Filipino for Non-Filipino Speakers (FNFS) Program

FILIPINO FOR NON-FILIPINO SPEAKERS (FNFS)
PROGRAM GUIDELINES AND INFORMATION
(2024 Revised Edition)

1. Am I required to take Filipino subjects/courses at Ateneo de Manila University? Yes. Ateneo students are required to take 6.0 units of Filipino core courses, which are part of the foundation stage of formation as stated in the Ateneo Higher Education Core Curriculum. As a Filipino university, Ateneo de Manila, through the Kagawaran ng Filipino, upholds its vision of identifying and enriching Filipino culture as an important aspect of nation-building. This is achieved through a relevant Filipino curriculum, both as a core subject and a degree course. To fulfill the mission of cultivating a critical understanding of Philippine Studies among students, the Kagawaran ng Filipino provides in-depth training in literary and cultural criticism, as well as language registers and rhetoric, through the following courses required for all Ateneo students: FILI 11: Malayuning Komunikasyon and FILI 12: Panitikan ng Pilipinas.

2. What preparations do I need to consider before taking Filipino core courses at the Ateneo de Manila University? To be ready for the Filipino core courses at Ateneo, incoming first-year students are expected to be equipped with the following skills:

   • Filipino Language Proficiency: Understanding fundamental vocabulary, grammar, listening, reading, and writing skills necessary for students to respond to the succeeding integrated skills.

   • Effective Communication: Proficiency in clear and coherent oral and written communication in Filipino.

   • Cultural and Historical Awareness: Knowledge of Filipino customs, traditions, social norms, and historical context.

   • Literary and Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze and interpret literary texts through close reading, identifying genres, themes, and literary devices.

   • Critical Thinking and Research Skills: Skills to critically evaluate texts and conduct basic research to support literary analysis.

By developing these skills and knowledge areas, students will be better prepared to engage with the Filipino core courses at Ateneo, allowing them to appreciate the richness of Filipino literature and culture and to participate more fully in academic discussions and analyses.

However, if students are not confident in their Filipino language proficiency, they may want to consider the following practical preparations:

• • Language Immersion: Engage in language immersion activities such as speaking with native Filipino speakers, participating in and engaging with local or community-based activities that use the Filipino language, and consuming Filipino media (e.g., films, television shows, music).

  • Tutoring for Language Skills: Seek a tutor to foster fluency and proficiency in the four macro skills in Filipino: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

  • Reading Preparation: Read introductory texts on Philippine history, culture, and literature. Start with simpler literary works and gradually progress to more complex texts.

While we suggest these preparations, students should choose the methods that best suit their individual needs and circumstances.

3. Who is eligible to enlist in the Filipino for Non-Filipino Speakers (FNFS) Program? The FNFS Program is a track offered by the Kagawaran ng Filipino of the School of Humanities as an alternative to the standard Filipino core courses taken by all first-year students. It is a two-course program designed to teach Filipino as a second language to students who have no conversational or academic background in the use of the language and as a foreign language to international exchange students.

A student is eligible for the FNFS Program if he/she/they are –

• • A foreign or Filipino student who attended a foreign high school with no Filipino program (both Junior and Senior High).

  • A foreign or Filipino student who attended an accredited local international school in the Philippines with no Filipino program (both Junior and Senior High).

Only students who meet any of these criteria can apply for the program. No special considerations will be given.

Applicants should submit the following requirements along with the confirmation requirements:

• • A copy (photocopy/scanned copy) of the Transcript of Record (TOR) from the student’s high school (both Junior and Senior High School).

  • A certification from the student’s high school registrar validates a Filipino Program's non-existence.

The deadline for submission is on the last day of the Confirmation Proper. For inquiries, kindly send an email to mkagahastian@ateneo.edu. All applications will undergo a screening process conducted by the Kagawaran ng Filipino’s FNFS Program Screening Committee.

4. What are the courses offered under the FNFS Program? Similar to the standard Filipino core courses, each course in the FNFS Program carries 3.0 units, contributing to the required 6.0 units of Filipino in the Ateneo Higher Education Core Curriculum. FILI 11.1 Malayuning Komunikasyon for Non-Filipino Speakers focuses on developing basic interpersonal communication skills in Filipino as a second language, emphasizing language variety and registers. FILI 12.1 Panitikan ng Pilipinas for Non-Filipino Speakers further enhances Filipino language skills by exploring the divergence and convergence between conversational and literary language.

Please note that FILI 11.1 is offered only during the First Semester and is a prerequisite for FILI 12.1.

5. Who may appeal to be enlisted in the FNFS Program? Only the following students may appeal to be enlisted in the FNFS Program:

   • Students with late confirmation who are eligible based on the requirements set in item no. 3.

   • Students who graduated from home schools or home school programs without a Filipino curriculum.

Aside from these two conditions, students with other reasons will not be considered.

In addition to the requirements stated in item no. 3, students must submit an accomplished application for transfer form to file an appeal. You can request a copy of this form from the Kagawaran ng Filipino.

All appeals must be submitted to the Kagawaran ng Filipino and will undergo a screening process subject to approval by the FNFS Program Screening Committee. The deadline is 7 August 2024, Wednesday. No special considerations will be given.

6. Is it the same as the Filipino for Foreigners Class? No, they are not the same. While it used to be called Filipino for Foreigners, the Kagawaran ng Filipino changed it to Filipino for Non-Filipino Speakers to be more explicit about the program’s learning outcomes and intended audience. By changing its name, the program is not designed for foreigners alone, but for any students who have no conversational or academic background in the use of the Filipino language.

7. I have dual citizenship. Am I allowed to take the program? Citizenship alone cannot determine the eligibility to take the FNFS Program. Only students who were mentioned in item no. 3 are allowed to enlist in the program.

8. Will I qualify for the FNFS Program if my junior and senior high school Filipino classes were taught in English? The medium of instruction used in previous schools is not part of the basis for eligibility for the FNFS Program. Only students mentioned in item no. 3 are allowed to enlist in the program.

9. If I attended a Special Filipino Program in my junior and senior high school, would I still qualify for the FNFS Program? Incoming first-year students who attended or completed a Special Filipino Program in junior and senior high school are not eligible to enlist in the FNFS Program. This is because they have already acquired or learned the minimum competencies required to engage and participate in a Filipino course. As mentioned in item no. 3, the FNFS Program is specifically designed for students who have no conversational or academic background in the use of the language.

10. Will my situation in terms of application and eligibility for the FNFS Program be comparable to that of my older siblings or friends from upperclassmen who applied to it? The design and operational procedures of the FNFS Program have been revisited and revised to enhance quality and ensure improvement. While these changes will be implemented effectively in the First Semester of AY 2024-2025, it's important to note that the revised rules will not be applied retroactively.

11. I was enlisted in the FNFS Program but attended a foreign/Philippine-based international school that offered a Filipino program. What should I do? Students who were enlisted in the FNFS Program but have completed Filipino subjects in their foreign/Philippine-based international high school or before their Senior High School are advised to apply to transfer from the FNFS Program to the Regular Filipino Core Courses. The following requirements must be submitted:

    • Accomplished application for transfer form, which can be obtained from the Kagawaran ng Filipino.

    • Letter of intent or waiver to transfer to the standard Filipino core courses.

Kindly submit your application and requirements to the Kagawaran ng Filipino during registration/enlistment. The deadline is on 7 August 2024, Wednesday.

Note: Due to the Data Privacy Law, the Kagawaran ng Filipino will not post the results of transfer appeals. Approved students will be automatically placed in their respective classes (FILI 11.1 for the FNFS Program, and FILI 11/FILI 12 for the Regular Filipino Core Courses). This will be updated in their AISIS account once the load revision is approved.

For questions, visit the Kagawaran ng Filipino on the 3rd floor of Horacio Dela Costa Hall or email filipino.soh@ateneo.edu.