ql-align-justify"> The Marungko Approach is a well-established literacy practice in the Philippine education system, designed to help beginning readers develop strong reading and writing skills through phonemic awareness. It is an effective example of a curriculum practice that connects audio and oral meanings to reading and writing developed specifically for Filipino learners, this approach emphasizes teaching the sounds of letters before introducing their written forms. By grounding literacy instruction in listening and speaking, the Marungko Approach creates a clear and direct connection between oral language and print.

At the core of the Marungko Approach is the belief that children learn to read more effectively when they first understand how sounds work in spoken language. Learners are introduced to phonemes through oral drills, listening activities, and sound discrimination before seeing the corresponding letters. This sequence allows students to decode and write words based on sound–symbol relationships they have already mastered orally. As a result, listening, speaking, reading, and writing function together rather than as separate skills.

This practice exemplifies key dimensions of multimodal literacies pedagogy. Meaning is constructed through multiple modes, including sound, text, gesture, and visual representation. Students engage with language by hearing sounds, pronouncing them, recognizing letters, and writing words, making literacy learning embodied and interactive. The approach also aligns with Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTBMLE), where early literacy begins in the learner’s first language. Strong oral foundations in the mother tongue serve as a bridge to reading and writing in additional languages.

Other related practices further demonstrate multimodal learning. Audio-assisted or repeated reading helps students match pronunciation with written text, improving fluency and comprehension. Storytelling and the transcription of oral literature—such as myths and legends—transform spoken narratives into written forms, preserving cultural meaning while strengthening literacy skills.

References:

[1] https://depedbataan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/USING-THE-MARUNGKO-APPROACH-TO-HELP-FIRST-GRADE-STUDENTS-IMPROVE-THEIR-READING-PERFORMANCE.pdf#:~:text=The%20Marungko%20Approach%20has%20proven%20to%20be,a%20strong%20foundation%20for%20early%20reading%20development.

[2] https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mother-Tongue-CG.pdf

How Filipino Children Hear Their Way into Reading