Bilingualism
Due
to its rich culture, Philippines is considered as the melting pot of cultures
in Asia. As a result of centuries’ worth of colonization from different
countries, our culture, tradition, beliefs, and even languages show how we and
our way of life have been heavily influenced. Up until now, despite the
fast-paced world as evident in technology and globalization, we have been able
to maintain and nurture the history-rich culture and traditions but most
especially the languages.
I think it is safe to say
that most, if not all, Filipinos know more than one language. Because of
colonization, Filipinos were open to ‘mixed marriages’, thereby exposing
themselves to new languages. Even until now, especially with the advent of
technology where one can easily communicate with a foreigner, we are eager in
learning these foreign languages.
One common example of this
is the start of a conversation through computer-mediated communication (CMC). Just
like how it is explained in the Social Information Processing Theory (SIP), CMC
facilitates and develops relationships even without nonverbal cues. Although it
requires more time, information and messages are taken in SIPs than in gulps.
Participants of CMC looks for something in common or something that the other
has which interests the other. Most participants tend to stay with a “general
topic” such as location, hobbies, and culture. CMC has also been used as a
means to learning a new language. It provides opportunities for people who
wanted to learn a new language via online.
With my short stint at
teaching English to Japanese students, it was difficult teaching them the language
which is totally new to them. But constantly motivating combined with their
eagerness to learn, they successfully learn the language. However, they still
have a thick native accent whenever they speak English. It is normal though,
especially for second language learners. According to Zielinski (n.d.), accent
is “a physical trait which can be practiced. It’s the only difference between a
person learning a second language from a very young age and someone learning it
a little later.”
My students, having learned
another language, are now called a bilingual, specifically a co-ordinate
bilingual. Zielinski stated that a person with a command of two languages is
called a bilingual while a person who can speak and understand more than two
languages is called a multilingual.
According to Spolsky
(1998), there are two groups of bilinguals: the compound and co-ordinate
bilinguals. For compound bilinguals, two languages were assumed to be closely
connected, because one language had been learned after another. Meanwhile,
co-ordinate bilinguals are supposed to have learned two languages separately.
Clearly, my students fit in
the definition of co-ordinate as they have learned two languages separately.
Another
kind of bilingual is called compound bilinguals. Let us not go further looking
for examples for this. With the implementation of K to 12, every child from
Grade 1 to Grade 10 has to undergo the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual
Education (MTB-MLE).
According
to DepEd (2013), MTBMLE is education, formal or non - formal, in which the
learner’s mother tongue and additional languages are used in the classroom.
Learners begin their education in the language they understand best - their
mother tongue - and develop a strong foundation in their mother language before
adding additional languages. Research stresses the fact that children with a
solid foundation in their mother tongue develop stronger literacy abilities in
the school language. Their knowledge and skills transfer across languages. With
the end goal of making Filipino children lifelong learners in their Li (MT), L2
(Filipino, the national language), and L3 (English, the global language) the
learners are more than prepared to develop the competencies in the different
learning areas.
The students who have
undergone or will still undergo MTBMLE will then be considered a compound
bilingual or multilingual for that matter. However, it is still a fact that the
nuisances of language and culture are interwoven and are hard to separate. There
are instances that despite knowing the different rules of grammar and
vocabulary of a certain language, one may not be fully able to comprehend or
express since he/she has not been able to study or immerse in the culture of
the people speaking the language.
Knowledge of culture and customs
enhances the linguistic competence of people. Knowing just what to say at the
right time, not only the dictionary, but also the pragmatic meanings
of words, feeling confident and natural in the L2 environment are the things
essential to be considered a bilingual.
References:
·
Department of Education. (2013). K to 12 Curriculum Guide: Mother Tongue.
Retrieved from: http://www.deped.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Final%20Mother%20Tongue%20Grades%201-3%2001.21.2014_.pdf
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