Fortunate and privileged.
These words, I believe, fittingly describe the high school students in those Philippine public schools that have decided to include the study of foreign languages in their curriculums. That is, other than English, which technically (and statistically) appears to be the default second language.
This entire endeavor didn't come as a surprise to many because this has already been in the works for nearly a decade ago, when the Department of Education (DepEd), the government body for the education sector, introduced the course in public schools circa 2009 to 2010. Currently, the number of public schools that fall in this category is growing as well as the languages being taught. Primarily, there was Arabic and Chinese Mandarin. Then there's German, French, Spanish, Japanese, and even the Indonesian mother tongue, Bahasa, came along. Korean will also be hitting the blackboards pretty soon.
Now, here's why I thought 'fortunate' and 'privileged' aptly defines those kids who'll undergo this program. The fact that they do not have to take up some tertiary or vocational course that focus on such is one strong reason. Another is that there's no need to search for the opportunity to study. Instead, it will be the other way around since it's already in their curriculum. Moreover, this essentially is a job-specific skill in itself, especially if this turns out as a requirement in a job they'll apply for in the future. Besides, the long-term gain is that students will develop 'stock knowledge' in speaking a foreign language, making them more competent players in a corporate biome along with its apex predators, all basking gloriously in their natural habitats.
However, this somewhat creates an implication which in effect troubles me: the notion that Filipinos are actually destined to become foreign workers. Of course, Filipinos are not the only partakers in the capitalist diaspora, as several countries experience high statistics of overseas workers. But the Philippines has already created its own image, one that's known worldwide, as such.
Now, does this mean that the next generation of Filipinos is doomed to this fate? Maybe. Maybe not. It all depends if there's careful planning involved, coupled with responsible and proactive demographic forecasting.
Don't get me wrong though: I'm not against this program. Otherwise, I wouldn't have mentioned how I deemed its beneficiaries as propitious. In fact, this whole shtick reminds me of Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippines' national hero and his famous quote: "The youth is the hope of the nation." He's actually a polyglot or someone who knows and speaks several languages. In a manner of speaking, it's like the DepEd took heed of Dr. Rizal's advice and began training the Filipino youth (the students in this case) to become polyglots themselves.
Moreover, experts announced that studying a foreign language increases one's IQ. In short, this is significant in improving students' brain power. Turns out this language program is serving an even more positive purpose than what it's supposed to be.
But I think we'd be missing the entire point if we're going to look at it in these perspectives. My only point, in this case, is that the sociocultural trend created by the growing number of overseas Filipino workers has turned into something which most see not only as a permanent solution to escape poverty but also as the only means for a stable job. And now that students are being taught all these European and other Asian languages, seems like an indirect and gradual act of instilling into their minds that working abroad is a better option. When in fact, if we could try to shed light to what's plaguing the nation in relation to labor issues, I'm pretty sure a someone's going to come up with a solution. One that would result into what I'd like to call a win-win situation for both the country and its future. Because it will be pretty ironic for people to focus their resources and energy on something that will result in an unforeseeable crisis that will eventually become an irreparable dilemma.
Besides, if studying foreign languages does increase one's IQ, wouldn't it, therefore, be a waste to send off your brightest to someplace far away and show off their skills to the benefit of someone else other than their own countrymen?
Sources:
CNN Philippines. (2017). Public schools to teach Korean in high school. http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2017/06/24/Public-schools-to-teach-Korean-in-high-school.html. Retrieved on 21 July 2017.
Department of Education Philippines. (2017). DepEd enhances learners’ foreign language skills through Special Program in Foreign Language. http://www.deped.gov.ph/press-releases/deped-enhances-learners%E2%80%99-foreign-language-skills-through-special-program-foreign. Retrieved on 21 July 2017.
(Article was first posted in screamtoadstool.wordpress.com)