TESDA, British Council Ph upskill English trainers

May 31, 2024

To further strengthen English language programs in the country, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), together with the British Council Philippines, has started the training of English language trainers.

TESDA, through its National Language Skills Center (NLSC) and the National TVET Trainer’s Academy (NTTA), and the British Council Philippines is conducting a two-phase International English Language Testing System (IELTS) training workshop for 34 trainers.

In a statement, TESDA Director General Secretary Suharto T. Mangudadatu said that the ultimate gainers of the trainers training will be the graduates of the agency’s English language course.

“As our language trainers adapt to international standards, they will be better equipped to prepare their students to take the IELTS or other language English proficiency examinations,” the TESDA chief said.

The first phase of the workshop was conducted last May 20-24 at the NLSC Conference Room, while the second phase will be done online and will be facilitated by the NTTA.

The workshop provides trainers with a brief overview of the IELTS test including the test format and a guide to test results. This is followed by an analysis of the main features of each test result, focusing on the aspects that students may find more difficult.

A brief overview of the British Council’s Road to IELTS online IELTS preparation material is included in the workshop, with suggestions for ways teachers can use the material, both in class and for student self-access.

According to Secretary Mangudadatu, the provision of work-based language and culture programs is an important intervention to improve the employability of Filipino-skilled workers and enhance their competitiveness.

“With increased language proficiency and deeper understanding of the culture of their host countries, our skilled workers will be better able to communicate with and relate to their foreign employers,” Secretary Mangudadatu said.

TESDA has programs designed to strengthen the delivery of language skills training to Filipino workers. Currently, the NLSC offers English Proficiency for Customer Service Workers, Japanese Language and Culture, Japanese Language and Culture Level II, Spanish Language for Different Vocations, and Basic Korean Language and Culture.