A POSITION PAPER ON THE INCLUSION OF KOREAN LANGUAGE

TO PHILIPPINE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

By: Darwin Jay L. Sang-an and Emiery Jane J. Ybañez

The youth of today are undeniably more concerned with foreign music, movies, and
television series. And when we say foreign, they are the things that are present only in other
countries. South Korea is one of the most influential countries in terms of music, food and
television shows. This country has invaded the Philippines, and Filipinos, for the most part, are
welcoming them with open arms. It isn’t hard to see why. In fact, there are more than 35 million
K-pop fans around the world; and thousands out of this million can be found in Asia, particularly,
Philippines (Villanueva et al., n.d). And now, South Korea is set to expand its knowledge as it
makes its way to the Philippine Educational System. Moreover, as the Department of Education
released a statement about the foreign language specifically Korean as a replacement of the
Filipino subject, causes a lot of people to have debates with different opinions on this issue.
However, The Department of Education (DepEd) clarified on Sunday, November 18, that the
Korean language is intended as an elective and will not replace the Filipino subject in the basic
education curriculum. In a statement, DepEd said Filipino "remains to be among the core subjects
in basic education while the teaching of Panitikan (Literature) in the Filipino subject serves as a
springboard for discussion of grammar lessons and a way of strengthening the Filipino identity
and culture." DepEd's clarification comes amid reported confusion among the public regarding the
teaching of languages in school. It also came after the Supreme Court’s decision lifting a 2015
temporary restraining order on a higher education directive removing Filipino and Panitikan as
required subjects in college (Rappler, 2018). If the inclusion of the Korean language would be
implemented in the Philippine Educational System, then we can learn more not just about their
culture but also enable us to understand their language and makes us globally competitive. If it is
not implemented, however, we can concentrate more on our core subject and our Filipino language.
Furthermore, we don’t agree on implementing the inclusion of Korean Language in the Philippine
Educational System.

If ever the Korean language will be implemented as an elective in the Philippine education,
it can develop the student’s skills in listening, reading, writing and speaking as fundamental to
acquiring communicative competence in the second foreign language. This prepares students for
meaningful global interaction and develops understanding and appreciation of Korean’s culture. It
added that it is firm that in "continuously strengthening the teaching and learning of Filipino as
part of the K to 12 Program"(Pressreader, 2018).

However, the Korean Language is not yet one of the most common languages used in
different countries. It is not even a universal language to concentrate on. Some of the students can
use it if they’re going to Korea but most of them may never use it in the future. According to
Alberici (2018), even with the inclusion of Korean in the basic education curriculum, it doesn’t
gain unanimous acceptance from the general public, due to its lack of global utility, unlike Spanish
or Mandarin. The usage of Korean in the Philippines is primarily driven by the infusion of Korean
popular culture to the Philippines subsidized by the South Korean government for its own
geopolitical interests.

According to Rappler (2018), recently, there had been some disputes between the Filipino
citizens and the changes that are wanted to be implemented by the Commission of Higher
Education (CHED) and Department of Education (DepEd). That aside, since last year, DepEd had
been implementing the need for senior high to learn foreign languages such as Japanese to improve
the global competitiveness of the youth for their future. However, with the already existing
mandatory need to learn “Tagalog” and “English” at an early age till University level. The foreign
language curriculum is supposed to be an “Elective” class, which means it is optional for one to
learn a language aside from the main two languages of the main curriculum (Alberici, 2018).

If you want to learn a foreign language, there's nothing wrong with it, but the DepEd
government should prioritize foreign languages that have a multi-regional utility like Spanish or a
sheer number of speakers like Mandarin. The Korean language isn’t even a superior universal
language and the K-pop, K-culture and K-drama’s toxic influence is the root cause of why the
government decided to add the Korean Language to the curriculum language elective. Instead of
implementing this Korean language, the Philippine Educational System should focus more on the
Filipino subject since not every student mastered it (Sundita, 2018).

According to Weinberg (2018), the Korean Language is not yet one of the most common
languages used in different countries. Learning a third language is a decision of the individual,
NOT the decision of the entire country. Truly, we should love our own language. I am responding
to this inquiry in my second language (English), it doesn't mean I am discarding my underlying
foundations from the Philippines. I cherish my very own way of life in this country and its history.
While present-day culture in the Philippines is somewhat… dreary to most. Here is the thing, The
Philippines has imaginative youthful people, however, diversion and mass intrigue have not
changed much with regards to subjects for television arrangement, films, and telenovelas. Outside
the box, music is overlooked, and prevalent music is as yet a similar old topic of affection melodies.
Moreover, the Korean language is not even a universal language to concentrate on. The usage of
Korean in the Philippines is primarily driven by the infusion of Korean popular culture to the
Philippines subsidized by the South Korean government for its own geopolitical interests. Thus,
the Philippine Educational System must focus more on the Filipino subject and language to
improve our knowledge and skills in it since not every student mastered it. We should concentrate
more on our Philippine culture rather than kissing other’s culture just to be globally competitive.
 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Philippines is a very distinct country in Asia. Our country had experienced many invasions
and conquerors. Until we achieve our complete freedom in the present unconsciously, we are
conquered and invaded by a very viral culture. It is the Korean culture. According to Yap (2011),
Koreans are becoming a ubiquitous presence in the Philippines with tourist arrivals estimated to
reach the one million mark by yearend, up by 30 percent from 2010. Based on the data gathered
by Inquirer Research, the figure would make them the largest group of foreign citizens to ever
have landed on Philippine soil in a single year. Moreover, There are more than 35 million K-pop
fans around the world; and thousands out of this million can be found in Asia, particularly,
Philippines (Villanueva et al., n.d).

Language in Philippines

The Philippines is made up of over 7000 islands with between 120 and 175 languages.
With 2 national and 12 auxiliary languages there is a very diverse mix that confuses many expats.
(Just Landed, 2018). The two official languages are English and Filipino. Meanwhile, there are 13
indigenous languages in the Philippines that each have over one million native speakers. These
are: Cebuano, Tagalog, Ilokano, Hiligaynon, Waray-waray, Kapampangan, Bikol, Albay Bikol,
Pangasinan, Maranao, Maguindanao, Kinaray-a and Tausug. There are hundreds of dialects found
in the Philippines, with variations occurring between towns on the same island. While there are
many native speakers of these dialects and regional languages, most Filipinos speak English and
you will often hear a mix of English and a Filipino language.

Korean Language offered as elective in Philippine educational system

The Department of Education (DepEd) clarified on Sunday, November 18, that the Korean
language is intended as an elective and will not replace the Filipino subject in the basic education
curriculum. In a statement, DepEd said Filipino "remains to be among the core subjects in basic
education while the teaching of Panitikan (Literature) in the Filipino subject serves as a
springboard for discussion of grammar lessons and a way of strengthening the Filipino identity
and culture." It added that it is firm that in "continuously strengthening the teaching and learning
of Filipino as part of the K to 12 Program" DepEd's clarification comes amid reported confusion
among the public regarding the teaching of languages in school. It also came after the Supreme
Court’s decision lifting a 2015 temporary restraining order on a higher education directive
removing Filipino and Panitikan as required subjects in college. However, Advocates of the
Filipino language slammed the decision, warning it could lead to the erosion of the Filipino
language and identity (Rappler, 2018).

Special Program in Foreign Language

According to DepEd, the Special Foreign Language Program "helps learners to develop
listening, reading, writing, speaking, and viewing skills that are fundamental to the acquisition of
communication skills in a second foreign language." DepEd's long running program, first
implemented in selected schools in 2009, initially offered only Spanish. The program has since
expanded to include Nihongo, French, German, Mandarin, and the latest Korean programing 2017.
DepEd added that the program "is designed to enhance learners ' ability to engage in meaningful
interaction in a globally diverse linguistic and cultural workplace. "In 2017, according to DepEd,
each foreign language class is allocated "as an additional subject" for 4 hours per week. Education
department data also shows that there are at least 10,526 SPFL students across the Philippines
(Rappler, 2018).
Advantages of Learning a Foreign Language

There are several advantages to learning a new language. On a personal level, it can help
keep your head above water when you go on a solo travel, allowing you to understand what people
of an entirely different background have to say. When it comes to business, knowing a second
language helps you globalize your market. Knowing another language will help you advance in
the corporate world. For example, you can talk to foreign clients or friends. Also, if one aspires to
work abroad, knowing another language and having it in your school records is one of the greatest
advantages as employers outside the country would sometimes require applicants to either know
and/or learn that country’s language for faster and more accurate communication. As stated by
Proctor (2015), there are many benefits to learning a second language. Being bilingual can
stimulate intellectual growth, and enhance mental development. Learning a new language helps
you stimulate your mind, which keeps your brain active and healthy. In addition, Sundita (2018)
stated that giving students the option to study more languages is absolutely beneficial to students.
It is also beneficial for a country such as the Philippines to promote learning of neighboring
countries’ languages as it can foster intercultural understanding and open up opportunities, such
as in business. There are also benefits for giving citizens the opportunity to learn the languages of
immigrants of their country, which is the case with Korean migration to the Philippines. Lastly,
Korean pop culture is very popular among Filipino youth right now and it’s very good motivation
to learn a new language.

The Disadvantages of Learning a Foreign Language

Learning a foreign language has some obvious benefits: you can learn about other cultures,
improve your job prospects and travel through foreign countries more easily. However, learning a
foreign language has some disadvantages, too, such as the cost of language courses and the time it
requires. Weighing the costs and benefits can help you decide whether learning a foreign language
is the right choice for you (Richards, 2019).
As stated by Maile Proctor (2016) on her article “Budget Breakdown: How Much Does it
Really Cost to Learn a Foreign Language?”, learning a foreign language can be expensive,
especially if you take college courses or pay for private tutoring. It's possible to learn a foreign
language from books or computer programs, which often cost less, but practicing speaking with
others usually makes learning more fun and effective.
According to Flores (2018), learning a foreign language is challenging. Many languages
have different systems of grammar, and some languages use a completely different alphabet and
different sounds. And learning thousands of new vocabulary words isn't easy, either.
The opportunity cost of studying a foreign language is the value of what you could do
instead. Studying a foreign language requires a significant investment of your time, effort and
money. You could do something else with those resources, such as spend time with your family,
improve your math skills, increase your reading speed, study for the SAT, plant a garden, exercise
or learn a hobby, such as knitting (Valoes, 2014).
Knowing a foreign language isn't useful to some people. For example, if you can't afford
to travel or aren't interested in visiting other countries, you might never get to speak the language
with natives. In addition, although speaking a foreign language makes traveling more fun, it's easy
to get around in many countries while speaking English. Knowing a foreign language is a prized
asset in some careers, but it's not helpful for many jobs. And some foreign languages, such as Latin
or Ancient Greek, aren't even spoken anymore.
References:

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https://www.theclassroom.com/disadvantages-learning-foreign-language-7932356.html

Just Landed, (2019) Language in the Philippines. Retrieved from

https://www.justlanded.com/english/Philippines/Philippines-Guide/Language/Language-in-the-
Philippines

Lexcode Philippines Lexcode Inc. is an international LOCALIZATION company. Its core

services are language translation and interpretation. In the Philippines. (2017, December 12). 4
Reasons Why Philippine Universities Should Include a Foreign Language Subject in College.
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include-a-foreign-language-subject-in-college/

Proctor, M. (2018, May 23). 5 Outstanding Reasons to Learn Korean. Retrieved from
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Proctor, M. (2019, March 20). Learn a Foreign Language: How Much Does it Really
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elective-only

Richards, R. (2019, January 10). The Disadvantages of Learning a Foreign Language.

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7932356.html

Sundita, C. (2018), Is implementing the Korean language as a subject in the Philippine

basic education system beneficial to students?. Retrieved from https://www.quora.com/Is-
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beneficial-to-students

Valoes, R. (2014). The Disadvantages of Learning a Foreign Language. Retrieved from

https://www.theclassroom.com/disadvantages-learning-foreign-language-7932356.html

Villanueva, J., & Villanueva, J. (n.d.). The Relationship of South Korean Influence (K-pop
and K-drama) to the Nationalism of Grade 12 ABM and HUMSS Students in EAC-SHS A
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