Justmoi, this one is for you, wherever you are and should you assume another name in QL and pass by this forum...
"I am happy you have got a new job. Good luck with it. If your standard of written English is anything to go by, I am fairly sure your 'wonderfully understanding' boss may soon regret being so gushing with his praise."
"That is it, he was bragging about his boss saying he was and so were other Filipinos, EXCELLENT at English.
We know and they know they are not. Most at best are below average. They are worse then Indians, and they are bad enough."
Considering the previous posts clarifying that gregbais did not claim that we, Filipinos, are EXCELLENT in the English command, I just would like to add my piece.
For a country such as ours with Filipino / Tagalog as our native language, I truly believe that we fare well in learning foreign languages.
Filipinos have the adaptability to learn languages as manifested by the Filipino communities in several parts of the world. Filipinos have been known as eloquent speakers and even writers, English teachers in foreign countries (including my sister who works in one of the premier schools in California), ghostwriters for American and European authors, call center agents for American companies, Public Officials even in foreign countries, winners of Best Speaker awards in international competitions, Broadway actors and actresses, nurses and caregivers, etc. I need not name them all as it will take too much space. The truth of the matter is, though there may be a certain percentage of Filipinos who are not too fluent with the language, majority of our population has a good grasp of the English language. When you said that you have yet to meet Filipinos who are fluent in the English language, it only shows that your exposure to our community is limited.
So please, stop flagellating the Filipinos. If you may have heard others communicating in broken English here in Qatar, they may be those who have gotten used to speaking with other nationalities who can barely speak and understand the English language. Compassionate as we are, we try to simplify the words to such persons in such a way that they can understand. That is one of the dynamics of our innate ability to communicate. Inside, we groan, as we prefer to speak fast without grammatical error. Unfortunately, we are not in an English speaking country and we can only do so much so that perfect understanding is achieved within the capability and threshold of those with whom we communicate. Our first and foremost goal is to interact, to communicate effectively without sounding too pompous before those who are not too fluent in English. After all, what shall you do with the correct placement of the subject and the verb in day-to-day communication when the meaning and the instruction behind it becomes lost? Communications is NOT COMMUNICATIONS when mutual understanding of a statement made is not achieved.
Mock us, laugh at us if we happened to be borne with English as our native tongue and yet, still falter with the language. Unfortunately, we weren’t. We just learned how to speak, read and spell English words correctly beginning at the age of 5, the earliest, with our mother language spoken most of the time and everywhere outside the English class.
Justmoi, this one is for you, wherever you are and should you assume another name in QL and pass by this forum...
"I am happy you have got a new job. Good luck with it. If your standard of written English is anything to go by, I am fairly sure your 'wonderfully understanding' boss may soon regret being so gushing with his praise."
"That is it, he was bragging about his boss saying he was and so were other Filipinos, EXCELLENT at English.
We know and they know they are not. Most at best are below average. They are worse then Indians, and they are bad enough."
Considering the previous posts clarifying that gregbais did not claim that we, Filipinos, are EXCELLENT in the English command, I just would like to add my piece.
For a country such as ours with Filipino / Tagalog as our native language, I truly believe that we fare well in learning foreign languages.
Filipinos have the adaptability to learn languages as manifested by the Filipino communities in several parts of the world. Filipinos have been known as eloquent speakers and even writers, English teachers in foreign countries (including my sister who works in one of the premier schools in California), ghostwriters for American and European authors, call center agents for American companies, Public Officials even in foreign countries, winners of Best Speaker awards in international competitions, Broadway actors and actresses, nurses and caregivers, etc. I need not name them all as it will take too much space. The truth of the matter is, though there may be a certain percentage of Filipinos who are not too fluent with the language, majority of our population has a good grasp of the English language. When you said that you have yet to meet Filipinos who are fluent in the English language, it only shows that your exposure to our community is limited.
So please, stop flagellating the Filipinos. If you may have heard others communicating in broken English here in Qatar, they may be those who have gotten used to speaking with other nationalities who can barely speak and understand the English language. Compassionate as we are, we try to simplify the words to such persons in such a way that they can understand. That is one of the dynamics of our innate ability to communicate. Inside, we groan, as we prefer to speak fast without grammatical error. Unfortunately, we are not in an English speaking country and we can only do so much so that perfect understanding is achieved within the capability and threshold of those with whom we communicate. Our first and foremost goal is to interact, to communicate effectively without sounding too pompous before those who are not too fluent in English. After all, what shall you do with the correct placement of the subject and the verb in day-to-day communication when the meaning and the instruction behind it becomes lost? Communications is NOT COMMUNICATIONS when mutual understanding of a statement made is not achieved.
Mock us, laugh at us if we happened to be borne with English as our native tongue and yet, still falter with the language. Unfortunately, we weren’t. We just learned how to speak, read and spell English words correctly beginning at the age of 5, the earliest, with our mother language spoken most of the time and everywhere outside the English class.
So, please, justmoi, stop generalizing.