Chapter 7 - The Teaching of the Language Subjects

The teaching of language subjects is introduced in Chapter 7. The Languages used in the Kto12 program are Mother Tongue, Filipino and English. These 3 languages are the medium of instruction in teaching a lesson to students. Mother tongue language is introduced in Grade 1 to Grade 3. The Filipino and English languages are introduced in Grade 4 to Grade 10(except in the subject Filipino and English). Through the use of these 3 languages, students will be able to understand the topic easier.

Mother Tongue- Based Multilingual Education is the beginning language of teaching. It leads to the learning of second language, as well as the third language. Mother tongue is the first language learned by a child. The end goals of MTB-MLE are cognitive development, academic development and second language development which results to lifelong learning communicative competence.

The learning standard of MTB-MLE implies that Mother tongue should be used appropriately and effectively in oral, visual and written communication. In the key stage standard, it spells the standards for each learning areas in each key stage. Since that Mother tongue is only taught from grade 1 to 3, the key stage is only one. By the end of grade 3, students are able to communicate using their first language and able to understand and create stories. In grade level standards, this includes the specific learning areas in every grade level.

The teaching of Filipino language or second language contributes to the formation of the students to have: communicative competence, reflective and critical thinking and literary appreciation. The 5 macro skills in teaching Filipino in order for the students to learn are pakikinig, pagsasalita, pagbasa, pagsulat at panonood. To make the Flipino curriculum responsiveand relevant, it was based on: the nature and needs of the students, and the needs of society and the global community.

The learning area of Filipino curriculum describes the intended outcomes that are expected to be realized in the teaching of Filipino as a subject in the entire Kto12 Curriculum. Key stage standards are the intended outcomes of Filipino teaching at each key stage in the whole stretch of the Kto12 curriculum guide. In grade level standards, the intended outcomes are more specific at each grade level.

The teaching of English in the Kto12 curriculum has an end goal of giving the students a communicative competence which gives the students an ability to understand and use language appropriately to communicate with other people. It’s also end goal is multilitiracies which implies that the text is not the only way to communicate. Making meaning is at the center of the framework for English language teaching. Assessment and feedback are the essential elements of language teaching.

The learning area standard of English language teaching implies that the learner demonstrates mastery of basic skills in the English language arts communicates appropriately fluently and orally and writes for a variety of purposes. Key stage standards in English language, spells out the standards for each learning areas in each key stage. In kindergarten, a grade level standard specifies the learning outcomes in each grade level.

Communicative competence is the goal of language teaching in Mother tongue, Filipino and English. It is the ability of the learners to understand and use language appropriately to communicate in authentic social and school environments. It includes grammatical competence, sociolinguistic competence, discourse competence and strategies competence.

The principles of language learning includes cognitive, linguistic and socio affective.  In cognitive principle, learners are motivated to perform by the thought of a reward, tangible or intangible, long or short term. In linguistic principle, a learner’s native language creates both facilitating and interfering effects on learning. In socio affective domain, learning a language also involves learning a complex system of cultural customs, values and ways of thinking, feeling or acting.

Grammar Translation Method is one of the methods used in language teaching. From the name itself “grammar”, it focuses on the grammar. It is more on vocabulary. It gives more attention in the content of the text.  Another one is direct method. In this method, grammar is taught inductively. Some methods are audio lingual, the designer method total physical response, the natural method.

Communicative language teaching has a primary goal to let students acquire proficiency through pragmatic uses of the target language in speaking, listening, reading and writing. The advantage of CLT is it let the students talk without limit. The principles of communicative language teaching are learner-centered teaching, cooperative learning, interactive language education, whole language education, content centered education and task-based education.

In this chapter, I have learned that there are 3 languages using in teaching. Those are the Mother Tongue, Filipino and English. Mother Tongue is the first language learned by a child and this is introduced in the first key stage. Filipino subject was used in teaching in order for the students to learn and connect the first language to third language which is the English. Also I have learned that English language is taught because its goal is to develop the communicative competence of the students. In teaching, it is needed that the medium of the instruction must be relevant and appropriate to students.

As a teacher in secondary education, Filipino and English are the languages that I will use as a medium of instruction. In discussion, I should implement English language as a medium of instruction especially in English subject. Being an, English teacher, it is needed that I should use English language in communicating to my students. It is expected that when you are an English major, you should use English in teaching. When I use English language as a medium of instruction, I will consider the communicative competence of my students. If they are having a hard time in speaking English, I will encourage them until their speaking skills are well developed.