English instructors, Mrs. Loriedee D. Bentula, of SIPC – WVCST Miagao Campus attended the Southeast Asian Conference on Bridging Culture through Education, Research, Science and Technology on February 13-15, 2011 at Rajamangala University of Technology Tawanok (RMUTTO), Chantaburi Campus, Thailand.
Speakers from all over Asia shared knowledge and techniques in research through lectures, hands-on experiences, and through the research paper presentations. “That was a great opportunity for me to personally interact with other participants from the different countries in Asia and, more importantly, gain knowledge and insights about research and culture,” shared Mrs. Bentula.
The said Asian conference aimed at sharing good practices and research updates and building collaborative efforts in education and research, providing pathways for educators to do collaborative research, and sharing knowledge, culture and values. It was a personal invitation from the host country to the Doctor of Philosophy students of the University of Iloilo PHINMA Education Network. Mrs. Bentula went with other Ph. D. students, Dr. Zoilo Andra, director of the graduate school, and some administrators and supervisors in the College of Education of the University of Iloilo.
The conference also paved way for the group to witness the Local Yellow Orchid Festival of the place.
”It was my first time to travel outside the Philippines and I did enjoy,” Mrs. Bentula added.
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To track the trends of the time in Language and Literature Teaching, Mrs. Veronica E. Fajarillo, Assistant Professor II and Miss Herminia N. Falsario, Assistant Professor IV of the English Division attended the National Conference on Language and Literature at University of Saint La Salle, Bacolod City on October 17-18, 2011. The theme of the Conference was “Trends, Opportunities and Challenges in Language and Literature Teaching.” It was organized the Alliance of Language and Literature Teachers and co-sponsored by the Languages Department of University of Saint La Salle, Bacolod. The aims of the Conference were to a) enhance the teacher-participants’ competence in language and literature teaching; b) share research findings on language and literature teaching; c) explore issues in the teaching of language and literature; d) serve as a venue for establishing academic linkages; and e) promote camaraderie and interaction among ALLT members and participants.
The Keynote Speakers were Mrs. Ma. Gemma M. Ledesma, Superintendent, Department of Education, Bacolod City and Dr. Virginia P. Ressurreccion, Director IV, CHEDRO VI. Topics and discussants were Language Teaching vis-a’-vis the Proposed K-12 Curriculum by Dr. Ma. Antoinette Montealegre of Philippine Normal University; Recipe for a Meaningful Literature Classroom Interaction; Intersections of the Art of Cooking and Passion for Teaching; by Prof. Ferdinand Lopez of the University of Santo Tomas, Manila; The Changing Landscapes of Language Teaching by Ma. Milagros Carreon-Laurel of UP Diliman. Paper presentations on language and literature researches highlighted the Conference. “It was a refreshing experience to attend a seminar like it. Also, the Conference paved the way for us to be connected, as members, with a professional organization in our own field of expertise. Thanks to the Administration for the chance.” (HNFalsario)
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In view of the urgent need to prepare the future teachers who will handle the K12 curriculum of the Philippine Basic Education and the inclusion of the Mother Tongue-Based, Multilingual Education (MTB – MLE), a three day Seminar-Workshop was held at West Visayas State University last September 21-23, 2011. The seminar – workshop was sponsored by the Center of Teaching Excellence, College of Education of the West Visayas State University with the cooperation of the Commission on Higher Education, Region 6. This seminar- workshop was attended by Mrs. Jenena Delfin from the Filipino Division and Mrs. Fritzy M. Balisang of the Professional Education and English Divisions. The first day started with an Opening Program where all the numbers and speeches were done in Hiligaynon except the speech of Dr. Virginia P. Resurreccion, CESO III, CHED Regional Director of Region 6. She challenged the Teacher Education Institutions to produce quality basic education teachers who will prepare learners who can answer the demands of the world. The first plenary session was the “Philippine Implementation of MTB-MLE: Implication to Pre-Service Teacher Preparation” by Dr. Rosalinda Villaneza, National Coordinator, MTB-MLE DepED Central office. She stressed on the need to teach in the mother tongue from Kinder to Grade III. Commissioner John Barrios, Regional Commissioner for Hiligaynon, discussed on “Panitikang Hiligaynon: Pagtuturo na Translokal na Kultura Gamit ang Ibat-Ibang Wika (MTB-MLE)”. He shared the richess of Hiligaynon Literature which should be the basis and aid in teaching the mother tongue. Prof. Marievic M. Violeta Co-Chair, WVSU MTB-MLE Task Force had a lecture – demonstration on the “Teaching of Hiligaynon as a Medium of Instruction for the Preparation of Pre-service Teachers”. She emphasized on using meaning and communication focused on the whole text and on the accuracy and correctness of the language in using the other tongue. She also stressed the use of the five macro skills in language such as listening, speaking, reading, writing and viewing using the mother tongue.
The second day was focused on teaching strategies using the MTB-MLE. In the, Ricardo Nolasco of Talaytayan, UP Diliman discussed on “How Philippine Languages Work: Its Implication to MTB-MLE Implementation”. This was further discussed by Congressman Magtanggol Gunigundo, the author of House Bill 162 known as The Multi-Lingual Education and Literacy Act of 2010. She stressed that people should support this bill for it was tested and proven that learners who use their mother tongue as medium of instruction could learn better and could understand concepts, thus enhancing their higher order thinking skills.
In the afternoon, a lecture demonstration was done on “The Teaching of Hiligaynon through the Use of Localores” by Prof. Romeo Espidion, Faculty PSWF. He shared his materials on the different Hiligaynon literature pieces such as luwa, binalaybay and folksongs which could be a very good springboard and resource material in teaching. After the discussion on literature, Dr. Daisy Rosano, Reading Specialist WVSU had a lecture demonstration on “Hiligaynon Structure: Alphabet and Grammar for Pre-Service Teachers”. She taught the participants on how to conjugate syllables, syntax, morphemes and semantics in the use of mother tongue. The afternoon session ended with a lecture – demo on the “Use of Hiligaynon as Medium of Instruction in Kindergarten to Grade III” by Mrs. Dymphna Gonzales – Jocson, National Trainer, MTB-MLE DepED. She taught the participants on how to conduct the lesson using the two track method on the use of Hiligaynon.
The third day was a workshop. The participants are grouped according to their expertise. Group I was composed of Deans, Program Coordinators and Curriculum makers. They were tasked to work on a sample curriculum for MTB-MLE. The second group was composed of the Professional Education faculty members who were tasked to work on sample course catalogue with its corresponding course subject, course descriptions and the like. The third group was joined by the subjects implementers composed of language teachers who were asked to work on the course syllabus. Each group was given the chance to present the output and the organizers promised that all the outputs will be presented to DepED Central Office to be taken into consideration in making the curriculum. As for the Closing Program, each group showcased MTB-MLE Paktakon, Ambahanon, Sugilanon, Binalaybay ang many others.