I thought that they start to teach English in Philippines beginning from the early childhood or at least grammar school,maybe I got my facts twisted?
English is the medium of instruction in the Philippines, but it is spoken with a Filipino accent as oppose to with an American accent. This also depends on where you went to school. I was priviledged enough to be able to attend a more prestigious university and therefore was exposed to teachers who spoke English with either an American or English accent. So, even if I wasn't American-born, it only took me a short time to adapt my accent. It's still there, but I get a lot of comments saying I spoke like I was born here. :)
Specializes in Home Care, Primary care NP, QI, Nsg Adm.
Truern,
I don't know how patients responded but staff have told me it was difficult. Generally, I don't think patients here ask many questions. The culture of health care is you state your complaint, the doc treats the complaint(s), no teaching is done, and the patient goes on their merry way, scripts in hand, no info and I think not knowing that they should know. Then someone like me or my wife (also a nurse, but not working as nurse in Saudi) comes along and asks questions, at times flustering the doc who is not used to being asked and in my case challenging the provider.
And to Shelbias,
I agree. I have a few Filipino nurses, actually five. All speak English exceedingly well. Three are supervisors and I am trying to promote one to ADON. If I didn't have them I would not have anyone to work with at a professional level.
I did a recruitment in the Philippines a few years back for the local specialist hospital. Ten days and over 400 nurses from far and wide (more far).
Specializes in Home Care, Primary care NP, QI, Nsg Adm.
I should add, that in the Eastern province where I am, the nursing administration for the Ministry of Health has been developing competencies through a mentor from Saudi Aramco, who is a Saudi nurse. The work is going very well. Health teaching will part of the competencies. They are trying to raise the bar in nursing practice. It's interesting (and rewarding) as an American to be part of it. It's nice to see some things that I have been discussing for years coming to pass and I am also learning new things as well.
Excuse me TRUREN, dont mean to be rude. I did not imply that we do not speak standard english, what i said is that we also speak creole or broken english but that is when we speak with each other eg. way you going for where are u going. However we know when to switch when it is a formal conversation to standard English with a Grenadian accent and not an American accent. Just wandering to myself why is it that most American think that everything they way is the right one.
Specializes in Psych, ER, Resp/Med, LTC, Education.
I don't think it has anything to do with supriority. I think it has been pointed out that in the US where the primary language is English....those working in American hospitals should be able to speak clearly......either with or without an accent. Just becuase someone has an accent does not neccessarily mean that they can not be understood. Its about being clear and understood. And also pointed out if any of us American nurses decided to go and practice in Spain we would know we would have to learn to speak fluently in Spanish, or learn French if moving to France.......fluently. And lastly that this should be for anyone working in health care.....nurses, doctors, aides/techs, physical and occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, social workers, anyone in health care.
I am from Grenada and yes, we do have foreign doctors, nurses and lab tech working on the island, however if we are to complain about their accent they will do the same about ours. Most ppl failed to realize that ppl from all nations have different accents even ppl from the same country or island do not speak the same.
Our language here in Grenada is english, however we speak what we call creole which is broken english or a mixture of french,english and african that is since our island was once ruled by the French, the British, Spanish and we are decendants of African slaves.
We speak perfect english, not just the ppl of USA, to tell you the truth, I do not understand what the heck some of you ppl say at times.
Bonne Annee
Feliz Ano Nuevo
One love to all
You live and work in Grenada, correct? If so, then your patients will expect to hear the type of dialect you use. Likewise, in the United States of America (last I checked, Grenada is not a part of the USA), we all speak a different kind of English, and thus our patients will expect to hear that. If a caregiver has a heavy accent and it is hard to understand them (foreign or not), the patients have a right to be upset, and their concerns are legitimate.
It is nothing personal toward foreign nurses or those with accents, so please don't misconstrue.
That said, if an Australian was speaking to me I don't care what he's saying as long as he keeps saying it...I once told hubby that I'd never cheat on him unless it was with Patrick Swayze (this was in his Dirty Dancing days) or ANY Australian!!
Even that's problematic! I do a lot of teaching (staff and patients) and I can't tell you how many times people look at me at the end of the lecture and say "I am not sure what you said, I was too busy listening to that lovely accent". Grrr... !!
Although they live in a country of diverse culture, they are so absorb with considering ppl of some cultures as inferior, that they missed the relevance.
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shelbias
74 Posts
English is the medium of instruction in the Philippines, but it is spoken with a Filipino accent as oppose to with an American accent. This also depends on where you went to school. I was priviledged enough to be able to attend a more prestigious university and therefore was exposed to teachers who spoke English with either an American or English accent. So, even if I wasn't American-born, it only took me a short time to adapt my accent. It's still there, but I get a lot of comments saying I spoke like I was born here. :)