DepEd lines up Filipino language enrichment activities in August

Thursday 12th of July 2012

PASIG CITY, July 12 --The Department of Education, in cooperation with the Komisyon Sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) celebrates August as the National Language Month to further strengthen the use of Filipino as the national language that binds all Filipinos.

The August celebration will also bring to fore the 75th year of the declaration of Tagalog as the basic language of communication.

“We can further boost our sense of nationalism if we continue to strengthen Filipino as a national language,” Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro said in a statement.

The country celebrates the National Language Month even as public schools nationwide started implementing the Mother-Tongue-Based Multi-Lingual Education (MTB-MLE) from Kinder up to Grade 3. Here, the medium of instruction used in discussing class lessons is the language used at home by the learners.

According to Luistro this strategy was bolstered by studies which showed that mother-tongued based education develops fast and better learners who are more ready to learn a second and a third language.

The August celebration is divided into five weeks with each week espousing a different theme. The week of August 1 to 7 highlights the 75th year of pushing Filipino in Philippine education and its use in official communication and correspondence.

August 8 to 14 is about Filipino and other dialects within the context of K to 12 and MTB-MLE and how the use of mother tongue can enrich the national language.

August 15 to 21 highlights Filipino and regional dialects as the language that promotes peace. The center of celebration is the deeper understanding of the national anthem “Lupang Hinirang” and taking to heart the essence of “Panatang Makabayan.”

August 23 to 28 celebrates Filipino as the universal language that promotes a stable society. The emphasis here is on the strengthening of the use of Filipino in teaching and in discussions inside and outside the classroom.

The celebration will be capped on August 29 to 31 with the holding of school activities that are consistent with the ideals of “tuwid na daan.” (DepEd)