Vol. 16, No. 2
Globalization and Its Impact on
Education, Economy, and Language
This year, the two issues of the journal focused mainly on the theme of globalization. This is simply because this theme is very broad and its impact has an undeniably significant result on the lives of people, communities, organizations, and nations. It is so complex that it is hardly ever possible to discuss it in just a few journal articles.
Today, everyone is witnessing the impact of globalization. While some are celebrating its positive contribution to human life, to national and multinational corporations; maybe more of a billion of people may be experiencing its negative side. With the increasing need of accessing more and more resources from around the world, high demands are placed on some countries, some people, and some organizations. On the other hand, accessibility to the world market has made it easy for some people, organizations, and nations to keep developing in the direction they set a decade or so ago.
The current issue of the journal analyzes the impact of globalization from the perspectives of economics, education, and language. While the word “globalization” always seems to focus more on economics than other fields, it is time to look at its other aspects, that is, education and language. For sure, economics depends on education to some extent. It also depends on language. This issue has three articles on education, one on language and one on economics.
Oluikpe’s article opens the present issue with the definition of globalization. It effectively analyzes both its positive and negative effects from the Christian, spiritual, and Adventist perspectives. The author goes further to draw educators’ and educational leaders’ attention to the way they can continue promoting the uniqueness of Adventist education in a globalized world that often promotes anti-Christian attitudes. He reminds leaders of the need to refocus on mission, on the restoration of God’s image in the students.
Chureson explores how globalization has played an important role in the development of multi-lingualism and most likely some multiple identity in the Filipino people as they try to maintain their Filipino language while integrating English, the language of globalization. Her study found that effort should be made in preserving the purity of the Filipino language as part of the national identity. This study however does not negate the importance of English in the Philippines as a means to participate actively in the global community.
Kazimoto and Fukofuka investigated village-based models of economic development in Tanzania. Their study revealed that for sustainable development in villages, especially in developing countries, nations need to use a bottom-up approach. Bihag-Boholano and Go Puco’s study of reaching poor children through education in the Philippines showed that to break the cycle of poverty, a nation must use that same model of building local community’s economy.
In the last study of this issue, I explore a new phenomenon that is currently developing in the Philippines as a result of globalization. It might be going on in other countries too. Married single students, or married students who study in in the Philippines without their families with them, participated in the study. The study reveals new perspectives of this specific group of students that have resulted from the globalization of education.
With much gratitude to the contributors of this issue, I hope that these five articles will provide new insights to everyone who is seeking deeper understanding of the impact of globalization, both from the positive and negative aspects. The issue provides an important contribution from education, economics, and linguistic perspectives. Recommendations of the articles should guide policymakers in making sustainable improvement in people’s lives as the whole world continues to participate in globalization.
