Four factors to consider in a language program

The next school year seems to be exciting! There is a proposal for the intensive English language training in our school - for the students, that is. The management of our school would like that our students are proficient in the language so that they can compete well in the global market. I am not saying that our students cannot speak English, but seemingly a lot of enhancements need to be done.

Now I am on my toes. I have kept on thinking on the various strategies and techniques to take to make this project successful. In other words, I am challenged!

On the hindsight, let me share with you what I have learned in my almost 24 years of English language teaching and professional training and in my studies of applied linguistics. Basically, what I am writing here is my think-aloud protocol so that I can take necessary steps for the successful implementation of our revitalized English language program come academic year 2011-2012.

In my point of view, these are the factors that need to be considered:

1. Motivation. Language proficiency does not take place overnight. For the learners to become proficient, they need to practice, practice, and practice. Also, they need to have good motivation why they are given that intensive English language program training. Why? Because no matter how good the program is and how excellent the teachers are if the learners themselves are not well motivated, they will never assimilate the lessons.

2. Interest. Learning a language or any other field required an enormous amount of interest both from the teachers and the learners. For the teachers, their genuine interest in what they are going to impart to their students is highly important. In so doing the students might be influenced and get interested, too. Why am I saying this? You see I am connected with a school that offers technology courses, i.e. engineering and computer-related courses where students are more interested in technical stuff. As a matter of fact, some students would claim that they do not give much attention to English courses for they are just minor courses. Hence, students must and should develop that interest in their English courses, too, come June. Otherwise, this vision of making them proficient will only remain a wishful thinking.

3. Attitude. Many say that English is a global language. And from the linguistics point of view, it does not mean American or British English. You see there are many Englishes in the world; in fact Philippine English is considered as one. Perhaps what we need to do is to develop that attitude that in this globalized world, one's accent does not really matter as long as it is understood. In linguistics point of view, intelligibility comes first - meaning the speaker must be understood, followed by propriety - meaning the speaker uses the right expression in a particular context, and, of course, grammar. Being the third in the rank, therefore, one's grammar is not given so much importance as long as the speaker gets the message across at the right time, in the right context. And this is a common problem among Filipinos - we (I am not generalizing though) tend to judge English speakers based on their grammar. If the grammar is wrong we tend to laugh coupled with the expression "pa English-English pa kase..." And if this attitude penetrates the students and teachers in our school, people would tend to shy away from speaking in English.

4. Support. No language policy and program will work without the support, - logistics, moral, and most importantly, financial. Initially, additional manpower, additional labs, materials and equipment are necessary. And, of course, we highly need the trust and confidence of the people around us. Be assured that we are committed to do the hard work as long as we know that we are trusted. If there will be glitches along the way, we are willing to learn from our mistakes and move on from there.

Now, this intensive English program proposal is a very good project; it can be the benchmark and the best feature of an academic institution. I am positive that the management will pull the school's resources together to make this endeavor a success.

Kudos to all!