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On December 31, 2015 was established the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). 10 countries are participating, the total population of the region reaching about 620 million people. Huge economies with total production value of 2.5 trillion dollars (about 300 trillion yen) began to move. Based on the assumption that economic activity in the AEC region is activated, Plata points out that the English education must be also reviewed.
"We have a strong interest what will happen with the English as a common language in the AEC. Since in the ASEAN countries different English is spoken, we have to respectively understand and speak various types of English. We must also change the English speaking classes taught at the university. The intercultural communication point of view is also important. When you have different cultures, there are different things that are OK to talk about, and also different things you shouldn’t talk about. You must learn what topics of conversation are not rude to the other party. We need to learn the culture and norms of the communication of the other side.
With a huge budget, Brunei is having English training for its government officials at East-West Center, a research institution in the Hawaii state of U.S. In the future, the Philippines must compete with countries such as Singapore and Brunei. If the Filipino’s English skills are not good enough, we will be left behind. I would like to continue my education and research activities for the English education in the Philippines and in ASEAN by aiming to introduce the student self-assessment method. "
With the development of a new economic region, ASEAN begins dynamic people-to-people exchanges. To strengthen the country's economy, independent English learning is necessary, Plata says. Japan is also onto the wave of globalization. For the Japanese people it is essential to improve their English communication skills in order to deal with the people from Asia and other foreign countries. To enhance communication skills while spontaneously interacting with other people, and continue to learn as independent learners. It can be said that the time has come to appreciate the value of Kanda University of International Studies’ pioneering work to introduce this teaching method.(4/4)
Sterling M. Plata
Born in 1965 in the Philippine’s Province of Laguna. Received her Ph.D. (in Language and Literature) from De La Salle University in 1998. Involved in curriculum development of the English language training such as professional training in companies, and continues to study and practice the "portfolio assessment" of the students who continue to learn independently. Eager to reform the English education of the entire Southeast Asian countries, in April 2000 she receives the "Specialist Certificate in Language Testing and Assessment" from The Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organization’s (SEAMEO) Regional Language Centre. Currently she is Associate Professor in the English and Applied Linguistics Department of De La Salle University.