“One language sets you in a corridor of life. Two languages open every door along the way.” – Frank Smith
The quotation from Frank Smith is indeed true as the Department of Education opens doors of opportunities to the selected students who are under the SPFL program. DepEd enhanced the skills of students that will surely make them both locally and internationally competent through Special program in Foreign Language. The program aids learners to enhance and strengthen their macro-skills; listening, speaking, reading, writing and viewing that important in studying foreign language. The program aims to enhance the ability of learners to engage in meaningful interaction in a linguistically and culturally global environment.
Through the help of the program it opens variety of experiences and benefits to the learners. First, learning foreign language helps to connect to other people. The most rewarding aspects of the human experience is our ability to connect with others. Being able to communicate with someone in his or her language is an incredible gif. Second, learning foreign language helps to develop the cognitive benefits of learning languages, learners who speak more than one language have improved memory, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, enhanced concentration, ability to multitask, and better listening skills. Also being able to communicate in another language exposes learners to fosters an appreciation for the traditions, religions, arts, and history of the people associated with that language. Greater understanding, in turn, promotes greater tolerance, empathy, and acceptance of others—with studies showing that children who have studied another language are more open toward and express more positive attitudes toward the culture associated with that language. In addition, learning foreign language boosts the learners’ confidence by making his or her share of mistakes while discovering a new language—often in front of an audience. It’s a necessary part of the learning process. Learning a language means putting yourself out there and moving out of your comfort zone. The upside is the amazing sense of accomplishment you’ll feel when learners manage to express their selves using foreign language and most importantly conversing with someone in their native language.
Lastly, learners equipped with foreign language perceive life differently, broadly and positively. Students are very optimistic to pursue their aspirations and passion in life for they have acquired skills in language that will surely be their edge when they are already in the world of professionals locally and globally.
By: Ms. Princess Diane O. Cornejo | Teacher I | Bataan National High School | Balanga, Bataan
