(MANILA BULLETIN) Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has filed a bill that seeks the inclusion of foreign languages as an elective course in all higher education institutions in the country.
Senate Bill No. 2341, or the proposed Foreign Language Education Act, primarily mandates the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to develop and provide a three-unit basic foreign language courses for beginners in all higher education institutions.
The program started In 2009 in select schools and only offered Spanish language but was later expanded to include Nihongo, French, German, Mandarin, and Korean.
The measure, he said, is aimed at continuing the special program in foreign language classes currently implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd) in public schools for Grades 7 to 12 students.
The program started in 2009 in select schools and only offered Spanish language but was later expanded to include Nihongo, French, German, Mandarin, and Korean.
Estrada said the bill would help prepare students adjust in linguistically and culturally diverse workplaces.
“This will make the Filipino students adequately equipped to be 21st century learners. They would be able to connect with the world and be more globally competitive in their future workplaces,” Estrada said.
“This would benefit Filipino students as they will be able to communicate efficiently with other foreign nationals and will have better job opportunities in companies that require multilingual employees,” he also said.
He clarified, however, that the inclusion of foreign language courses would only be an elective course and will not in any way replace Filipino as a core subject.
Estrada also said the bill would not only provide students a competitive advantage when they start working but would also give them personal growth.
“Mapapalawak nito ang kaalaman, karanasan at pag-unawa ng mga mag-aaral sa iba’t ibang kultura bukod pa sa mapapataas din ang kanilang kumpiyansa (This will expand students’ knowledge, experience and understanding of different cultures in addition to increasing their confidence),” he stressed.