English: My kind of town

London – Scotsman J.H. Grant Carson’s remark, "English is my kind of town," was uttered in reaction to the end part of the Country Report presented by the executive director of the English-Speaking Union of the United States, Ms. Alice Boyne. Winding up her presentation on the first day of the ESU International Council Meeting 2002, she had urged participation in the World Members’ Conference to be held in Chicago sometime in October 2004. At the far end of our long table, ESU-Scotland Chair J.H. nodded and pledged attendance in his Glaswegian growl.

Far-reaching, farsighted programs, activities, dates and venues seemed the order of the day as some 50 delegates representing 27 country chapters spoke on the status of their member organizations. The Philippines, represented by this writer as chair of its Steering Committee, was one of 11 countries seeking official inclusion in the 84-year-old international organization. Beside ourself, five of these were also represented in the London meet: the Czech Republic, Lebanon, Madagascar, Mongolia and Norway.

Thailand and Hong Kong were the latest ESU members, having enjoyed formal acceptance last December. Scheduled to have its launch last March was Madagascar, but it had to be deferred due to a political impasse that has since been resolved.

In her own report, ESU secretary general Valerie Mitchell OBE had made special mention of ESU-Philippines’ Steering Committee, while crediting "great support from the Embassy of the Philippines."

"We are pleased that they are represented here," she added. "They also took part in the International Public Speaking Competition for the first time and sent a delegate to the International Britain Summer Conference held at Oriel College."

Last year’s Council Meet was held at Grand Bay, Mauritius, while the next is scheduled for June 27 to July 2, 2003 at St. Petersburg.

One may have thought at the outset that the ESU was but a social club, with its international membership simply enjoying the privilege of getting together annually for chitchat, toasts, and folderol. But the opening session on July 16 soon disabused this first-timer of that notion.

After the delegates had delivered their Country Reports, for which she expressed her unalloyed satisfaction, Mrs. Mitchell repeatedly stressed that the ESU served as "a unique bridge between cultures," while disavowing any political, imperial, or colonizing agenda that would seek to displace other national languages in the course of its active promotion of English.

Mr. William R. Miller OBE, chair of ESU-USA and outgoing chair of the ESU International Council, upheld Mrs. Mitchell’s assurances, asserting that "we in fact wish all other national languages well, and hope that they too achieve growth and vibrancy."

Some delegates had their own ideas on how ESU might better serve the cause of global understanding. ESU-USA’s national president, Mrs. Doe Thornburg OBE, expressed her desire for the ESU to develop a world forum, similar to the Club of Rome, where global leaders and personalities could be invited to discuss world problems. ESU-Brazil chair Sandra M. Laucas MBE in turn suggested that the current assembly break up into groups of eight to ten to discuss particular topics, apart from those to be taken up in the workshop sessions of the next two days.

ESU-Nigeria director-general Prince Michael Ajose, clad in a capacious, flowing robe, spoke eloquently of how English was his country’s official language, per its Constitution. "It is a binding force!" His Highness boomed.

Mrs. Mitchell cited the advances made by ESU in providing the youth with countless avenues for cooperation and friendship, through its prime activities that featured public speaking and debates. "These enable young people to express their talents."

She recounted how ESU-Romania had launched "a wonderful song for ESU, titled ‘English as a friend,’ with its theme being how ‘We are a family, we are a bridge’."

Technology now also served as a handmaiden for the promotion of English. A recent breakthrough was achieved through the conduct of an Internet debate between students of Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.

ESU-Japan chair and former Ambassador Masamichi Hanabusa interjected that he was particularly delighted over the effective conduct of debates in his country, which had drawn the Japanese youth into a fresh, non-traditional activity.

Chairing the Council Meet proper the next day, Mr. Miller lauded the reporting sessions as "a revelation" that manifested how the ESU "was not an organization that pronounces from the top, and everybody just follows."

"We are a consultative, coordinating organization, not an executive organization," he added. "This is also how we do it in the US. We require our branches to conduct their own initiatives. Much as they have to follow certain guidelines issued by the national directorate, we urge them to be independent, and run their own shows." This is done by the 77 US branches of the ESU through "a variety of language-based programs and international scholarships and exchanges."

The two-day workshop sessions covered the following topics: International Projects (international public speaking competition, debating, work shadow, business placements and exchanges); Events and Programs (using events to increase individual membership, fundraising events, sponsorship and corporate membership); and Communications and Publicity (publications and newsletters, Internet and websites).

This chronicler must confess to having missed out on a couple of sessions, owing to difficulties in leaving our boarding place early enough to catch the days’ first sessions. Blame it further on convivial company provided by our host, Bobi Rodero, and his flatmates, Brian Cooper and J.R. Bercasio, the last a former British Council scholar who has taken residence as an engineer-trainee. (To be concluded)