TESDA launches language institute

The Technical Education Skills Development Authority in the region recently launched the Language Skills Institute to hone the abilities of potential overseas Filipino workers in understanding and in speaking foreign languages.

The regional network of the Language Skills Institute is tasked to provide excellent training and facility with the English language as priority, as English has long been considered the “most important language in the world for its wide use.”

The program is expected to center on the language training requirements of job-ready workers both for the local and international job markets.

English language courses will be offered at LSI-regional sites where the Manila Times Language Institute’s Web-based training program will be used. The program costs an estimated P2.5 million including computers sets, according to TESDA regional director Rosanna Urdaneta.

She also said that the TESDA Language Skills Institute has established the Language Skills Chair with the main purpose of sustaining the development of a specific language skills program through the trainer’s development curriculum and standards improvement.

The Language Skills Chair is funded by embassies, institutions, corporations and individuals who believe in the mission of the TESDA Language Skills Institute of providing excellent training on a specific language needed by Filipino workers in their employment both here and abroad.

Aside from Filipino workers for local and overseas employment, other target beneficiaries of the LSI include language trainers. LSI trainees shall be on scholarship with the PGMA-Training for Work Scholarship Program.

However, non-scholars could still avail of the program if they are able to pass the ProSpeak requirements. Interested applicants may apply at the regional, provincial and district offices of TESDA.

With 31 regional sites, TESDA Language Skills Institute expects to accommodate 1,550 applicant-trainees in the English language training program. There will be morning and afternoon sessions to be simultaneously opened in all the regions in the country.

It was learned that Arabic, Korean, Mandarin, Nihonggo and Spanish languages will also be taught aside from English. — Phoebe Jen Indino/MEEV