Asst. Prof. Jonevee B. Amparo, the Acting Director of the University of the Philippines Visayas Center for West Visayan Studies (UPV CWVS), presented papers on student language attitudes, language anxiety, and multilingual learning at two international conferences in Spain and Slovakia in October 2026.
Amparo first presented her paper, “Language Preference: Analysing Students’ Language Attitude and Anxiety towards Hiligaynon, Filipino and English,” at the 2nd International Symposium on Language Ideologies and Attitudes (IDEOLING2), held on October 7–9, 2026, at the Universitat de Lleida in Lleida, Spain. The paper was co-authored by Althesa S. Sunio, a former graduate student at UP Visayas.
The study examines how senior high school students navigate the multilingual landscape of Western Visayas, focusing on their psychological and emotional responses to Hiligaynon, Filipino, and English. Specifically, it explores language attitudes, and language anxiety or the apprehension associated with speaking and participating in classroom activities.
By examining these factors across different socioeconomic status (SES) levels, the researchers sought to understand how students’ perceptions and anxieties influence their everyday language choices. The findings highlight the complexities of multilingual education in the Philippines and offer insights for educators and policymakers seeking to develop inclusive language curricula.
The IDEOLING2 promotes knowledge in sociolinguistics, applied and educational linguistics, and pedagogy, focusing on language ideologies.
Amparo also presented her paper, “A Multimodal Approach to Navigate Students’ Linguistic Repertoire and Language Exposure,” at the 5th International Conference on Multilingual and Multicultural Learning: Policies and Practices (MMLPP 5), held on October 15–16, 2026, at Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Slovakia.
The study investigates language learners’ exposure to and active use of multiple languages. It focuses on how students represent their linguistic identities through personal visual and conceptual interpretations, emphasizing their own perspectives and experiences. To conduct the study, Amparo developed a multimodal activity designed to map students’ diverse linguistic repertoires.
The MMLPP5 has brought together international scholars, researchers, and policy experts to discuss emerging strategies, practices, and policies in multilingual and multicultural education worldwide.
Amparo is a faculty member at the Division of Professional Education and the current Coordinator of the Sentro ng Wikang Filipino – UP Visayas.
Written by Sashah B. Dioso, CWVS
Photos by Jonevee B. Amparo, CWVS
