Two (2) faculty members from Philippine Normal University Mindanao (PNUM) had the opportunity to enhance their teaching skills through an intensive training program sponsored by the U.S. government. Prof. Jeanette T. Gongora and Prof. Elvie Charie L. Ortua, both from the Faculty of Teacher Development (FTD), attended the Teacher Professional Development Workshop on TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Methodology. This was organized by the Regional English Language Office (RELO) of the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines on May 15-20, 2023 at the Bayview Park Hotel in Manila.
The workshop gathered English language educators from 15 universities in Mindanao, including Mindanao State University (MSU) – General Santos, MSU-IIT, MSU-TCTO, MSU Jolo, Notre Dame Marbel University, Sultan Kudarat State University, Ateneo De Davao University, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, Bukidnon State University, Caraga State University, Surigao State College of Technology, and PNUM. The participants were specifically selected for their background in teaching English and were expected to disseminate newfound knowledge and learnings to other teachers in the region.
The workshop was organized and facilitated by Dr. Donna Brinton and Dr. Jan Frodesen, renowned language specialists and authors who employed a “training the trainers” curriculum design. This approach equipped participants with the necessary information, strategies, and techniques to effectively train other educators in their communities.
During the workshop, the participants met U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, Marykay Carlson, who emphasized the commitment of the United States in collaborating with Philippine partners to support high-quality education, particularly in language acquisition.
PNUM’s participation in this intensive training and workshop is testament to the University’s initiatives to assist and support English teachers, both in the basic and higher education levels, to improve their methods and skills in teaching the subject.
