a sum on devising this programme and recruiting Aunty English. What a pity it did not consider getting the advice of someone who is well-versed in the principles of learning and teaching.

Apart from its badly devised attempts to teach English, Astro has also has terminated the BBC Entertainment channel. This is one channel with many examples of good English being spoken.

Is it not surprising that the standard of English is fast declining in our country with Astro contributing proudly to this decline.