As communication goes, English is the primary language studied and used all over the world. It stands as the very possible way to understand foreign people around the globe. It is like having a unity within the same flicks of tongue. And due to the importance of this language to the field of communication, it is being practiced at a younger age, most especially here in the Philippines, wherein the language is spoken on a daily basis.
Academically speaking, the English dominates the curriculum as almost all of the subjects are spoken in the vernacular. Aside probably to Filipino and History subject, each of the students are strictly obliged to speak in the English language. Essays and reports are written in English. Debates and recitations are done in English. Even the rules and regulations are all written in forms of formal English. Yet, despite of all of these implementations done the schools, students still gets the hard time polishing their English vocabulary.
“English-carabao”, that is how Filipinos describe the inability to speak the English language smoothly and fluently. Actually, in secondary level, students think that the capability to speak the English fluently can only be done by the geniuses in class, not knowing that it can be practiced by all if just given enough time and focus. Instead, they laugh at those who gradually learn to completely speak a sentence in the English subject. If only they could prioritize this kind of speaking, they may understand not only the lesson, but the world as well.
Internalizing the English language is neither a hypocrite thing, nor hatred for own language. It is only a way to explore, to get a better point of view in the world. How can people communicate without learning the language? It is a unity, not a difference of lifestyle. Everyone has the capability to learn and lobe the English language if we will just try to appreciate its purposes.
By: Dinah Maureen Libunao | Teacher III | Mariveles National Highschool – Cabcaben | Mariveles, Bataan
