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Language Biography

The author shares how she developed a close bond with English from a young age through stories her parents read to her and communicating with playmates. She became fluent in English and the local language. She struggled with confidence in high school but improved her skills through reading, music, and working at a language center. She received praise and recognition from a native English speaker, fueling her love of English. She now studies it further to help students who struggle with the language.

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Loire Aviles Collamat
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241 views

Language Biography

The author shares how she developed a close bond with English from a young age through stories her parents read to her and communicating with playmates. She became fluent in English and the local language. She struggled with confidence in high school but improved her skills through reading, music, and working at a language center. She received praise and recognition from a native English speaker, fueling her love of English. She now studies it further to help students who struggle with the language.

Uploaded by

Loire Aviles Collamat
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Hello English!

Language Autobiography
Nylvie Loire A. Collamat

My mother told me that I had a close bond with English ever since I was a baby. She said

that she spoke to me in English even though her mother tongue is Cebuano.

I was born in the city of Smiles, Bacolod City. My parents worked in Bacolod Sanitarium

& Hospital, now Bacolod Adventist Medical Center. My father is Waray, while my mother is

Cebuano.

At the young age of two, I listened to bedtime stories from my Bible Friends. These stories

were my favorite that when I was three, I memorized some of the stories and would pretend to

read. My parents spoke to me in English, and my playmates, they talk in Hiligaynon. So, at a young

age, I could communicate fluently in both Hiligaynon and English.

I was lucky to meet English early and used it to communicate to an international circle. My

family moved to Malaysia when I was five. My mother got a job at Penang Adventist Hospital in

Penang, Malaysia. I never had any struggles in using the language. At seven, my family and I

moved back to the Philippines, and I studied at Cebu Central Adventist Elementary School. I

remember my mother asked my teacher to tutor in the afternoons so I could learn Filipino. And so,

I added another dialect to the list of languages I can speak.

During my elementary years, I got more exposed to the local dialect and used English less.

My skills in English began to dwindle. My confidence in using the language faded when I reached

high school. One time, my English teacher asked us to report on our class. While I was preparing

for my report, my anxiety level was so high. I thought my classmates might laugh at me when I

made a mistake, or worse, I would fail the class because my English was bad. In my junior year in

high school, I applied for a position in the editorial staff of the school paper. Unfortunately, I did
not make the cut. From then on, I thought, my English was really bad. I started to read English

books, watched English movies, and listened to English music. However, my confidence in using

the language in speaking is not there.

When I started my college years, I was still the silent type. No confidence to speak the

language. However, my writing skills improved. After graduation, I decided to work in Manila in

a language center. Teaching Korean students in the language institute also helped me improve.

One of the skills in English that greatly impacted me was the pronunciation, intonation class,

basically speaking. The pronunciation teacher in the language center trained us, the newbies, to

pronounce words correctly. I remember her giving us lessons every Sunday on IPA and

pronunciation. I also learned how to read IPA (international phonetic alphabet). I already love

reading. Unfortunately, my writing skills were not that good. However, it developed significantly

because the teachers in the language institutes must write Sabbath School scripts for special

features. After working for 3 years in the language center, I decided to pursue a degree in English.

My confidence in using the language in communication increased. So, when I went back

to school to get my degree in English, I could say I excelled. I was once rejected to be part of the

high school paper, but in college, I became editor-in-chief. I was told I was not a good writer, but

I became a part of the Health and Home editorial staff.

I worked in the Kingdom of Thailand for almost five years. I used to teach in an

international school where I met different people from the West. I loved to interact with them, thus

improving my English skills more. One of my friends. Bradley, an American, commented on my

English. We were out for the night with our friends, talking, listening to music, and eating. Bradley

suddenly stopped talking and looked at me. He could not take it any longer, he said later on and

so, he asked me, “Nylvie, have you ever been to America?” I replied, “Nope. Never been to.” He
asked, “Are you really sure?” I replied, “Yes, I’m sure. Why?” “Men, you speak better English

than some of my friends. Your accent is so American. And you use idioms and slang. I think you

grew up in America. Where did you learn all that?” He said. I told him I never went to America. I

grew up in the Philippines. I learned English from my mother first and did my best to improve

myself. He was so impressed, and I was flattered. I never imagined being complimented by a first-

language speaker. My love for English just got bigger.

Now, I am studying English at a different level. I am currently doing my post-graduate

studies in English because I want to help students who find English challenging. I want to share

my journey on how I met English and becoming best friends with it. I cannot imagine life without

English. Sometimes, I find myself speaking in English when I am mad. I find it easier to express

myself using English. I know when to use inappropriate words. I can adjust my intonation and my

speed in speaking depending on whom I am talking to.

The challenge now lies in me being an English teacher. I wanted to help my students

embrace and love English as much as I do. Because I understand that the target for every profession

is globalization, and whether we like it or not, English is the medium to achieve it.

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