Thursday, February 26, 2009

Nasty English Grammar

So my nephew brought this publication he got from his school over to me. My first question was, "How much is this?" and he answered, "25 pesos"

I laughed telling him that in my school before, publications are given out for free. My friends and I would even ambush a lot of copies to use as seats when we decide to sprawl on the lawn and bask under the sun.

So anyway, that wasn't the issue. I started reading the paper (which only consists of 4 pages) and couldn't help but roll my eyes on the grammar. With my hands itching, I grabbed a pen and laid the paper on the table then I started correcting the mistaken grammars in the articles. Seriously, what were they thinking? It's the OFFICIAL SCHOOL PUBLICATION of my nephew's school and the grammars were very grade school-ish. I know they fucking have an editor-in-chief and English administrators who handle their paper, so why can't they be corrected?

Speaking of which, I also wanted to share the news I've seen about some books given out by the DepEd that have lots of mistakes and grammatical errors. There were spotted samples from some of the books, and I couldn't believe that those books actually slipped from the grip of the editors and went onto the hands of children. What would they learn then, those fucking mistakes that would already be hard to erase from their minds because they've seen it in books?

I know some people would react that it doesn't matter if you're good in English or not as long as you can help the society to progress. I strongly disagree. Philippines is a third wolrd country. I believe that the only thing that helps us stand up is through out extra skills which is speaking in English. The English language won't be taught in schools if it isn't damn important!

I know I'm not really a great English speaker, but I'm proud of my well-developed grammar. There was even once when my brother's patient brought her American husband in the clinic. So while the wife was in the chair, the husband and I were talking. He was also a nurse so we had something in common. Then he just randomly said, "Did you live in the States?" and I said, "No, I didn't." Then he said, "You're really good in speaking English, you know. It's like you've come from the States?"

I was really flattered. Some American saying that is really flattering. So I know I have the right to be confident of my English Speaking skill and my grammar. That's why I know that I have every fucking right to bash those people who plant a lot of false information to our kids nowadays, may it be in English grammar, or other educational concerns.

3 comments:

rich said...

there are schools that sell their school paper?? wow! now ko lang narinig yun...

about sa books, well that's pretty normal specially if the books came from the government... :(

Danica G said...

oh no. degrading english proficiency. tsk tsk.

Neym Ü said...

ICA: i don't. i'm just merely pointing out how some people are just satisfied with the grammar that only those people knew. =p

RICH: yeah, i was surprised nga eh. haha! i mean, in my schools before, publications are for free.
yeah, i know. but it really shouldn't be an excuse, should it? =]