Final paper for ENG2
The Multi-lingual Education and Literacy Act of 2008 should be approved by the Philippine government for the good of the Filipino students. This house bill will help the students develop the of use the national language of the Philippines, Filipino and their native language, as well. It will also help the students to understand their lessons, their teachers and their classmates better by speaking in their common native language. Also, multi-lingual education is flexible for the different capacities and abilities of the students. At the same time, the use of English will be enhanced by the students for global competitive reasons. This bill would also enhance bilingualism and multilingualism of the Filipinos also for local competitive reasons. The approval of the act establishing a multi-lingual education and literacy program would be good for the Filipino students.
Filipino students would be able to develop their skills in speaking the national language and their respective native languages. Beals and Hoijer define language as “a way of speaking, distinct in every culture.” (as cited in Lardizabal, 1985, p. 154) Filipino language is the identification of the Filipinos and for them to be distinct and known, they should be able to speak their national language well and correctly. (Lardizabal, 1985, p. 160) It should be delivered sincerely, proudly and whole-heartedly. Consequently, their respective native languages which are also their first languages should not be forgotten. Practice and constant use of the national language and the native languages is the best way to carry out these things. Doronila (1989) said, “Are our schools educating Filipino
children to be Filipinos?” It is a job for the school to teach Filipino students how to be good Filipino citizen. Using the languages in school, which is the second home of the students and where they spend most of their time, is one good way to practice these languages. Through this, the skills of the Filipino students in speaking the national language and their respective native languages will be enhanced.
The implementation of this bill would also make it easier for the students to understand their lessons, their teachers and their classmates better by speaking in their common native language. Dr. Dina Ocampo, a professor in the University of the Philippines Diliman’s College of Education, said that without language models such as teachers who are skilled enough to teach English, there is no way that a child can efficiently learn a foreign language. (as cited in Gamalinda, 2006, para. 5) Accordingly, it would also be difficult for students to use English as a medium of instruction in education if they do not have enough knowledge about the foreign language. “… If you really want the Philippines to have a high functional literacy, let’s use the regional languages, the mother tongue of the children in giving them the education that they need. No amount of textbooks, classrooms, teacher training and computers will lift the quality of education if you’re using the wrong language,” Gunigundo explained. (as cited in Barawid, 2009, para. 13) Dr. Ricardo Ma. Nolasco, associate professor, UP Department of Linguistics and is also a board member of the Linguistic Society of the Philippines and the adviser for multilingual education initiatives of the Foundation for Worldwide People Power Inc. also said that to have a quality education in the Philippines, it is best to use the first language of the children and build a foundation of the Filipino and English language as they grow up. (as cited in Barawid, 2009, para. 15-17) Establishing this quality education in the Philippines would require the students’ good performances in their studies thus, the language used would be very helpful for them to perform better in classes. It would be easier for them to express themselves. It would also be easier for them to communicate with their schoolmates, ask questions and interact with one another if they are using their first language. It would be easier for the students to understand their lessons, teachers and classmates by speaking through their common native language.
Multilingualism is flexible for students’ capacities and abilities to perform the languages. An education system should not only give equal opportunities and just serve what is being offered moreover, it should ensure that what is being offered is appropriate for all the students. (Kelly, 1995, pp. 106-107) Every student has its own capacity and ability to cope with the English language so having a multi-lingual education can help every student adjust to other students capacity and capability. Also, in a class of Filipino students with different first languages, this system of education gives them connection and a chance to understand each other easily. Multilingualism can help the students adjust depending on their own capabilities and abilities on the languages involved.
In this bill, English would also be enhanced by the students for global competitive reasons. English is one of the most spoken languages in the world especially in the business sector. According to Gullas, “Mounting global unemployment due to the worsening economic slump has merely underscored the need for our human resources to be proficient in English – the world’s lingua franca – in order to stay highly competitive in the job markets here and abroad.” (Barawid, 2009, para. 10) In the case of the Philippines, being proficient in English is hardly needed to able to cope with the world’s business. Because of this, English being introduced in this bill would help Filipinos exercise the English language.
Lastly, bilingualism and multilingualism would also be enhanced for local competitive reasons. Being a bilingual or a multilingual is an advantage because a person could easily adapt to certain places. It is necessary to know the language of people you would deal with and being able to comprehend their language could create a good public relations with them. (Lardizabal, 1985, p. 160) Being able to practice English, Filipino and a certain native language at the same time could help the Filipinos communicate easily with other Filipinos in business. Through this bill, Filipinos would be able to enhance bilingualism and multilingualism for local competitive concerns.
References
Barawid, Rachel C. (2009, February 26). English vs. the Mother Tongue? Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation. Retrieved March 11, 2009, from http://beta.mb.com.ph/node/197190
Doronila, Maria Luisa C. (1989). The Limits of Educational Change. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press
Gamalinda, Natasha B. (2006, October 1). SWF forum zeroes in on medium of instruction. UP newsletter, 10 (27). Retrieved March 11, 2009, from http://www.up.edu.ph/upnewsletter.php?issue=21&i=246
Kelly, Av. (1995). Education and Democracy: Principles and Practices. London: Paul Chapman Ltd.
Lardizabal, Amparo S. (1985). Foundations And Education. Manila: Rex Printing Company, inc.
Filipino students would be able to develop their skills in speaking the national language and their respective native languages. Beals and Hoijer define language as “a way of speaking, distinct in every culture.” (as cited in Lardizabal, 1985, p. 154) Filipino language is the identification of the Filipinos and for them to be distinct and known, they should be able to speak their national language well and correctly. (Lardizabal, 1985, p. 160) It should be delivered sincerely, proudly and whole-heartedly. Consequently, their respective native languages which are also their first languages should not be forgotten. Practice and constant use of the national language and the native languages is the best way to carry out these things. Doronila (1989) said, “Are our schools educating Filipino
children to be Filipinos?” It is a job for the school to teach Filipino students how to be good Filipino citizen. Using the languages in school, which is the second home of the students and where they spend most of their time, is one good way to practice these languages. Through this, the skills of the Filipino students in speaking the national language and their respective native languages will be enhanced.
The implementation of this bill would also make it easier for the students to understand their lessons, their teachers and their classmates better by speaking in their common native language. Dr. Dina Ocampo, a professor in the University of the Philippines Diliman’s College of Education, said that without language models such as teachers who are skilled enough to teach English, there is no way that a child can efficiently learn a foreign language. (as cited in Gamalinda, 2006, para. 5) Accordingly, it would also be difficult for students to use English as a medium of instruction in education if they do not have enough knowledge about the foreign language. “… If you really want the Philippines to have a high functional literacy, let’s use the regional languages, the mother tongue of the children in giving them the education that they need. No amount of textbooks, classrooms, teacher training and computers will lift the quality of education if you’re using the wrong language,” Gunigundo explained. (as cited in Barawid, 2009, para. 13) Dr. Ricardo Ma. Nolasco, associate professor, UP Department of Linguistics and is also a board member of the Linguistic Society of the Philippines and the adviser for multilingual education initiatives of the Foundation for Worldwide People Power Inc. also said that to have a quality education in the Philippines, it is best to use the first language of the children and build a foundation of the Filipino and English language as they grow up. (as cited in Barawid, 2009, para. 15-17) Establishing this quality education in the Philippines would require the students’ good performances in their studies thus, the language used would be very helpful for them to perform better in classes. It would be easier for them to express themselves. It would also be easier for them to communicate with their schoolmates, ask questions and interact with one another if they are using their first language. It would be easier for the students to understand their lessons, teachers and classmates by speaking through their common native language.
Multilingualism is flexible for students’ capacities and abilities to perform the languages. An education system should not only give equal opportunities and just serve what is being offered moreover, it should ensure that what is being offered is appropriate for all the students. (Kelly, 1995, pp. 106-107) Every student has its own capacity and ability to cope with the English language so having a multi-lingual education can help every student adjust to other students capacity and capability. Also, in a class of Filipino students with different first languages, this system of education gives them connection and a chance to understand each other easily. Multilingualism can help the students adjust depending on their own capabilities and abilities on the languages involved.
In this bill, English would also be enhanced by the students for global competitive reasons. English is one of the most spoken languages in the world especially in the business sector. According to Gullas, “Mounting global unemployment due to the worsening economic slump has merely underscored the need for our human resources to be proficient in English – the world’s lingua franca – in order to stay highly competitive in the job markets here and abroad.” (Barawid, 2009, para. 10) In the case of the Philippines, being proficient in English is hardly needed to able to cope with the world’s business. Because of this, English being introduced in this bill would help Filipinos exercise the English language.
Lastly, bilingualism and multilingualism would also be enhanced for local competitive reasons. Being a bilingual or a multilingual is an advantage because a person could easily adapt to certain places. It is necessary to know the language of people you would deal with and being able to comprehend their language could create a good public relations with them. (Lardizabal, 1985, p. 160) Being able to practice English, Filipino and a certain native language at the same time could help the Filipinos communicate easily with other Filipinos in business. Through this bill, Filipinos would be able to enhance bilingualism and multilingualism for local competitive concerns.
References
Barawid, Rachel C. (2009, February 26). English vs. the Mother Tongue? Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation. Retrieved March 11, 2009, from http://beta.mb.com.ph/node/197190
Doronila, Maria Luisa C. (1989). The Limits of Educational Change. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press
Gamalinda, Natasha B. (2006, October 1). SWF forum zeroes in on medium of instruction. UP newsletter, 10 (27). Retrieved March 11, 2009, from http://www.up.edu.ph/upnewsletter.php?issue=21&i=246
Kelly, Av. (1995). Education and Democracy: Principles and Practices. London: Paul Chapman Ltd.
Lardizabal, Amparo S. (1985). Foundations And Education. Manila: Rex Printing Company, inc.
