Stylistic Analyses of Pres. Obama’s Speeches

I found two interesting stylistic analyses about the speeches of US President Barack Obama. The first one was written by David Crystal and the other one was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

On Obama’s victory style by Prof. David Crystal

(Transcript of President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address)

Muslim world listens as Obama speaks by the Associated Press

(Full text of President Barack Obama’s address at Cairo University)

I took a closer look at the remarks of the language authorities about the English speeches delivered by President Obama. Their commentaries are valid and fascinating, teaching us not only the political meanings and implications of the speeches but also the value of stylistics in making a language powerful and moving.

Movie: An Effective Medium to Teach Language

One prevalent reason why most students are discouraged to study English is their wrong perception that it is boring and tedious. They would rather go to cinemas and watch their favorite blockbuster films rather than study the rules of subject and verb agreement. Most of the time, like these students, I find myself in the same difficult situations. I know that my professors are doing their best to come up with the best possible methods to effectively teach English. However, I cannot solely leave everything to their hands. College life is no longer like the elementary and high school years when almost everything was spoon fed. I should ask not only a fish to live a day but to explore the possibility of learning how to fish to live a lifetime.

I was thinking that my love for watching good films and my need to be proficient in English can be fulfilled both at the same time. I do not need to set aside one to accomplish the other or vice versa. I could watch my favorite movie while simultaneously learning English. In fact, in a study conducted by David Wood (1997), it has been proven that movies are effective mediums to teach language and culture among students. It says that language teaching through the aid of movies has great benefits, including the improvement of the students’ tolerance to ambiguity while supporting ability to independently study the language; the enhancement of the students’ analytical skills; and the motivation of vocabulary expansion.

There is an important reminder though. With the great number of movies that are easily accessible to students these days, a “careful selection and treatment” is necessary to ensure that the aimed learning result will be successfully achieved.

In the age of electronic media, there is no better way to lengthen the students' attention span and focus but through the things that interest them the most. In my case, since I love watching good films, I will take this opportunity to reinforce language learning to myself, and I will treat each movie as a chance to be exposed to communication skills development.

Speaking of language learning through films, the 14^th French Film Festival was recently launched at Shang-rila Cineplex, featuring award-winning movies produced and directed by critically acclaimed French film makers. The festival has provided and will still be providing free movie screenings until June 14, 2009. I have watched Van Gogh, Jean dela Fontaine, Ca Brule, and Flandres so far.

To guide you with the event, this entry on Business World, entitled Viva la France, may help you know more about the films. Also, you may click this link for the screening schedule.

By the way, form the movies you have watched, which one do you think should we not miss? Can you please post a brief synopsis about it?

Reference:

Wood, D. (1997). Culture and Language Teaching -- A Case Study. Journal of Chikushi Jogakuen University, 105 - 125.

Related Reading on the Importance of Studying English

I found this recently posted entry by benign0 on Filipino Voices. It’s entitled English opens doors. May this essay help us motivate ourselves to learn more about the English language.

On the Importance of Studying English

I can still vividly recall the first question my English Communication Skill (ECS) teacher asked our class nearly a decade ago: Is it really necessary to study the English language? The question would have been simple if not followed by a bigger inquiry in the form of “why?”

During that time, I was contemplating on choosing no as a kind of making a difference from those who have previously answered yes. And yes, I did. With seemingly no remorse and reservation, I answered no in an emphatic voice.

“No?” my teacher inquired, “Why?” sounding as if everything was scripted.

“Because English is just a status symbol? People are studying it just so they may be called sosyal, elite – and be part of the alta sociedad?” (Yes, there was hyphenation in speaking.)

My professor gave out a tiny little smile with her eyebrows almost getting out of shape and turning into a straight vertical line. Upon seeing her reaction, or more aptly her transformation, I almost immediately wanted to repeat the last words of my sentences -- symbol? Alta sociedad? – and say to may professor: “Mam, have you noticed my intonation – my statements were questions.” But I was not able to say the words anymore. The universe had conspired to my advantage and sent a bell to save me. And thus, I was saved by the bell indeed – literally. Our school bell rang signifying the end of the class session. “Whoa, that was pretty close,” I told myself.

The next day, we were unable to get back to the topic, either because we needed to discuss another more sensible topic (more significant than our reasons why we were studying it), or because our teacher had forgotten it, or our teacher had forgotten it because we needed to discuss another more sensible topic that is more significant than our reasons why we were studying it. Yeah, right. Whatever the reason was, I never knew what it was. But the question remained in my mind: Why do we really need to study the language?

David Crystal (1994), in his book The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, gave out six relevant reasons to study the language: It is fascinating, important, fun, beautiful, and useful – and because it is there. I actually feel that these reasons are weak though and, thus, may still be insufficient to motivate Filipino students to study English.

English has been part of our identity as Filipinos since it reached our shores over a hundred years ago. It is our second language, a medium of teaching instruction, and the language of communication media. Not to mention that textbooks, standardized board exams, interviews, and computer instructions are most often expressed in English.

No wonder why students’ performance in other academic subjects are directly proportional and highly related to their English communication skills. Students taking up any collegiate courses (e.g. Education, Nursing, Accountancy, and Engineering) would have difficulty excelling in their field in the absence of competitive English skills. And worst, their future duties as the country’s professionals might be compromised due to inadequate English proficiency.

However, having the awareness that studying English is not enough. Getting motivated by it is more important. The knowledge may have been well impressed long before into the students’ minds, but not the enthusiasm, the conviction, and the determination to study the language independently.

That, I think, is the bigger challenge for all us: Find in ourselves the will to excel in English in preparation for a more challenging academic life in the future.

Why do you think is the mastery of English skills necessary in your current course, studies, or job?

Reference:

Crystal, D. (1994). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.