LINGUA: The UST ELSSOC’s Seminar on MTB-MLE

         The UST English Language Studies Society’s first seminar for ELSSOC Week entitled, “Lingua,” was held last October 17, 2016 at the Beato Angelico AVR, Beato Angelico Building, University of Santo Tomas. The guest speaker, Dr. Ricardo Nolasco from UP Department of Linguistics delivered his discussion about the implementation of mother tongue-based multilingual education (MTB-MLE) in the Philippines entitled “Never Again a Nation of Fifth Graders.” Based on his gathered information ranging from 1995 to 2014, millions of Filipinos have poor computation and comprehension skills. This has contributed to low average scores in national exams like NCAE and international competitions involving other Southeast Asian nations. One out of 5 elementary graduates was not functionally literate as well. Studies showed that students who spoke the language of a test at home had higher mathematics and science achievement. In the case of our country, it has been a call to introduce English to all the students. “Filipinos believed that when they teach their children English, they will become easy learners and successful, which is not true. We must first master our own language; start with our mother tongue (L1 such as Bisaya and Ilokano) and use it to improve our second language, English,” Dr. Noalasco said.

         The Kindergarten Act, the Early Years Act, and the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 marked in the Philippine education history. It implements MTB-MLE policy wherein basic education will be delivered in languages understood by the learners (L1) from grades 1 to 3. From grades 4 to 6, learners shall gradually be transitioned from their respective L1s to the L2s (Filipino and English.) Dr. Nolasco emphasized, “It is an additive system, not subtractive. You don’t subtract L1 from L2. It must be a step by step process that will create a strong foundation for your knowledge.” For instance. Japanese and Korean students use their L1 in studying their Mathematics and Science, which is why they get high ranks during international academic competitions. They only study English to give more clothing to the things that they learn. In the latter part of his talk, Dr. Nolasco suggested that teachers must be given adequate trainings for a good quality of education.

         MTB-MLE is imposed by a great challenge to elevate the country’s academic skills using L1 that will help in the development of L2. Furthermore, it is evident that language is the key to unlock more knowledge needed to equip ourselves to be educated.

Future Leaders in the Making: ELSSOC Experiential Leadership Training

by: Faye Margarette De Leon and Danielle Arcegono

           Last September 17, 2016, the UST English Language Studies Society’s executive board, committee and guild heads, and class officers spent time together for a leadership training and seminar entitled, “ELT: ELSSOC’s Experiential Leadership Training,” at the Tan Yan Kee AVR, Tan Yan Kee Student Center, University of Santo Tomas. The Experimental Leadership Training, a project headed by the Chief-of-Staff of ELSSOC, Max Figurasin, and in partnership with Ayala Youth Leaders Alumni Association, was definitely the start of ELS becoming together as one through the effective leadership of ELSSOC student leaders.

           The English Language Studies Society is a very young organization with much yet to learn. 4 years after it was established, and we cannot deny the problems and issues concerning the leaders and the students governed by it. The society needed a little push starting of course, with its student leaders. The leadership training seminar was a first for the society and it all started after the AB LTS, the Faculty of Arts and Letters’ very own leadership training seminar. “We came up with the Experimental Leadership Training after the AB Leadership Training Seminar,” said Max. “We thought that our student leaders in the society should have a training seminar similar to what we had.” It was indeed a lengthy process before the event was even in place but fortunately soon enough, ELT was in the calendars.

          In line with the Ayala’s goal of creating a community of Filipino youth servant leaders who can develop and implement ideas, and projects that could greatly contribute to our nation-building, the executive board and student leaders from every year level were asked to join the said event. The importance of teamwork and being a servant leader were highlighted throughout the events through fun, interactive, and educational activities that truly made the innate leader within the participants shine. According to Max, “It was not just an activity for fun [it was also] to improve the skills and the camaraderie of everyone who participated.”

          The event was directed towards the enhancement of one’s ability in leadership that could be benefitting to the student itself and the English Language Studies Society, as well. Activities such as Trust Fall, Trust Reach, Everybody Up, Helium Hoop, Blind Maze, Learning Maze, Pachinko and Traffic Jam were done by the student leaders with very much enthusiasm though little challenges arise, they were able to overcome it with teamwork. And with effective teamwork, comes leadership.

          Ayala also gave a talk about leadership and the kind of leader we need to be. Good and efficient leaders must be fueled by the interests and the needs of his entire group, not just by his personal sentiments. He must be a servant-leader; one with sensible and rational attitude yet has sympathetic consciousness for his members. A leader who is, first and foremost, a great listener and who is not confined in his own box, rather open to new ideas and suggestions. Put these leaders together and an effective leadership is achieved. A leadership that is rooted in integral values and principles which are extremely necessary in order to stir a group or a nation towards its progress.

          The road to becoming a servant leader is not akin to a smooth and cemented road rather, it is a road that is poorly developed nor maintained for it was truly a road untraveled. In the end, it may be true that great leadership is a skill that anyone could master and everyone should master, each of us has our potentiality meaning there is a natural-born leader within us, we just need to be courageous and responsible enough to let it out not just in desperate times but for the good and future of all. Everybody had a great time during the Experimental Leadership Training. So a great question lies ahead of us all, are you ready to lead? Are you ready to be #AboveAllELSe?

ELSSOC’s First Move for A.Y. 2015 – 2016

Status Quo: The UST English Language Studies Society’s General Assembly

by Isabella Viktoria R. Aringo and Abigail Sabado

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          The UST English Language Studies Society held its annual general assembly entitled, “Status Quo” last September 16, 2016 at the TARC Auditorium (Thomas Aquinas Research Complex). The event was spearheaded by Marjorie S. Santos, President of the UST English Language Studies Society. It was also attended by the students of the AB in English Language Studies program.  Ms. Jean R. Celino, a professor in the Department of English, Assoc. Prof. Judith Ma. Angelica S. Claustro, UST ELSSOC’s co-adviser, were also present during the said event.

      The first general assembly discussed the upcoming events and projects for the academic year 2016-2017. Included in the lineup are the projects are the following: “This Course,” “ELSSOC Gallery,” “Project Sober,” “Lingua,” “duELS,” “Equilibrium,” “Articulate” and the “ELSSOC Night.” After the presentation of the events and projects, Dr. Camila Vizconde, the chairman of the Department of English of the University of Santo Tomas, gave the much awaited talk on the status of the English Language Studies program in the Philippines. She made mention of the abundance of the career opportunities awaiting the graduates of the AB in English Language Studies program.

          In the latter part of the program, the guilds and committees were introduced together with the respective heads: the Scholastic Guild, headed by Edward Dunhill Chico; the Sports Guild, headed by Abegail Eclispe; the Phonetix, headed by Nieca Manansala; the Alumni Relations Committee, headed by Leah Dwight Abayon; the External Relations Committee, headed by Via Allison Del Rosario; the Creatives and Documentation Committee, headed by Denise Sabio and April Furio; and the Community Development Committee, headed by Precious Valencia. Each guild or committee was made to develop the skills of the students and assist in stretching their potentials to the limit. The members of the said guilds and committees were also presented.

        Pamela Recio, Secretary of the UST English Language Studies Society, also launched the UST ELSSOC Blog and the UST ELSSOC Rappler X Publication. Those two that were mentioned are to be managed by the Scholastic Guild, Secretary Circle, and the Creatives and Documentation Committee. They are to be used for the purpose of information dissemination.

        Before the program ends, the ELSSOC members had an opportunity to bond and spend some quality time as a whole through the several games and icebreakers such as “Picture Me,” “Tukaan,” “Human Bingo,” “Bring Me,” and “Memory Game.” Prizes were given away for the winning participants and sections. The program ended with the closing remarks by the project head, Marjorie S. Santos, who emphasized the need to give importance to the AB in English Language Studies Program and to keep in mind that the UST ELSSOC is not just a society but a family where everyone belongs.

      It was the start of the #Trans4mation. This year, ELSSOC’s aim is to continue its legacy as a recognized academic society whose vision and mission are aligned to that of the university, and whose projects and events are conducted for the benefit of its members. The English Language Studies Society members may seem different individually, but as a whole, are alike due to the same longing and the same desire, to stay #AboveAllELSe.

 

UST ELSSOC Partners with Rappler for #MovePH and Rappler X

photo credit: rappler.com

Pamela D. Recio (ELSSOC Secretary and Event Representative)

            Last August 20, 2016, Pamela D. Recio, the Secretary of the UST English Language Studies Society and event representative, attended the half-day orientation of Rappler’s MovePH and Rappler X Publication. MovePH is a network or an online community wherein people share their stories and their visions as they become ‘movers’ or citizen journalists of change. In line with this, national university organizations, including UST ELSSOC, were invited to take part in the movement to properly utilize social media as a means to inform the people about their advocacies. The event started with the Opening Remarks by Mr. Rupert Ambil II, Rappler’s Video Systems and Operations Executive Director, who emphasized the importance of social media – for people to see this platform as something positive and as an aid in nation-building. Move Project Managers, Mr. David Lozada and Ms. Raisa Serafica, provided further details as to how one student organization could connect or interact with other organizations through the MovePH network.

            Partner organizations of Rappler were also given the opportunity to create their own publication via Rappler X. Dominic Gabriel Go of Rappler’s Product and Technical Solutions, described Rappler X as an online platform which is seen as a safe place for conversation between school youth organizations and as an avenue where they can reach out to their communities through their posts.  It also serves as a counter-culture for the negative implication concerning social media which currently prevails.

English Language Studies Students Join the 2nd Asian Regional Conference of the International Association of Forensic Linguists

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      From July 7 to July 9, 2016, thirty UST English Language Studies students worked as student volunteers under the Organizing Committee of the 2^nd Asian Regional Conference of the International Association of Forensic Linguists which was held at the Grand Ballroom, Buenaventura G. Paredes, O.P. Building, University of Santo Tomas. With this year’s theme, “Forensic Linguistics/Language and the Law: Contexts, Issues, and Trends,” the conference intended to disseminate Forensic Linguistics as a new field in Applied Linguistics not just in the Philippines but also in Asia. The conference was convened by Dr. Marilu Ranosa-Madrunio, Dean of the UST Graduate School, and co-convened by Dr. Isabel Picornell, Secretary of the International Association of Forensic Linguistics. Delegates from different parts of the country and of the world came to listen and participate in various discussions regarding the relationship of Language and the Law.

        Among the notable speakers who contributed their eloquent insights during the conference were Hon. Antonio T. Carpio, Senior Associate Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines; Dr. Krzysztof Kredens, Deputy Director of the Centre for Forensic Linguistics in Aston University, UK; Richard Powell of Nihon University-Japan; Nurjannah Chew Li Hua of the University of Malaysia; Isabel Pefianco Martin of the Ateneo de Manila University; Dr. Ng Nga Shan Eva, Assistant Professor of the School of Chinese, University of Hong Kong; Dr. Georgina Heydon, Acting Director of the Centre for Global Research in RMIT University, Australia; and Dr. Janet Ainsworth of Seattle University, United States.

        Dhon Karlo M. Simon (former Vice President for External Affairs of UST ELSSOC), Ina Francesca G. Deuna (Cum Laude and Best Thesis Awardee), Sophia Maye T. Andrade (Best Thesis Awardee), and Ivan Claude Manzo (Cum Laude), alumni of the AB in English Language Studies Program were also given the opportunity to present their research papers to the delegates during the parallel sessions held during the 2^nd day of the conference.

About the UST English Language Studies Society

Statement of Mission, Vision, and Objectives of the Organization

Mission:

The UST English Language Studies Society aims to help develop the communicative competence, research capabilities in English Language Studies, and professional acumen of its members by actively engaging them in relevant scholastic, research-based, and community outreach activities while equally promoting our national language, that instill passion for excellence, and reflect the ideals and values of the Faculty of Arts and Letters and the University of Santo Tomas.

Vision:

The UST English Language Studies Society envisions itself as an internationally-recognized organization that actively engages students in different fields of expertise that involve the competent use of the English language while equally valuing the national language.

 

Brief Description of the Organization:

The UST English Language Studies Society is the official student organization of the English Language Studies Students of the Faculty of Arts and Letters.

Description or Impression of the Organization Logo:

The podium symbolizes the unbounded abilities and potentials of an English Language Studies major to reach out and communicate effectively, aided with his proficiency and competency in the English language.

The organization’s allegiance to the University of Santo Tomas is represented by the Dominican cross and the sun behind the podium.

The name of the organization and the year it was founded bordered the whole logo.