Background of the Study

Language impacts the daily lives of members of any race, creed, and region of

the world. It helps express our feelings, desires, and queries to the world around us (De

Valoes, 2014). It is important because it is the primary means through which humans

have the ability to communicate and interact with one another. Some linguists go so far

as to suggest that obtaining language skills is the primary advancement that enabled

our prehistoric ancestors to succeed over other hominid species (Mayell, 2003). For

Filipinos, however, they have the responsibility to love their own country and to also

flourish their own language, Filipino. The facilitators or the teachers in the Philippines

should be knowledgeable enough to carry many information and they should be good

enough to tell these information to their students by communicating through the use of

their native Filipino language. To cope up with the global changes, these teachers

should find other ways to teach their students. One of the ways is the use of a second

language.

Second language is any language that a person uses other than a first or native

language (Nordquist, 2017). When it comes to learning a second language, the earlier

you start, the better off you’ll be. Studies have shown that the younger a child learns a

language, the better they will both understand and be able to speak it (Fernandez,

2019). According to studies, children who grow up learning to speak two languages are

better at switching between tasks than are children who learn to speak only one

language (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2012). Based on

studies in the United States, being bilingual boosts more brain power than people who

only speaks one language (Kraus, 2012). According to another study about the benefits

of learning a second language, a longer attention span is also one of the demonstrated

benefits of learning a second language. The conversations of multilingual people

become more lively and engaging, hence giving them a lead with communication skills

(Bansal, 2018). In the business side of this, more and more businesses work closely

with companies in other countries. They need many different kinds of workers who can
communicate in different languages and understand other cultures. If your résumé

includes fluency in a second language, your chances of employment in today’s

economy are much greater for you than for those who speak only one language

(Wagers, 2019). So, even though you are good at this particular thing, if you can’t

communicate with other people, your talent will be useless in other countries. That is

why no matter what career you choose, if you’ve learned a second language, you’ll

have a real advantage (Washington State University, 2014). Here in the Philippines,

there is a program in which students can learn another language and to also enhance

the students’ ability in communicating with other people from foreign countries.

The Department of Education offers the Special Program in Foreign Language or

SPFL for students who wants to learn another language. The Special Program in

Foreign Language aims to enhance the ability of learners to engage in meaningful

interaction in a linguistically and culturally diverse global workplace. More importantly,

the SPFL looks to further develop learners’ understanding and appreciation of other

people’s culture. To ensure that teachers are well equipped in teaching particular

foreign language, the DepEd has partnered with Goethe Institut Philippines (German),

Embassy of Spain, Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID)

Filipinas and Instituto Cervantes (Spanish), Japan Foundation (Japanese), Confucius

Institute- Angeles University Foundation (Chinese-Mandarin), Embassy of France in

Manila (French), to help and assist in the conduct of various capacity building activities.

(DepEd, 2017). This program is implemented in Pasig City Science High School. It aims

to enhance the students’ capability in communicating with foreign people and the

students’ prior knowledge of the specific language elective the student chose. This

program is only available to grade 7 and selected grade 8 students only. This study

aims to gain insight on why the Special Program in Foreign Language is discontinued

from grade 9 to succeeding year levels.

Problem Statement

The special program regarding foreign language help learners develop skills in

listening, reading, writing, speaking, and viewing that are fundamental in acquiring

communicative competence in a second foreign language. To provide learners with

opportunities that will make them both locally and internationally competitive, the

Department of Education (DepEd) continues to offer the Special Program in Foreign

Language (SPFL) in public secondary schools nationwide (DepEd, 2017). The ones

incorporated to the core subjects will be the advance subjects of the Special Programs.

In like manner, the schools have their own choice to further enhance the curriculum,

given that the prerequisites of the core subjects and the special curricular programs

have been met.

In Pasig City Science High School, the Special Program in Foreign Language is

not continuously being implemented. Based on the observations of the researchers,

only selected grade 7 students have continued in pursuing SPFL in the next year level,

grade8. The SPFL is discontinued from grade 9 to succeeding grade year levels. The

study aims to know the perceptions of the students regarding this matter. There were no

past researches regarding this issue and there are little or almost no information known

about this aspect of the program. If thoroughly researched, the issue is most likely the

weakest point of the SPFL since this issue can either make or break the whole essence

of the program.
Purpose Statement

Special Program in Foreign Language enables student to develop abilities in

comprehending, perusing, composing and communicating that are fundamental in

securing proficiency in a second language. This program intends to improve the

capacity of students to take part in significant collaboration in a linguistically and socially

differing worldwide working environment.

The Official Gazette of the Philippines records the Department of Education's

Special Program for Foreign Language (SPFL) as having been started in the Academic

Year 2009-2010 and executed in chosen public high schools. Beginning with the

Spanish, French, and Japanese dialects, DepEd included German the year after and

Chinese in the Academic Year 2011-2012. For this activity, the department is working

with the particular cultural organizations.

The important note is that the program is viewed as just an elective, which

means it isn't obligatory and does not supplant Filipino as subject. The main purpose of

the case study is to understand the views of the students regarding the program

cessation on particular year levels of the selected school. The study also aims to help

the students in organizing their thoughts involving their observations and experiences

after being a part of the SPFL. Lastly, the case study wants to help in settling for a

decision if the SPFL cessation is necessary or if the program moreover gives benefits to

the students and the whole school.

Research Questions

With the previously stated purpose and aims of the study, this study seeks out to

find answers to the following research questions:

1. Were the lessons in SPFL beneficial to the other subjects of the student?

2. What are your views and perceptions regarding the discontinuation of the SPFL?

3. Did the student benefit from the discontinuity of the SPFL?

4. Based on your perception, would you recommend the discontinuation of the

program (SPFL)?

5. Is SPFL necessary for the students or not?

Scope and Limitation

This study will only be only conducted on Pasig City Science High School. The

study requires students of Pasig City Science High School who had underwent SPFL.

The students that will be picked are grade 11 and grade 8 pupils of PCSHS. Grade 11

students are required because they are convenient for the researchers and they may or

may not have experiences on the benefits of the SPFL after the discontinuation of the

program. Grade 8 students will also be picked because they may or may not have

acquired the benefits of SPFL. 2 students in the grade 8 year level and 1 student in the

grade 11 year levels will only be picked by the researchers. The students will be picked

regardless of age, sex, race, and other racial profiles. Students who had underwent

SPFL for 2 years will be picked by the researchers. Students who only spent 1 year in

the program will not be picked. Grade 11 transferees from other schools will not be

included in this study because they have not underwent this program in Pasig City

Science High School.

The study will be conducted in a one-on-one style interview. The students will not

be interviewed in a group because their answers to the questions may be altered. The

interview will be held in a classroom of PCSHS with only the interviewer who will be

asking the research questions. The interview will only last about 3 – 5 minutes. The

names of the students and the section of the students will not be stated in this study.

The students may back out from the interview any time.
Significance of the Study

There are four different ways that contributes to the case study’s significance.

Firstly, the students in the study will be given a chance to express themselves, mainly

about their perceptions regarding the discontinuation of the program. Secondly, the

students, as the primary subjects of the case can also make themselves clear if whether

they think the Special Program in Foreign Language is necessary to the educational

system or not. Thirdly, the findings of the case study can give guidance to the teachers

when it comes to determining whether the SPFL is fundamental to the curriculum of the

students or not. Lastly, the results to be attained can help the school in improving their

system for the betterment of the students. The results may also serve as a help in

modifying the curriculum followed by the schools.