By Rosyline CaroAs Filipinos, we are fortunate in being an international people, with many ethnicities calling the Philippines home. An estimated 11 million work overseas which make up a significant percentage of the Filipino population. . This provides up to ten percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the Philippine economy. We are known for our hospitality and recognised as true Pearls of the Orient.
There are many advantages to speaking another language; it brings opportunities for individuals, it brings families closer, and forges stronger community ties. In the Philippines alone, Filipinos are simultaneous bilinguals having been introduced to more than one language from birth. As children, we grow up speaking our provincial language, the national Filipino language, and English. Not so long ago, Spanish had been a part of our linguistic repertoire.
According to Ethnologue.com, there are at least 173 spoken languages in the Philippines. And according to the Philippine Department of Tourism, there are nine languages that are the most widely spoken; they are Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Bicol, Waray -Waray, Capampangan, Pangasinan, and Maranao. We also have a bilingual educational system which promotes the acquisition of other languages from the primary years right through to secondary and tertiary years, with some subjects taught exclusively in another language.
As Filipinos living overseas particularly in Australia, we are removed from this bilingual setting. We are thrust into a country where there is only one language, and that is English. This poses a challenge for the Filipino families and the Filipino community. A significant percentage of Australian Filipinos are in mixed marriages, where the other partner is from a different ethnicity and therefore a different language making English the common language in their families. Children growing up in this monolingual environment would have missed out on the many benefits of bilingualism (or multilingualism).
Knowing another language promotes cognitive development in children. Research has found that children who are fluent in another language perform better at school. Being fluent in your home language assists in learning another language. Some parents feel that if the child learns another language it will interfere with learning English, or may delay their learning. The opposite is true. Children who already know another language acquire another language faster because they have already developed the necessary skills to acquire a language.
Knowing one’s home language assists in the formation of one’s identity. Knowing how to speak Filipino assists in how we construct our identities; and this is especially important for Filipinos overseas. Being Filipino is not just about eating adobo, or watching TFC; our Filipino identities are tied up with the language that we speak.
Speaking Filipino brings families closer. The ability to communicate with your relatives here and overseas is a definite blessing. Speaking Filipino also brings us closer as a community united by one language.
There are many advantages to speaking another language; it brings opportunities for individuals, it brings families closer, and forges stronger community ties. In the Philippines alone, Filipinos are simultaneous bilinguals having been introduced to more than one language from birth. As children, we grow up speaking our provincial language, the national Filipino language, and English. Not so long ago, Spanish had been a part of our linguistic repertoire.
According to Ethnologue.com, there are at least 173 spoken languages in the Philippines. And according to the Philippine Department of Tourism, there are nine languages that are the most widely spoken; they are Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Bicol, Waray -Waray, Capampangan, Pangasinan, and Maranao. We also have a bilingual educational system which promotes the acquisition of other languages from the primary years right through to secondary and tertiary years, with some subjects taught exclusively in another language.
As Filipinos living overseas particularly in Australia, we are removed from this bilingual setting. We are thrust into a country where there is only one language, and that is English. This poses a challenge for the Filipino families and the Filipino community. A significant percentage of Australian Filipinos are in mixed marriages, where the other partner is from a different ethnicity and therefore a different language making English the common language in their families. Children growing up in this monolingual environment would have missed out on the many benefits of bilingualism (or multilingualism).
Knowing another language promotes cognitive development in children. Research has found that children who are fluent in another language perform better at school. Being fluent in your home language assists in learning another language. Some parents feel that if the child learns another language it will interfere with learning English, or may delay their learning. The opposite is true. Children who already know another language acquire another language faster because they have already developed the necessary skills to acquire a language.
Knowing one’s home language assists in the formation of one’s identity. Knowing how to speak Filipino assists in how we construct our identities; and this is especially important for Filipinos overseas. Being Filipino is not just about eating adobo, or watching TFC; our Filipino identities are tied up with the language that we speak.
Speaking Filipino brings families closer. The ability to communicate with your relatives here and overseas is a definite blessing. Speaking Filipino also brings us closer as a community united by one language.
The Penrith Community Filipino School (PCFS) operates at the St. Marys Senior Citizens Centre, St. Marys Corner Community and Cultural Precinct, 29 Swanston Street, St Marys. This school is under the NSW Community Languages Schools Program of the NSW Department of Education and Training. It offers Filipino language classes from primary to secondary, accepting students from all backgrounds and levels even up to 24 years old.
The school also has an extensive cultural program. The students learn about Philippine culture through folk dance lessons, games, arts and crafts and even cooking lessons. For enquiries or enrolments contact Divina on 9834 4626 or email plcaa.inc@gmail.com. Let us encourage everyone and experience the advantage of knowing more than one language.
The school also has an extensive cultural program. The students learn about Philippine culture through folk dance lessons, games, arts and crafts and even cooking lessons. For enquiries or enrolments contact Divina on 9834 4626 or email plcaa.inc@gmail.com. Let us encourage everyone and experience the advantage of knowing more than one language.
Let’s speak Filipino!
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