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LATEST assessment tests on public schoolchildren show
an ever so small improvement in English proficiency. Is it finally
the light at the end of the tunnel—a new generation of Filipinos
who speak real English and not some bastardized form? Filipinos who
know proper grammar like we do? Filipinos who can express ideas like
Claro M. Recto of yore? Filipinos who can grapple with concepts in
English as if it is our first language?
Not by a long shot. It will take
more than a blimp in the statistics to regain our mastery of English
for which we were used to be known. Remember we can rightfully claim
that we are the second largest English-speaking country in the world
after dear America.
But why, oh why, this fixation
with the English language that has caused endless debates and
acrimonious fights on official languages in Congress and on medium
of instruction in our classrooms? Filipino (Tagalog) or English, or
both, or even Cebuano and Ilonggo.
The reasons are straightforward.
Speaking straight English is the passport to success and freedom. It
cuts you out among the unemployed to the ranks of a desirable
worker. It gives you the chance to migrate and be all you can be
although this is increasingly less the case. In a most basic way,
speaking good English defines an educated and cultured Filipino, not
somebody to be laughed at during beauty pageants or TV shows.
English is the badge of “sosi-ness” that without it, spells
personal failure in many ways and our country’s barometer of
advancement or regression. Notice the usual lament of “how bad
their English is or we no longer speak English the way we did.”
That sums it up.
Surely speaking English is
important. It is more so these days of a lone English-speaking
superpower. We are of course grateful to our American masters and
teachers who gave us the gift of tongue. For us to be at least
bilingual from birth, to engage foreigners in friendly banter and to
travel, study and work in the States.
But clearly speaking English is
not the sole measure. If it were that simple and easy, I will retire
to Bantayan tomorrow. It is equally true that speaking English
cannot be the end all and be all of our education system, that not
to churn out good English speakers condemns the entire learning
apparatus to hell and hence the fate of our nation. If it were so,
then how do we explain the ascendancy of Japan, the rise of China,
the emergence of Korea and the fast coming Vietnam—all with
kindergarten English? That is just for Asia, look beyond and look
through history and the same findings hold.
It so happened that in this time
and age, it is English-centric and plus our colonial affair, we are
fixated unhealthily on English. What is essential that we can
communicate clearly in any language, to transmit cherished values
through actions and to pursue excellence with character?
The use of language is part of
the bigger social phenomenon of culture. What is the value of
speaking great English when we don’t learn, when English-speaking
professionals can’t show up on time, when champion debaters in
English have faulty logic. It is better to live right.
Studies now point to the use of
the vernacular as a medium of instruction in the early years to
facilitate teaching and learning. Media has long embraced Filipino
as our lingua franca that sends the message home. It is acceptable
and downright fashionable to speak deep and high Tagalog in
political circles. It is time we take English what it is - a tool to
communicate. Stop the circular arguments on which language comes
first. After all, the use or abuse of English is not the problem; we
are.
geronimo.sy@gmail.com
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