At least 100 English teachers nationwide will receive intensive training workshops from the United States government to enhance their teaching methods and skills in English language instruction.
The workshops employ a “training the trainers” curriculum designed specifically for the Philippines by US-sponsored English Language Specialists, Donna Brinton and Jan Frodesen, said in a press release issued by the US Embassy on Thursday.
The program is expected to benefit more than 7,000 teachers and 250,000 students in the Philippines by preparing participants to lead follow-on training sessions with colleagues in their local communities.
Brinton and Frodesen said the program shares information, strategies, and techniques that enable participants to train fellow educators in their home communities.
During the first two weeks of workshops in Manila, more than 60 teachers from academic institutions in Mindanao — including public high schools in Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi — received training.
Twelve teachers from the State Department’s English Access Microscholarship Program, including participants from Fiji, also joined the Manila program.
More than 50 educators from various campuses of Palawan State University are scheduled to join the final set of workshops from May 22 to 26 in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
On Wednesday, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson met with workshop participants to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to working with partners to support quality education in the country, especially in language learning.
“We know that having a strong educational system is the key to prosperity,” said Ambassador Carlson. “The United States looks forward to seeing the positive results of this program as dedicated Filipino educators share these methods with their peers and students.”
For these workshops, the U.S. government collaborated with the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, the non-government organization Synergeia Foundation, Inc., and Palawan State University. (PNA)