Another grading period has ended. More days to come and it will be again our periodical test. With the past weeks and days, I have learned a lot of things, not only in terms of our lessons in school but also some lessons in life specifically, my study habits. In ICT IV, I have learned a lot. I really enjoyed our lessons about the web. I am glad that I learned about making a html document and how to make it more attractive when it is viewed on the web. I have learned how to make alignments in an html document, applying font attributes and more about creating and designing a web page.

          With this second grading, I encountered some problems specially on how to budget my time in doing all the requirements for school. I spend most of my time at home in front of my computer. I felt like I am going to die but I'm glad that I survived. Despite of the sleepless nights and stressful days, I was able to learn successfully my lessons in school. I also learned a lesson for my study habits. I should do more important things than being deceived with internet applications. Moving on, I should be more responsible with my actions and I should do better in participating with our class discussions.

          The English language is not new to us as our universal language or the language spoken worldwide. It is our choice of what language we would use but I tell you, it is better to decide practicing your speaking ability and usage of the English language. It is not necessary that we have the complete ability to use the language exactly as a native speaker does. The more important thing is for us to learn on how to use the language correctly and appropriately to accomplish and maintain communication goals. We learn the language to communicate effectively and efficiently. It is not to forget our own and native language and dialects but just to use it in communicating especially when we are outside our country. With the goal of the language learning process which is COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE, it is made up of four areas-linguistic, sociolinguistic, discourse, and strategic. The first one which is linguistic competence tells us to know how to use grammar, syntax and vocabulary of the language. It is the ability of a person to know words in English and learn how to create or use them in phrases and sentences. Next is the sociolinguistic competence which is somehow similar to the first one. It shows us the knowledge on how to use and respond with the language appropriately, given the setting, the topic, and the relationship among the people communicating. It is the ability to use appropriate words to say to people you are talking with respect to what kind of relationship you have whether you were friends, rivals or you are to give them words of courtesy. In short, it is the ability of a person to know and find the words to say when communicating. The third one is the discourse competence. It is to know how to interpret the larger context and how to construct longer stretches of the language to create conversations, speeches, messages and articles. Lastly, strategic competence is the knowledge on how to recognize and repair communication breakdowns, how to work around gaps in ones’ knowledge of language, and how to learn more about the language and in the context. One should know how to do strategies when he/she lack of words to say so that the one he/she is talking to will not misunderstood. These strategies are very useful to recognize and manage communication breakdowns.

            Learning the language may not be easy but we should at least try. We cannot practice and learn it if we will not try. We can say, “I cannot speak in English“ but we should not forget its continuation-yet. As early as now, we should learn the language to develop the English proficiency in the country to maintain or uplift our communicative competence with the universal language. LEARN IT NOW, PRACTICE IT, and DEVELOP SUCCESS FOR THE FUTURE !#