The trend remains the same: If you don’t know how to speak straight English, with correct grammar and pronunciation, you will not earn respect from others. English has become a status symbol, while mother tongues are looked down upon. This obsession with the English language is even more rampant on social media, where mispronunciation, an accent, and poor grammar and spelling can bring embarrassment.

In an episode of the TLC reality show “90 Day Fiancé,” 24-year-old Jenny from Urdaneta City, who met 37-year-old Larry on a dating site geared towards Filipino women, found overnight fame after pronouncing the word “rude” as “road.” The ridicule hurled at her was similar to what has happened to beauty pageant contestants Maxine Medina, Venus Raj, and Melanie Marquez; boxer and legislator Manny Pacquiao; among others.

In this age of globalization and social media, people have become “grammar nazis,” a term used for a person who habitually correct and criticize others’ language skills. English grammar has become a barometer to determine ones’ intellect, which coincides with a very apparent “verbal class,” particularly in the Philippines.

If you speak crooked English, you will be discriminated against

This obsession Filipinos have for the language of colonizers can be traced back to the wants of society; but, why English? It is an advantage in the corporate world. The language of the colonizers is a global standard for communication. The reason why we must learn a universal language is to be able to compete globally – this is what society wants – but immature people have run rampant in ridiculing others without even realizing English is not the country’s mother tongue.

Inside the classroom, where I have taught for six years, from elementary to tertiary levels, I allow my students to express themselves in any language they wish, especially in my subjects – philosophy, Rizal, ethics. I find it oppressive to force a student to answer a question in English. I once tried to let them answer in English, some responded properly and others had a hard time.

We dwell on nonessential things

Communication is essential. Speaking English is essential, despite language sometimes creating a barrier for successful communication. However, forcing my students to speak for me in a particular language is not essential.

I am happy if they answer in their mother tongue, as they can express themselves. Forcing them to speak English will give them a hard time, grasping for words and lacking a developed thought. Answering in a language they are comfortable with creates an active environment because they can fully express themselves. In this manner, while materials for learning are written in English, it is not a requirement that information be relayed in English. Books can serve as a guide, but student should be free to express themselves in a language they are comfortable using.

The basic purpose of education is to liberate minds. Liberating means giving students a sense of independence and being a lifelong learner, which provides the next generation with a better society.

Every citizen has the right to a proper education, but it is the duty of education itself to hone its citizens and language as a tool for thinking and not oppression. Students should be given the right to express themselves in their mother tongue as it provides them the freedom to utilize their learnings and experiences as critical thinking; they should not be suppressed, the way in which history’s tyrant colonizers did./WDJ