Never fear English

[russpogi]

Why is there fear of the english language? I don't recall it being that way when I was going to elementary school in the 70's. Maybe it's just my impression because my auntie was an english professor and I learned to speak english and tagalog at the same time. Is it because the educational system has gone down to the point that people can neither speak/write english or tagalog properly without resorting to text speak or taglish? I teach my daughter to speak tagalog at home and to only speak english to her friends. Taglish is frowned upon, either speak tagalog or speak english but don't do both at the same time.

Nowadays, English is indeed "feared". Try talking to the general youth today: they can hardly speak one decent sentence in straight English. I blame the media for this: English-language shows being dubbed in Filipino. What for? Do they think that Filipinos would not be able to understand if the show is in English?

Now, compare that to the people who where in their youth during the 80's, 90's and below: they can speak perfect English most of the time. Why? Because most of the things in print and mass media is in English at that time. All these WITHOUT losing their native tongues (like Tagalog, Bisaya, Kapangpangan, etc.).

Also, in today's generation, you'd hear the term "nosebleed ako!", paano ba naman, di kayang mag-English ng maayos man lang. Think Janina San Miguel.