MIC-TEST: Teachers from the schools of Cluster 3 and Bangoy Central Elem.

school attend the

two-day training seminar-workshop to equip themselves of skills on how to manipulate the
speech laboratory equipment.

A GOOD DEAL: A Cost of Fortune for the Future Generation

By Jestene B. Delos Reyes

A newly installed state-of-the-art facility located at the 2 nd level of grade 7 building in F.

Bangoy National High School is not your typical speech laboratory found in the metro.

It is not immediately obvious upon entering its premise, but a quick glance of the 80-unit
cubicles with headset and microphone, master control mechanism, amplifier, two television sets,
video camera and four air-conditioning units quickly clues you in that it is the biggest by par.

This speech laboratory donated by the Davao Filipino-Chinese Cultural Foundation, Inc.
who is headed by Benito C. Mesina intends to upgrade the academic standards of public
schools especially in developing the communication skills of the students.

They believe that language is the basis of communication and the primary instrument of
thought. It is the foundation of all human relationships. So, it is necessary to have language
proficiency which is not only secluded to being able to read and understand certain words, but
also being able to master spoken language.
 However, it is found out that some language learners in the school could barely
pronounce the words right. In the recent Philippine Reading Inventory Screening Test
conducted to 1700 grade seven learners of FBNHS, only 11.79% or 202 students are
independent readers, 21.06% or 361 students are instructional readers, 64.99% or 1114 fall on
the frustration level, and 0.88% or 15 students are interpreted as non-readers.

Granting this multimedia facility surely helps students hone up their phonemic and
phonetic awareness skills by immersing them to different oral and aural activities.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Davao Filipino-Chinese Cultural

Foundation for donating a speech laboratory. It is very beneficial to us, students because it will
help us enhance our pronunciation and guide us to learn the English language easily and
effectively.” Jeselle Cambalon, a grade 10 student, eagerly exclaimed during an interview.

It is truly noble to act for a situation that needs saving now because it might get
worsened when attended later. The generous hearts of the members of the foundation showed
that investing for the future of the generation might cost a fortune, but its end result always
outweighs the overall cost.