DepEd-Region VII supports SPFL-French and adopts new programs offered by DepEd-NCR starting this school year

“It has always been a marvel to me -- that French language; it has always been a puzzle to me. How beautiful that language is! How expressive it seems to be! How full of grace it is! And when it comes from lips like those [of Sarah Bernhardt], how eloquent and how limpid it is! And, oh, I am always deceived--I always think I am going to understand it.” - Mark Twain, a Biography

In Cebu Province Division 2 science high schools, namely, Minglanilla National Science High School and Medellin Science High School officially started to teach French under the tutelage of native French teachers from Alliance Francaise de Cebu and Alliance Francaise de Manille. Teaching said language is spearheaded by the French Embassy and DepEd-NCR.

In the Philippines it is not only enough to have taught foreign languages but also to have propagated cultural diversities. According to FrancoPhil organizers, a new, fresh and exciting French cultural season in the Philippines, otherwise known as FrancoPhil, the 2011 French cultural season is a play on the word “Francophile,” meaning a lover of French culture, and is a celebration of the ties that bind French and Filipino culture. 

The word also signals the expansion of the cultural season to other major cities such as Cebu, as well as highlights the collaboration between French and Filipino artists in many of the events. The FrancoPhil program, spread throughout the year, is a sustained mission to bring French culture to the greater Filipino public, which usually sees French events as “too highbrow” or too distant from their everyday lives. 

Meanwhile, in a press release of the Department of Education, more foreign languages will be introduced aside from French, Spanish, Japanese and German. 

It said that priming Filipino students for the global arena, DepEd is set to introduce more foreign languages in pilot schools as the department aims to produce more internationally competitive graduates.

Aside from English which is the first foreign language to be mastered by selected secondary students, other foreign languages being taught among third and fourth year students are Spanish, French Japanese and German.

Mandarin, which is widely used in world economic power China and Arabic which is spoken in the vast Middle East market, are set to debut this school year, DepEd said.

Deped’s Bureau of Secondary Education chief Director Lolita Andrada said the Special Program in Foreign Language is designed for schools whose students have demonstrated competence first in English before they start to learn another foreign language.

“Studies have shown that facility in just one foreign language is now perceived as a disadvantage in a global market that is culturally and linguistically diverse,” added Andrada.

She explained that while English is a major language, it only accounts for around 30% of the world gross domestic product and is likely to account for less in the future.

DepEd piloted foreign languages in selected high schools starting with Spanish, Japanese and French in school year 2009-2010. The following year, German was introduced. Mandarin and Arabic are set to be introduced beginning school year 2011-2012.

Currently, Spanish is being taught in 54 high schools across the country, Japanese in 13 high schools, French in 12 high schools and German in 9 high schools. The program is piloted in public secondary schools (preferably with speech laboratory) for students who are in the last two year levels of high school where they are allotted four hours weekly to learn the language.

“We believe the last two years of high school is the most appropriate time to learn a second foreign language because that is the time they are most ready,” Andrada explained.

To prepare the teachers in teaching the foreign languages, DepEd has made an arrangement with the Instituto Cervantes for the teaching of Spanish, with the Japan Foundation Manila for Japanese, the Alliance Francais for French and Goethe Institute for German.

Top-level officials visit MNSHS and observe French classes

DESPITE the circumstances of the great language diversities, the observation of French classes at Minglanilla National Science High School (MNSHS) took place last September 28, 2010 with some attendance, coming from DepEd officials (Central, Regional & Division Offices), French Embassy Linguistic Attaché, Alliance Française de Manille and Alliance Française de Cebu directors of studies, and other foreign language coordinators involved in the special program.

Regional SPFL-F Coordinator Ms. Marcelita S. Dignos through the memorandum issued by Director Recaredo G. Borgonia said  the visit and observation of French classes are geared towards reviewing progress of implementation of the SPFL-F, focusing on the agreed outputs and outcomes within the SPFL-F results framework including the terms in the MOA between the Embassy of France and DepEd which was signed last September 28, 2009, and reviewing actions taken on the recommendations formulated during the conference on start-up activities for the implementation of the teaching of French as a second foreign language SY 2010-2011 in selected Science High Schools in Region VII held last May 28, 2010.

Linguistic Attaché Emilie Flambeaux of the French Embassy to the Philippines emphasized the fact that French was the second international language and a key to prepare Filipino students “for their role as global citizens”. During the special visit at MNSHS, the visitors congratulated the French teachers, faculty members and the head of school Eutiquia S. Alday in their efforts to promote cultural and linguistic diversity. 

On the other hand, DepEd Undersecretary for Programs and Projects Dr. Vilma Labrador during the language assessment and planning workshop held last February 16-19, 2010 at the Tagaytay International Convention Center, reminded the audience that the choice of science high schools was made since science is a key field for both French and Philippine governments. She said French has been already introduced in 13 science high schools from NCR and Region VII. 21 teachers are currently undergoing training in the two French cultural centers, Alliance Française in Manila and Alliance Française in Cebu.

The agreement signifies the important role of DepEd-learning institution as a privileged partner of the Embassy, in terms of the promotion of French culture, language and education in Cebu and the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao, according to Emilie Flambeaux. She also added that Alliance Française has four objectives: to promote the French language, France, Europe and the 70 countries which are members of the French-speaking community; to encourage intellectual exchange and debate; to support Filipino artists and intellectuals, and to advise Filipino students who wish to study French culture and/or study in France. 

DepEd Coordinator for Special Program on Foreign Language (French) Ana Maria Hernandez expressed her profound gratitude to the principal Eutiquia S. Alday in her active role and support to the foreign language, together with faculty members for their hospitality, French teachers Dr. Ermetes F. Adolfo, Jr. and Jacqueline F. Bucao, and the 3^rd year and 4^th year students for their active participation during demo-lessons and their concerted efforts and interests to learn French language.