Exploring Bilingualism Through The Lens Of Teachers

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue III, March 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Exploring Bilingualism Through The Lens Of Teachers

Rey Avila Mangarin, Celso L. Tagadiad
Department of Teacher Education Faculty, UM Panabo College
School Director, UM Panabo College

Abstract. In the light of qualitative phenomenological inquiry, this study explored the underlying knowledge on bilingualism through the lens of teachers’ perspectives. Five teachers in a certain public high school were interviewed then transcription, translation, intensive review of related literature, and thematic analysis were used to gather and validate data. Persons involved in the language events were teacher and principal, teacher and co-teacher, teacher and students, teacher and family members, and teacher and market vendor. Pair of languages found were English and Bisaya, English and Filipino, and Filipino and Bisaya with various dominant language found. Language events where bilingualism exists were meeting, casual conversation, class discussion, dinner, and product buying. Reasons of pairing a language used are “being used to”, type of people, and language events. The concept of bilingualism is a very important phenomenon to be understood.

Keywords: Bilingualism, Language Event

Background of the Study

It has been asserted that between one-half and two-thirds of the world’s populations are bilingual. Many countries with substantial linguistic minorities protect the status of minority languages, and the cultural diversity associated with them, through the official adoption of bilingualism. Examples in the industrialized world include Canada, Belgium, Finland and Switzerland. These policies may have the effect of increasing the demand for bilingual employees (Henley, 2010).
Additionally, the Filipinos are widely known to speak English as well as Tagalog or another native language. The Filipinos’ ability to speak English and their facility in learning another language, whether a local Filipino language or a foreign language, has contributed to their being able to work in other countries. In recent years, the abundant supply of English speakers and competitive labor costs have enabled the Philippines to become a choice destination for foreign companies wishing to establish outsourcing operations (Viado, 2010).
A major feature of the Philippine language situation is its diversity. The Filipino bilingual lives in a multilingual & multicultural environment. The Filipino bilingual of today possesses a strong national identity but needs to seek to render it more functional for the purposes of national well-being in the modern world. Filipino rather than English can better serve as a medium to express the Filipino’s cultural traditions, values, beliefs, and national aspirations. However, there are certain sociolinguistic realities that challenge the Filipino bilingual (Pascasio, 2010).

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