Y .Monday, August 01, 2005.
From now on, I will be posting my criticisms in red. Anyway, here goes.
Have you had your English 3? As for those who still haven't, it's the Speech and Oral Communications class, where students can enhance their communicating skills in English.
Because of the continuing technological advancements, the College of Science decided to change the method of teaching English: through a Speech Laboratory, which is located at the third floor of the Medicine Building [what does a Speech Lab doing in a Medicine Building in the first place?]. The laboratory is an English-speaking zone, and everyone, including the professors and maintenance crew, are obliged to speak in the so-called international language. Aside from this, there are I think 50 computer units inside the lab, equipped with headsets and microphones so that pupils may be able to do their Speech exercises properly. Finally, a "English-enhancement Program" called "Learn How to Speak English" was installed in every computer to further aid them in the said subject. It's cool, don't you think?
However, the grading system will rely fully on the computer's responses. Yes, computer responses. Meaning, it's the computer who will give remarks on our performance. You think it's cool? Think again.
A lot have been complaining about this matter. You see, students have been encountering low grades on Speech Drills because of the computer's misinterpretations on the students' input. Let's make an example. The computer shows a picture of a dark, moony city. The computer gave three choices: morning, noon, and night. The student spoke on the microphone and said, "night" with the proper stress and pronunciation. He was expecting to be right, but the computer interpreted his answer as "morning." In pronunciation, it's really a big difference.
This had been the woe of some students. Why the computer? Yes, it has been said that computers are far more accurate than humans. But its judgment is very poor, due to the lack of data required to interpret the input students give.
People have different voices, different pitches and accents in speaking. The Learn How to Speak English Program was just made to distinguish the fluent speakers from those who don't. The problem is, WE are not raised to speak fluent English. WE grew up as Filipinos, possessing the art of speaking our national language. I'm not saying that we should not learn how to speak the International language. My point here is, the English 3 professors should consider those who were deemed wrong by those computer units. They have the ability to judge our speech abilities. Why not let them be the ones to judge us? Why not let them give remarks on what we're doing, instead of relying on those machines? It's been really unfair.
Computers are far more different than humans. They are just helping tools. They should not be the ones to judge over us.
Ironic. I see some students will fail because the computer told them so. Are they that superior?
I'm just voicing out my thoughts. I wish to have some changes, but because of the system the university has, it would be impossible. However, if anyone agrees with my statements, maybe we can still do something. Or, if you think I'm wrong, prove it to me then. Show how wrong I am, and I'll accept my mistake with open arms.
This won't be the last. I promise.
