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Ian C. |
July 22, 2024
Buwan ng Wika in the Philippines is an event that celebrates the diverse cultures and languages of our many islands. Despite being a nation of over 100 million people, culturally derived from more than 100 different “clans,” we still consider ourselves one united nation.
For me, this concept applies to the entire world as well. Despite being from different “tribes” with unique cultures of our own, we can still connect in meaningful ways, one of which is through language.
Before joining Lexcode, I was an English language teacher for Japanese students from various industries and backgrounds. For example, one of my students was a train conductor from the JR Line, and another was a researcher working on the locomotives they operated. Despite their diverse backgrounds, we all came together to learn a language for business purposes. Initially, I thought that “learning English” was all about vocabulary and grammar. However, I soon realized that our goal wasn’t only to “learn English” but also to experience the language in a way that exposed our students to a culture and environment far different from their own, which is especially important when interacting with people from other cultures.
Broadening Horizons Beyond the Classroom
To achieve this, between formal lessons, we facilitated more personalized experiences with the language for our students. I accompanied them to their counterparts’ offices here in the Philippines, where English or Tagalog was spoken exclusively. I arranged meetings between Filipino workers and my students who held similar job positions but had different work environments and personal experiences. The most enjoyable experiences, at least for me, were showing students around my city, particularly for leisure and entertainment. It was demanding but fun, especially as these activities, combined with our lessons, significantly enhanced our students’ openness and confidence in speaking English. Some students became so proficient that they would approach us for conversations or try their skills with other locals during their day, even if they had no prior experience with the language before coming to our school. They also became more open to experiencing cultural activities that were worlds apart from their own.
An example of one of our immersive activities was letting our students participate in “Kamayan,” a Filipino feasting tradition meant to showcase the intimate nature of our culture.
From Lessons to Lifelong Bonds
Although our lessons aimed to be formal and centered primarily around our students’ work, personalized experiences like these inspired their speaking abilities. What started as work-related conversations evolved into sharing hobbies and other interests, both inside and outside the classroom. For example, if a student showed interest in mythology or politics, I would incorporate local myths or current political topics into our discussions. Likewise, our students shared aspects of their own culture that we could appreciate. Thanks to a student’s recommendation, I was introduced to 髭男dism, a band I still listen to today. The confidence gained in making conversation and engaging in meaningful discussions, whether in the office or with random bystanders, is crucial. A shared language helps us connect and provides access to a world different from our own, something I was happy to provide.
For me, language is more than just a tool to communicate; it can be used to understand, connect with, and bond with people in a unique way. Though my teaching days may be over, I still remember each one of my students and cherish the gifts and experiences we had during their stay.
A sketch one of my students made for me, which I keep in a special place at home, along with their other inspiring messages.
Although working at Lexcode has different responsibilities from teaching, I like to believe that even years later, I’ll still be helping people connect with the power of language. That’s something I find rewarding.
One of my clients left a lovely message after we assisted them with a translation. I like to imagine that shortly after, they reconnected with their family thanks to our team’s work.
That’s my perspective on language in culture and business as a former English teacher. Thank you for reading!
