To my dear fellow young Filipinos (published in the Baguio Midland Courier)
We all want to be employable. Thus, we all want to be English proficient.
The best way to master a language is to keep in touch with those who speak the language with mastery. If you want to master English, be with those who mastered English. But how about the Filipinos who want to acquire English proficiency but practically cannot have a regular contact with a native English speaker, or at least someone who mastered the language?
Anyone can learn anything he wants to learn as long as he is willing to learn. If you are willing enough to master English, even without a regular contact with a native speaker, there is always a way.
There are two things that could stimulate willingness in learning; the innate passion to the lesson and the persuasion by the importance of the lesson. It is good if you are self-motivated by your natural passion to what you are learning. But it is even better if you are well-informed and thoroughly persuaded that what you are learning is beneficial to you.
You may not have the passion to master English, or any other language aside from your mother tongue. No problem. The thing is you should believe how mastering English could change your life.
English is the global language today. It bridges the gap among the multilingual societies for a unified international business and communication. English proficiency has been an asset to our country. But the passed years had seized our reputation as the best English speaker in Asia.
This indicates that today, we need to exert an extra effort to win back that reputation. Be it for patriotism’s sake of for your own bright future’s sake; hone your English proficiency in English as your weapon to eradicate the oppressive poverty in the Philippines. The mere fact that you are studying, with at least a personal perspective of being holistically stable after finishing your studies, proves that you dream to be successful in the future.
Ignore those who criticize you for “trying hard” to master English. They are nothing but wingless birds.
If you really want to be successful in the future, master English. The time is right now. Success is a choice. Choose it.
Truly yours,
CONVIRON ALTATIS
