Cebu International EFL Conference

Abstract of paper

Authors
    Aurelio P. Vilbar, Dina Ocampo, Leonor Diaz, Portia Padilla, Victor Villanueva, Tito Paulo Fontanos, Mark Maca, Liza Villanueva, Roberto Ruda, Ricky  Bereber.
   
    Presenting speaker

Prof. Aurelio P. Vilbar,

University of the Philippines in the Visayas-Cebu College

Title
English Language Teaching in a Multilingual Context

Abstract
With 171 local languages, English and Filipino as official languages, the Philippines is multilingual.  The average Filipino is quadrilingual, unfortunately the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Philippines has been regarded as a liability in basic education. 

This paper presents the findings of a nation-wide consultative workshop on language and literacy strategies for basic education in the Philippines using the Valencia and Wixson’s (2004) quality teaching framework.  It addresses the following multilingual issues:  What languages should be learned by Filipinos; What should be the medium/s of instruction and; What strategies should be done to achieve the outcomes? 

The findings show that first language shall be used for: Beginning Reading from Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) - Grade 1; Mathematics and Science from ECCD - Grade 3 and, Social Science from ECCD-Grade 2. The national language Filipino shall be used for Beginning Reading in Filipino - Grade 2; Filipino language subject; Social Science in Grade 3 - High School and; Home Technology/Economics in Grade 4 - High School.  English shall be used for Science and Mathematics in Grade 4 - High School and English language subject.  Arabic shall be one of the languages to be learned in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and in Muslim-dominated schools.  Any marketable foreign language i.e. Chinese, Korean shall be offered as a language elective in the third or fourth year high school.