Challenges In Achieving English Proficiency A

mong HUMSS Students

Background of the Study
English proficiency is one's ability to understand and produce English, including reading and
writing if applicable. Knowing lots of words and grammar doesn't necessarily mean one has more English
proficiency.Some can have a smaller vocabulary, but if that person has confidence in speaking and
communicates well, then said person has stronger English proficiency than someone who isn't as
comfortable speaking.

According to Goldenberg (2018) Proficiency in English is usually defined by a combination of

skills, reading, writing, listening and speaking.These are measures by standardized and intentionally
recognized tests, such as the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS International
English Testing System) which are usually marked on a band score. The IELTS, with which I have been
involved as a examiner for many years, has a band score ranging from 0 to 9 and is required for
residency. Citizenship, job, college, and university eligubility porpuses. The spread of English as a global
language presents benefits and risks. In contexts where a group of people do not share the same first
language, a global language, such as English, could make communication possible. On the other hand,
because English is frequency considered the world language, other languages that are different than
English could be perceived as unnecessary which , in turn, contributes to the loss of languages,
especially minority languages. This essay presents how the spread of the English has had both benefits
and detriments to out global society by promoting interconnectedness, a high number of English
speakers and teaching of English as a second language. At the same time, it argues that the spread of
English as a global language could contribute to the deatch of other languages. On the other hand, a
negative effect of the spread of English as a global language could be the death of other languages. The
spread of English as a global language has positive and negative effects. It us beneficial in the way thst it
allows people who do not share a native language to communicate. The English language Proficiency will
only improve when teachers look past rote memorization and encourage students to learn (Yeung,
2017). Most of the Chinese students are having a hard time in speaking English even though learning the
English language is mandatory in the first two years in Chinese Universities. It is because the language is
taught bookishly, short on functional skills. Some Chinese students can understand the meaning of each
word in a sentence but cannot understand or get the main point from the sentence. The employers
complain that most graduates are not even prepared for the simple tasks of writing or responding to an
English email or answering business phone calls, much less conducting trade negotiations with foreign
clients. In the Philippines, according to the artice by Business Mirror Editorial last (2016). She advantage
for the Filipino who are proficient in using the English language is being eroded by rising competition
from other Asian countries and needs to step up in efforts in improving the teaching and learning of
English, developing it as a vital skill of the work force. According to the Departments of Education, 10
out of 30 barangays that are lacking the Proficiency in using the English language are in Mindanao. The
reason behind its low rate in proficiency speaking the English language is the lack of quality education
and facilities to perform different activities and programs that could help students enhance their English
speaking skills (Roa, 2015)