In the Philippines, English proficiency is found out to be declining.

A recent language test result showed

that the Philippines is no longer the top one English speaking country in Asia. This brought up an

alarming impact towards job providing industries in and out of the country, and is currently driving the

Department of Education to intensify the effort of providing an educational system that will improve

student’s mastery in English. However, programs and projects conducted by schools are not enough to

promote the development of English language proficiency among Filipino students. Teachers have to be

competitive enough in using the language to effectively teach students in becoming critical and analytical

in communicating with the the use of English. Learning experiences that will help students reach the

optimum level of their communicative ability must be provided (Suelto, 2005).

There are various ways that we could take in order to pursue the improvement of our students English

language proficiency. One way is to encourage students to speak the language regularly especially within

the school premises. Schools have been promoting the ‘English Speaking Campaign’

wherein students are obliged to speak in English whenever they are inside the classroom. Development

always start within oneself, thus, students are encouraged to do self-study and practice to improve their

skills. Interacting with native speakers of English is also highly encouraged. Watching movies in English

and listening to English spoken media is also an effective way in improving English communication

skills. Students nowadays are highly exposed to music and films that are using the English language.

Although it has been observed that songs of today have a lot grammatical error (or simply because of the

writer’s choice to make the lyrics poetic), students tend to adopt the way native speakers deliver the

language. Another helpful factor that students are being exposed to is the Internet where sources of all

information they need are always in their reach. Visiting websites, reading different types of articles, and

discussing topics in English help them become confident in using English.

 Taking those helpful ways presented above are of great help in developing the student’s proficiency in

English. However, the teacher’s assistance in the classroom setting will further motivate students to

pursue learning and developing their English language skills.

According to Maria Lourdes DC. Ramirez, in her articles, English is considered the universal language. It

serves as a tool for global networks and for local identities. There is a need to achieve higher English

proficiency level among students in order to meet the demands of time and to totally gear them up for

global competitiveness. This is the reason why our educational system is taking the lead to uplift the level

of proficiency of our students in English. Most of the students have difficulties on using the language

both in oral and written. They have found having low mastery level in English. Many factors are found to

be the reasons why the students have such performance particularly in their English subject. One is the

exposure of students in the use of the language. After learning the structure and all the important aspects

of it, there is no application they are not using what they have learned when they go out of their classes.

Even in watching television program they prefer programs in Filipino or translated in

Filipino. Second, teachers of other subjects who supposed to use English as medium of instruction are

using the first language. Third, some of the teachers handling English subject have also an average

English proficiency level. Teachers failed to expose students in more encouraging activities which could

develop their confidence in the use of the second language.

The Department of Education is trying its very best to find ways in order to solve those problems. It has

conducted programs and projects which could lessen the problems on English proficiency among Filipino

students. The department put the low performing schools in English under the Project Turning Around.

This is part of the Department’s task to raise the low performances of the schools specifically in English

proficiency. There was the conduct of intensive intervention programs. The program includes teacher

trainings, school administrator capability building and improvement of student nutritional status
as well as school physical facilities and additional instructional materials. A Whole School Approach to

Master Reading and Writing was also launched. It is a model that considers the whole school as learning

community where reading and writing as tools for lifelong learning. It strengthened to effect the desired

changes in students’ performance in terms of improved comprehension and communication skills both

oral and written language. The Department also continuously delves into better ways of organizing and

delivering the curriculum. It continues to provide programs in enhancing students’ English proficiency

level. Still the teachers of English play an important role to finally achieved th highest level of English

proficiency among their students. It is on the teachers’ hands where students could embrace the

challenges ahead of them as they compete globally.