SENATOR Grace Poe is pushing for a measure which mandates the inclusion of foreign language other than English as an elective course in the higher education curriculum.

In filing her Senate Bill 1716 or the proposed Foreign Language Education Act, Poe said knowing foreign language is an important 21st century social skill and fosters intercultural and international awareness, knowledge and understanding, critical thinking, and effective communicative skills.

“While learning the Philippine language connects us to our history, culture and identity as Filipinos, learning foreigh languages also has its own set of advantages,” Poe said in her explanatory note.

The lawmaker believes Filipino learners will be locally and internationally competitive by providing them an avenue to learn a foreign language.

“It also expands their global opportunities for employment, travel, cross-cultural exchange, diplomacy, international education and business,” the senator added.

Based on the measure, the Commission on Higher Education, pursuant to its mandate under Higher Education Act of 1994, shall determine the specific foreign languages, the start of the integration, and other necessary guidelines and policies.

The foreign language elective course shall be a basic course for beginners and shall be designed as a three-unit subject to be offered in all higher education institutions.

It was also stressed on the measure that CHED shall promote a field of specialization in each of the identified foreign languages.

CHED shall also coordinate with education offices or similar offices of foreign embassies in formulating the foreign language training programs and curricula for Filipino teachers.

Teachers and college graduates who will take up Master’s degree in the corresponding foreign language shall be accredited as foreign language teachers.