Philippine Education

English only, please

The Philippines is still the third-largest English-speaking country in the world. But more and more, we have to qualify this statement. Does it mean a deep knowledge of English, or functional English just enough to get by? And what does this statement mean – that there is only one kind of English in the world? […]

A mansion of many languages

In 1977, my mentor, the poet and National Artist for Literature and Theater Rolando S. Tinio, said: “It is too simple-minded to suppose that enthusiasm for Filipino as lingua franca and national language of the country involves the elimination of English usage or training for it in schools. Proficiency in English provides us with all […]

How to do well in English

Whether the learning is face-to-face, blended, or online, the basic principles of learning English remain. You have to be engaged with the text (printed, visual, aural) and with the teacher (real or virtual).  How to learn English well, in the Age of COVID 19? Listen to the teacher. When the teacher repeats a point two […]

A teacher’s tales

This essay is for my mother, who taught Music in many classrooms for more than 40 years I’ve been teaching for 33 years – the longest job I’ve had. But because I stayed here longest, that means I love this job. I admire those who’ve spent 40 years teaching without repeating themselves. They’ve taught for […]

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