WIKA 1 SYNTHESIS

The Wika 1 GE Conversation was designed to be a light but meaningful exchange between Wika 1 faculty from the different UP units. As the theme suggested Baon- Bidahan, each attendee was expected to share his/her/their teaching experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Oxford Dictionary defines Baon as “money, food, or other provisions taken to school, work or on a journey" (https://www.lexico.com/definition/baon). While Tagalog Dictionary defines bida as “to tell or relate a story or happening” (https://www.tagalog-dictionary.com/search?word=bida). Indeed each faculty brought their unique stories, hardships, and advice in the teaching of Wika 1 during the pandemic semester.

The GE Conversations for Wika 1 started with the sharing of five panel members from UP Los Banos, UP Open University, UP Diliman, UP Tacloban, and UP Mindanao. Dr. Jayson Petras discussed the importance of Wika 1 vis-a-vis the UP GE framework. He said that the objectives and topics of Wika 1 provided a platform for the sharing of the student’s experience during the pandemic. These experiences were analyzed along with issues affecting languages in the Philippines, culture, and society. Prof. Liberty Notarte- Balanquit and Prof. Janus Cabazares, talked about the best practices in the teaching of Wika 1 in UPLB and UPMin respectively. Prof. Liberty Notarte-Balanquit said that the Wika 1 committee in UPLB made two separate course packs (online and offline version) which catered to the different realities, and skillset of both the students and teachers. Assessment tools were also designed to accommodate to the varying needs of the students. Prof. Janus Cabazares presented teaching strategies, techniques, and readings he used in his Wika 1 classes in UPMin. During the open forum, the attendees responded positively by sharing their own class management style in the different CUs. They also suggested teaching innovations, and other learning platforms that can be used to enhance the classroom and teaching experience of Wika 1.

Lastly, Dr. Jovy Peregrino and Prof. Efmer Agustin discussed the opportunities and challenges of teaching Wika 1 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prof. Agustin expressed his experience in teaching Wika 1 in UP Tacloban where faculty and students try to find a “balance” between the use of Filipino and Waray. He said that the language controversy was present even before the pandemic, and that these issues were always a good source of student engagement during class discussions. Dr. Peregrino asked ten questions regarding the challenges faced by faculty due to the shift to online classes. These questions centered on the changing relationship between students and teachers in the online platform which is so much different from the pre-pandemic classroom/face-to-face experience. He also suggested that while these challenges can be difficult and disheartening at times, these can also be viewed as opportunities to better understand and communicate with students.

The Wika 1 conversation started with faculty bidahan of experiences and teaching techniques but ended with each one partaking from each other’s baon and learnings.

Prepared by Prof. Odessa Joson