Leonora Armi Dianne M. So.

“REFLECT: The Problem with our English”

1. Enumerate the insights gained from the articles you have read.

Nowadays, English becomes a secondary language. It is imperative that everyone must

learn how write and speak English correctly especially those whose holding a position where the
acceptability, credibility and effectiveness are dependent on their English communication skills.
The strong foundation of English language must start with the proficiency of school teachers
because they impart knowledge to the school children. Such foundation would enable us to
become competent in speaking and writing the language since we are not native English
speakers.
The way we communicate with others help us in achieving our goal. It starts with writing
an application letter after we graduated from college. In applying for a job, it is not only the
credentials that the potential employer are looking for, but instead, their good and strong
impression on us based on the way we construct our application letter determines if we will land
an interview or not. And even if we got the job, it would not stop from there because we have to
continuously communicate our thoughts, ideas or feelings in a way that others would understand
and accept it. That is why it is important that we become proficient in English language as we
don’t want to embarrass ourselves in an industry where it is the preferred language of instruction
and business. We need to ensure that our English is just right - confident but not overbearing,
courteous but not subservient and coming through in just the right tone.

2. Enumerate the grammar lessons or tips learned from the articles read.

The following are the grammar lessons and tips that I have learned from the article:
a.) Avoid mixed jargons and multiple language registers.

b.) Distinguished the difference between the usage of “go” and “come” when use in a
sentence.

c.) Strengthen the English grammar foundations not only of school children and their
English teachers but also the country’s work force and the rest of adult population.

d.) Everyone should be able to read English sufficiently well and to think and write in
grammatically, structurally and semantically correct English.

e.) Combine and connect English words to form ideas.

f.) Study and be familiar with the linguistic elements of English work - vocabulary parts
of speech sentence construction and its idioms and figures of speech.

g.) We can communicate effectively only if we speak or write using words and meanings
that are already in our readers’ or listeners’ heads.
 h.) Start an English self-improvement efforts in earnest now to enhance credibility when
communicating with others.

i.) We become truly proficient in English by our strong and self-driven effort to excel in
it.

j.) Employer should start an English refresher course to make employees efficient and
effective in using the language.

3. Give your reflections on the problem with our English.

The problem in our English is with ourselves. I think that since English is not our primary
language, it is difficult and challenging for us to use it in the course of our everyday lives. Even
if, for example, it is the language that we use at our home while we speak to our children or
younger siblings, eventually as they go to nursery, they will not be accustomed in speaking that
same language since the other children in the school are using our native language. It would be
difficult for a child to speak English and not being able to understand by his/her peers.
However, teachers should also practice conversing in English effectively – such as using
the proper tenses and pronunciation as well as grammar construction because children look up to
them. I remember when my son is in pre-school and his teacher pronounced the word “delete” as
“de-let” and “experiment” as “ex-pi-riment”, I was horrified.
In the industry where I am working right now, we are adhering to EOP or English Only
Policy. It is helpful indeed because we communicate to our customers in English and we have to
practice in speaking the language spontaneously and confidently. I would consider it very
effective because English language doesn’t work in the same way as Filipino language does. We
need to know how to properly combine or use correct English words to form ideas, which means
to be able to write and speak clear, logical and grammatically correct sentences. Otherwise, we
will end up groping with English words and awkwardly fit them into an entirely different
linguistic structure of Tagalog.
The key is to read English books loudly and practice speaking in English. It may be
awkward at first, but when you get the grasp of it, you will become fluent in speaking the
language.