BRITISH AND PINOY VOICES

BRITISH AND PINOY VOICES

ACKNOWLEDGES THE PHILIPPINES

FOR FURTHER AGILE ASSIMILATION OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCES

The Filamer Association of Majors in English (FAME) coalesced among the 900 and more local and internationally acclaimed delegates of the first ever Philippine International English Language Conference and Networking held last January 31-February 1, 2009. The event was organized by the British Council of the Philippines as directed by Mr. Andrew Picken in cooperation with their consulting partners: Ateneo Center for English Language (ACELT), De La Salle University, Universtiy of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas. The plenary had focused on the four main strands: Language Teaching and Curriculum Development, Varieties of English, New Technologies in English Language Teaching and, English in the Workplace.

The British Council Teachers’ Club paved the way for the six Arts and Sciences students (Nicole Ledesma-Asombrado, Jonabelle De la Cruz, Dulce Kristina Morales and Jeru Denaga who will finish their studies this March 2009. The other two are Don Sasu and Cel Shama Cabarles, all AB sophomores) into which the Adviser, Ms. Ferlie F. Soquino was a guaranteed member.

Beginning with the first few steps they had at the SMX Building in Pasay City, Philippines, everyone thought this was just a typically boring seminar that awaits one another. And when asked by the coordinator to fall in line, each eyes looked straight into the organizer and both ears surprised. All of which were professionals speaking internationally the English Language, and probably it is a bite of an amazingly different adventure and a bit of challenge on our part.

The invited speakers were big time professionals:

David Nunan
Chair and Professor of Applied LInguistics and
Director of the English Centre at the University of Hongkong

”From the Classroom to the Workplace: Trends and Issues in Language Course Design”

Kingsley Bolton
Professor of English Linguistics at Stockholm University

” World Englishes: Implications for Language Learning and Language Teaching”

Gavin Dudeney
Has worked in education since 1988 as a teacher, materials developer, IT manager and web/user interface designer.

“Trends in Using Technology in the Language Classroom: Implications for Teachers and Trainers of English”

Jane Lockwood
Head of the Language Centre at the Hong Kong Institute of Education

“English in the BPO: Issues and and Challenges”

Each was meant to offer exiting opportunities for EILTS professionals and students to share and discuss ideas. As soon as the six Filamerian students and one respected adviser started to push the steel door each can shout deep inside ones soul, “Wow!” An extremely huge spacious room loaded with more than a hundred chairs and several tables arranged in three rows for all delegates.

While finding their seats, David Nunan warmed up the crowd with a brilliant speech of his own. He is a jolly yet straight to the point speaker. He was used to in elaborating ideas on the language approaches, types of data’s and his magnificent TBLT Framework. And one thing is for sure, he got highly-unique experiences to tell that the Mastery of a Teacher comes for a Mastery of Students. The tall sturdy man al so specified procedures like a step by step carrying of word analysis then acquisition of students can be reaped by specifying learning goals and objectives, creation of practical tasks to enhance those things so each can be able to develop and integrate enabling skills.

This was not all but true, it was later that everyone realized after the Madame Master of Ceremony announced that aside from the enormous hall, there were still eight additional function rooms left. These structures were small yet enough space was built for focus on the private speakers carrying each individual topics. One example was Ms, Caroline Meck, who emphasized the importance and ways on how to make technological innovations like internet that must be adaptable for accessing English topics on students learning points. Yet aside from a formal, delicious lunch and desserts, one speaker showed us the real highlight of the said event.

She was a petite lady in white hav ing a dark black chaleco, a true bloom Thomasites. And no one must underestimate her stature because by all means, she is a young looking professor at present. Upon lending ones ears to her, one can say of no doubt that Filipino speakers are much more interesting to hear for they got this crispiness of ideas that tighten ones concentration and deepen ones brainstorming skills. She was known as Miss Jansen Mayor. At a large plenary hall, she discussed to the crowd wide varieties of English including the Myths and Fallaces, Linguicism, popular culture and its pedagogical implications. Her videos were the funniest yet appealing statements. The speakers of English had different attitudes towards grasping a specific culture of the International Language like Manny Pacqiuao but then he was never laughed out even once by his interviewees. Another one was a soldier for Iraq who freely delivered his own understanding and popular usage of words to which even a specific television Newscaster cannot understand what he meant. What is common among them is they know how to be particular with their usage of the language and its effectivity, and the non-verbal attitudes of delivery do count too. Ms. Jansen enlightened us with one statement, “In fact, what the use of your grammar if you can be barely understood by the one you’re having conversation with?”

On the final day of our seminar, we have much fun with the big cute bears hoping we could win and take one home in the future. Aside from the loaded books and opportunities we have been updated from several internationally acclaimed schools like in UK and the US embassy informations itself, the adventure of going to the famous Mall of Asia, Baywalk and the Hostel that showered us with much enjoyment. Some stayed with the relatives they haven’t seen for such longer years and that was also a gift time can never vanished. All of which, we owe m uch greater to the Divine Providence, and much to our ever affectionate adviser. But we all know this was not yet an end, this February another seminar awaits another lucky opportunity for a bunch of participants. Who knows the internet too might give us another hint for such guarantees of a once in a lifetime experience one can never dare to forget….. though breath fails to subdue.