SULTAN KUDARAT STATE UNIVERSITY

GRADUTE SCHOOL
MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ARTS IN TEACHING ENGLISH (EDUC602)
Prof. Rebecca Subillaga

“PRINCIPLES OF LANGUGAGE LEARNING AND THE ROLE OF

THE TEACHER”

SUB-ITEM 1: WHY FOCUS FIRST ON STUDENTS?

Reflection:
Each students has their own sets of capabilities and own way to learn such language
concept or what we called diversity of learners and we, teachers should reinforce student’s
language literary by means of providing different avenues that could hone it. The reason why we
need to focus first on students is that, students have different individual needs that need to be
reinforced by the teachers to attain such language learning growth. Our present curriculum is a
student-centered approach, our objectives in every lesson are connected to Humanism philosophy
of education where we are aiming to develop students holistically or well-rounded students and
lastly, we are also fostering OBE (outcome based education) where the teaching approach should
focus on the students. It’s because, research found out that student-centered approach is better that
teacher-centered approach where students learn easily if they are actively participating in every
activities in every lessons or what we called learning by doing (progressivism approach). One
of our main goals as a teacher is to teach students, we are the back-bone of their learning that’s
why we need to sustain and supply all their needs, and I think that’s the reason why we need to
focus first to the students.

SUB-ITEM 2: “WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR LANGUAGE TEACHERS TO BE

LANGUAGE LEARNERS?”
Reflection:
Learning is a relentless process or should is say, lifelong process, we don’t know
everything about language that’s why we need to be open for corrections, critiques and new sets
of learning. It is indeed important for a teacher to be a language learner because I do believe that
teaching is a reciprocal process; it simple means that the teacher will teach the students about
language and on the other hand, the teacher can also learn from his/her students (mutualism). We
should accept the fact that we are not just teacher; we are also learners and we should always open
our mind for that. Thus, we can easily enjoy the teaching and learning process because we can
promote a harmonious milieu which is free for all students to pontificate their thoughts. We
teachers can learn not just about the language but in all aspect of life like behaviors of our student,
personality, perception in life and other relevant knowledge that we can use in fostering our
profession which is teaching. Let’s continue teaching while we are also learning because these
learnings can be our handicap in our future teaching field.
 SUB-ITEM 3: “LANGUAGE IS A TOOL FOR COMMUNICATION”
Reflection:
This is one of the reason why we are learning some certain languages; for us to
communicate. For me without language we can’t communicate because even a single actions and
symbols are part of language (verbal and non-verbal communication). We need to communicate
for us to pontificate our sentiments, raised arguments, express our emotions, teach something,
clarify sometime, understand concept and etc. Indeed, language is the main tool for communication
there are like bread and butter in communication aspect; without language we can’t communicate
and without communication we can’t use language. That’s why it’s relevant to learn language
especially our first language for local communication and the universal language for flexibility
and readiness to interact globally. We must continue learning languages as we can for us to
communicate well and use it well because there’s always a right time, place and people to use
certain language. Use it wisely.

SUB-ITEM 4: “BUILDING KNOWLEDGE IS AS IMPORTANT AS BUILDING SKILLS”

Reflection:
I conform in this sub-item “building knowledge is as important as building skills” indeed,
we should really give equal importance in both knowledge and the skills because if we are building
knowledge it will be our grassroots or foundation for application; to develop our knowledge we
need to apply it in a real setting. Hence, it could lead us in developing a skill. While if are
developing skill first like some of the blue collar workers who didn’t undergo some degree; they
developed the skill first with the guidance of someone and while they are developing the skill they
can easily inculcate all the necessary information to their schema. Thus, it will become a
knowledge. That’s why building knowledge is as important as building skills and vice-versa.

SUB-ITEM 5: “LANGUAGE LEARNING IS A BATTLE OF HEART”

Reflection:
Indeed, language learning is a battle of heart because it is not that easy for us to learn a
language it requires massive amount of time, effort, deep understanding, logical thinking,
perseverance, patience, interest and love. Learning the language definitely gauge our interest and
compassion in learning language due to the different adversities we might encounter because for
my own experiences, I also tried to learn Spanish language before, but I failed; like I said, it is not
that easy to learn a language. If we really love what we are learning especially to those linguistic
leaners, if we are really that zeal and eager to learn it; I know we will accomplish it with flying
colors. Lastly, no matter what we are learning, we should always give our best on it and put love
on it because if we truly love what we are doing we’ll definitely attain it.
 SUB-ITEM 6: “LANGUAGE LEARNERS DO NOT LEARN ALL THE SAME WAY”
Reflection:
In NCBT (National Competency Based-Teacher standard) particularly domain 3-diversity
of learners states that students have different personality, background, capabilities, and own way
to learn concepts that’s why it is a challenge for us teachers to deliver lessons that caters students’
diversity. Learning the language varies in different aspect such as age, gender, ethnicity, economic
status, education background, parental supervision, EQ, IQ, peers, environment and etc. I can say
that teaching is the noblest profession because it really difficult to teach diverse students; no matter
what we do to address it, we can’t really attain the 100% learning from our students and we should
accept it. According to psychology in human development there’s a principle of variation that
states all individuals have distinct personality and sets of abilities and it really supports that
language learners do not learn all the same way.

SUB-ITEM 7: “WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE LANGUAGE TACHERS?”

Reflection:
For me, the main role of a language teacher is to teach, not literally just teaching language.
Teaching is a broad term, it consist of teaching students to be motivated, teaching them to love
language, teaching them to become independent, teaching them how to learn language, teaching
them how to apply what they have learned and most of all teaching students to be a good person.
In all aspect of teaching is it really relevant that we must promote the sage approach where we
should be more knowledgeable of what we are teaching to our students because according our
subject in TEST (Teaching English as Second language) we teachers should at least one or two
steps advance to our students particularly in teaching language. Let’s instill to our mind that before
we teach, we must know what, when, and whom to teach.

SUB-ITEM 8: “HELPING STUDENTS UNDERSTAND LANGUAGE LEARNING”

Reflection:
Teaching is subsequent process, and we must go through to this process. First we need to
identify the area that needs to be taught which corresponds to student’s needs, second promulgate
objectives, third arouse students’ interest fourth teach the subject area and we teachers must always
do everything to make students understand our lessons. This is one of our role as a teacher, which
is to help students understand the lesson, particularly language lessons. We must first teach the
foundation or the basic concept of language the supplement it with real life activities that would
help them understand the basic concept. I can integrate here the athletic coach or piano teacher
model where the teacher provides the necessary concept or tips, and various activities on how to
learn language. Then let the students expose her/his self to real word so that he can apply what
he/she have learned inside the classroom. Let’s help our students understand the language learning
and let them do the application in real life scenario because interaction theory of Vygotsky is
one good theory that explains how to learn a language.
 SUB-ITEM 9: “ENCOURAGING AND MOTIVATING STUDENTS”
Reflection:
They said that a good teacher is a good motivator. Motivating students is important before
conducting a lesson because it could arouse there interest and help them become participative in
class. Many teachers were disregarding the importance of motivation before getting on hands, but
both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation should be applied in all teaching learning process.
According to Edward Lee Thorndike the Law of readiness, states that the students learn best if
they are prepared and ready to learn and how can we make students ready to learn? Of course, by
means of motivation. Based on my experience, motivating students is quite effective like providing
rewards during class discussion, giving good feedbacks, being enthusiastic during the discussion
and most importantly, inspire students to value education; touch their hearts (extrinsic
motivation) because if you do you will witness their true capabilities. Let’s be motivated to teach
and be motivated to motivate students.

SUB-ITEM 10: “BUILDING ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISCIPLINE”

Reflection:
For me, in teaching language, discipline should be develop first because learning a
language is a complex process it requires a lot of patience and perseverance. Thus, our eagerness
to learn and discipline in learning will be gauge on how far we can go. In teaching and learning
language, accountability is one of the prime factor for us teacher, because we should be
accountable to our students about their strength, weaknesses, discipline, eagerness, knowledge,
areas that needs to improve, mistakes in learning language, and etc. in the midst of teaching the
language we need to provide accountable observation about the progress of our students in learning
the language if it’s improving or not. Thus, the students can decipher their progress if they are
really learning or not. I can integrate here the operant conditioning of B.F skinner the reward
and punishment where students can easily learn a concept or language by means of giving
rewards; giving good feedbacks that motivates students to pursue more and punishment; giving
bad feedbacks that would also a motivation for them to strive more to improve. I can say that being
accountable and transparent to your students about their progress in learning the language could
possible develop a good discipline.

SUB-ITEM 11: “ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO TAKE COMMAND”

Reflection:
Indeed, our first role is to teach the foundation of language and provide different activities
that would nurture their understanding in the language learning. While our second role and one of
the most important role is encouraging and providing avenues for the students to take command in
their own pace for more development in learning the language. As what I have said, we are already
in student centered approach where students most engage in their selves in a real life scenario
to apply what they have learn. This is actually a progressivism approach because you are teaching
the students to apply what they have learn in the real life; in will experience the real field of
learning the language in their own. In my experience in teaching, I always promote this
progressivism approach where I conduct activities for the students to take control and actions in
their own after our discussion. I think encouraging students to take command could actually help
them more to learn the language.

SUB-ITEM 12: “MAKING YOUR ASSUMPTIONS EXPLICIT”

Reflection:
Teaching a language course is kind a dubious because there are a lot of approach and
principles that need to be ponder and elaborate for better understanding. To sum it up, we teacher
should always be a learner; we need to continue learning even though we are already in the field
of teaching because we can’t give want we don’t have and teaching is a lifelong process. It is very
crucial for us to teach without prior knowledge of what we are teaching. Lastly, if we have a
massive foundation and knowledge about what we are teaching then, it is easy for us to make our
assumptions explicit. We need to be completely sure of what we are teaching. How? By means of
supporting our assumptions with explicit or valid studies to promote clarity, validity and reliability
of the lessons. That’s why we need to continue learning because it is our handicap in teaching.

Prepared by: Arjay T. Maglasang

MAT-English 2nd year