Philippine English…. As We Know It

The homework of my son has tickled my mind and so, I decided to write something about it. But, at the same time, a short conversation with a friend who was telling me about a dilemma that he is experiencing with work. This is not to offend anyone, but, I guess, this should be a realization, especially those who are in the corporate world.

We know that the English language is internationally recognized. And that is why we have 12 years of learning (because of the K to 12 educational system now) the language. From the basics during grade school until high school and advanced English skills in College. So, why do we need to learn the language when we are also taught to be patriotic?

It is not turning away from your country if you are learning the English language because knowing how to read, write, and speak the English language allows you to explore the world right in your hands. Imagine what a waste it can be if we don’t know how to understand English, then the Philippines would not be among the top users of the internet! We want to learn and we continue to learn by reading, whether they are through books, or through various sites on the internet. Indeed, you don’t need to have the highest honors in English, but, at least, learn the basics, and if you think you still need to improve, then never hesitate to learn.

I remember the time when I was applying for a job at a BPO 12 years back. As far as I remember, we were about 20 applicants set for an interview and examination. I didn’t realize that just for a call center agent, you need to go through numerous examinations and interviews. The tests were simple – basic English, basic Math, IQ. The whole day I was having those tests and interviews without breakfast nor lunch because I was too nervous to eat. I just wanted to get over it. I was hoping to pass, but I told myself that if I don’t get in, there was another company that I can turn to. Luckily, after 4 written exams and 4 interviews, the results came in at 8 pm. I PASSED! Yey! But, as I looked around, there were only 3 of us who were left.

Some of the applicants who did not pass stayed and probably wanted to talk to the interviewer if they could reconsider. I asked them why they failed. A unanimous answer was, they were instructed to enroll for an English Proficiency Class. I felt bad for them, but it was how it was. And not judging them, but probably, their grasp of the English language was not as good as those who graduated in the city.

So, where is the problem?

We are taught by Filipino teachers who also learned from a fellow-Filipino. What we have learned have been passed on for generations. And of course, with time, there is some level of language drift. This does not only occur here in the Philippines but as well, in other countries. Language drift is caused by the ever-changing times that promotes new ideas, inventions, and technology. With the Filipino language itself, I know you are aware of how the movie lines of Rogelio de la Rosa before are far different than how Piolo Pascual delivers his lines. Before it was more intense, with depth, some words are not even heard today.

Our Philippine English is influenced by our exposure to different cultures because of the Spaniards and other settlers in The Philippines. But of course, there are foreign words who are now recognized globally such as hara-kiri, soduko, tsunami, and many more. Not to mention, there are words that have a different meaning that we use today such as mouse, web, and surf. These are all adopted because of how technology has changed our lives today.

English as A Second Language

It is kind of hard to imagine how a company would hire employees who could not understand or write basic English even if their position requires them to be in communication with various people. For example, an employee who is working in the province may need to contact a company in Manila. Naturally, professionals would be speaking in English and all other communications are written in English. But what happens when this employee is either afraid to face a person who speaks English better than her? Should she ask for help? Of course, there is nothing wrong to ask help, but to constantly bother someone to decipher what the message in the email was all about or to ask how to construct a sentence is just over the top. Yes! That is too much to ask, even if you are asking a dear friend.

If you feel that you are short of something and that skill is essential to your work, why not step up and empower yourself with the knowledge that you need. Boost your confidence! You see, regardless of how you speak the English language- whether you speak it with a twang or just how Filipinos speak the English language, you should embrace the thought that it is a must-learn skill.

Philippine English is not perfect. This is because we are taught by people who speak English as their second language. Remember that some of these teachers may not be the best to teach the subject. Why? Because the government has placed teachers who have low-English skills in grade school and those with higher English proficiency are placed in College. Shouldn’t the formative years have a stronger foundation?

One problem that was pointed out when Filipino was assigned to be the main form of teaching all subjects. Indeed, it is hard to translate every mathematical jargon into Filipino. And that would definitely make every student dizzy. And probably may be the cause of their failing grades. So, enter the English Language. You cannot just turn your back and hope that you understand the subject without truly giving time to study and learn. It’s time to be more vigilant about how we present ourselves. We should not limit ourselves to what we can do.

Philippine English may not be understood by an English native speaker, but, we have the capability to understand them if we try to do more learning. Again, I am not influencing anybody to turn their backs to the country where they were born, I am simply saying that, whether we like it or not, someday, somehow, you would find the importance of learning the English language. Don’t get yourself tongue-tied or find an excuse that you were absent during the time it was taught. Better learn it now and embrace it. It will never make you less of a Filipino.

DISCLAIMER: I am not an English teacher nor a Linguistics professor. This article only aims to cite the difference between how we speak the English language compared to the native speakers and the importance of learning the English language.