From the time I first went to school, English has always been the medium of instruction. And as far as I can remember, I had no Filipino subject when I was in preparatory school. English was the first language subject taught to the students. But, is it better than having a mastery of our native language first?

English is the most widely used language in the world. It is sometimes described as the first global lingua franca or working language. It is the international language of communications, science, information technology, business, seafaring, aviation, entertainment, radio and diplomacy. So, a working language of English or at least a basic knowledge of it has become a requirement in many fields, occupations and professions across the globe.

It is very important to learn English since having a knowledge of it can lead you to a reasonable and dignified job. Moreover, speaking in proper English can make a person sound smart. Although, based on studies, having a mastery of the mother tongue or the native language first will have a better effect on learning the English language since translation is essential in language learning.

Nevertheless, I don’t see any harm if someone’s first language is English rather than his mother tongue. But still, it is important that he must learn how to speak his native language fluently. It is not just in order to have better translation skills. It can be, at least, a sign of respect and a sense of pride for the country he originally belongs to. We wouldn’t want our own language to fade away, yes?

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