MBC, AmCham launch English Language Proficiency Program

The Makati Business Club’s Philippines-U.S. Business Council and the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines jointly launched an English Language Proficiency Program at simple rites at the Benito Legarda Elementary School in Manila in the presence of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and U.S. Ambassador Francis Riccardone. The program initiated by the Philippines-US Business Council Human Resources Development Task Force, headed by Sun Microsystems Philippines’ Cynthia Mamon, is designed to improve the level of proficiency in English among teachers and students in both the formal and non-formal sectors.

The program will involve training and certifying English teachers at the collegiate and secondary school level using a blended approach of classroom teaching and computer-aided instruction. Computer laboratories – both existing and new – will be used as venues of instruction. At least 50 Computerized English Language Centers (CELCs) will be identified from among partner educational institutions throughout the country which will use teacher-led computer-based software to teach English.

The Memorandum of Agreement officially initiating the project was signed by Ramon del Rosario, Jr. (Chairman, Philippines-U.S. Business Council; Vice-chairman, Makati Business Club) and George P. Henefeld (President, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines). The program will run for an initial three years and envisions a total of 50 Computerized English Language Centers with 250 teachers and 42,000 students trained and certified in that period.

The program was designed by a committee composed of representatives from the Philippines-U.S. Business Council, American Chamber of Commerce, Sun Microsystems Philippines, Inc., TOEIC represented by Hopkins International Partners Inc., DynEd represented by Interactive Language Solutions (ILS) and the Knowledge Institute. The Knowledge Institute has been designated project manager.

The program will be initially targeted at Filipino professional workers and new entrants into the labor force. The improvement of English will enhance the Philippines’ attractiveness as an investment site while at the same time equip Filipino workers for global jobs.

The program will also involve establishing a Philippine English Partnership among corporations, business associations, educational institutions, non-government organizations, and government agencies. Aside from providing for training and certification, the program will also engage in an information, awareness, and advocacy campaign to highlight the necessity of being certified in English language proficiency as well as to provide access to a wide range of English language resources and virtual communities.

For more information, please call :
Ms. Myra Arenas, Director, Knowledge Institute
Telephone: 894-8237
E-mail: Mariana.L.Arenas@ph.ey.com