Mute English Speakers

While I was having my dinner just now, I flipped through some books on Language Policy and Planning. but somehow I failed to find something that is relevent to my topic. But again, I have no idea what I'm looking for at the first place in the books!!

Nevertheless, there is something rather interesting about Behaviourism Theory on Language Learning. In an article written by VanPatten and Williams entitled 'Early Theories in SLA', they mentioned that
     "...acquiring a second language, which is seen a new set of habits. This process is a difficult one but can be facilitated by approriate instruction. Learning conditions are ideal when models are plentiful and accurate, and when feedback is immediate and consistent. ... Learners should be exposed to a large number of target examples of language; they should immitate these model repeatedly and receive feedback- positive feedback for accurate immitations, and correction of inaccurate ones. this process should be repeated until these behaviours have become a habit." (page 20).

I would rather say this is a very, very old methodology and yet many of teachers in Malaysia still practising it. This is when we are producing mute English speakers. It's like teaching a parrot to say 'hi, how are you?' and if it is asked the same question, it will say the same question over and again.  

Mute English speakers is very apparent when we discuss CALP/BICS. some students are capable to answer Physics and Biology tests, but have no idea what they are all about. they have the fluency in CALP, but not so much in BICS- the basic communicative skills.  

Reference:
VanPatten, B. and Williams, J. (2007) Early Theories in Second Language Acquisition. In
VanPatten, B. and Williams, J. (2007) Theories in Second Language Acquisition: An Introduction. NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

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I was hoping to find something on why language policy changes from time to time. I guess i need more time to read and look into it.