CALABARZON English Teachers Undergo DOLE-TESDA Training
By Rocky Peltzman

December 12-16, 2005—At the initiative of Patricia Sto. Tomas, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary, and under the auspices of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), John Clements Consultants’ Human Resource Development team held a Train the Teachers program for 20 English teachers. Laguna State Polytechnic, National College of Science and Technology, University of Rizal, Southern Luzon Polytechnic College and Cavite State University sent several participants to be trained in the use of small-group communicative methodology for the conversation English classroom.

TESDA CALABARZON Director Maria Susan P. Dela Rama coordinated the program and made available the classroom and room and board for the teachers. They were chosen after an oral assessment by Ms. Rocky Peltzman, ESL Consultant at John Clements Consultants, who also facilitated the training. TESDA participants studying Korean and TESDA office employees served as the students for the teachers’ practice teaching.

The teachers are expected to implement the skills and strategies in their current classwork, and will be called upon to teach similar Polishing English courses for unemployed college graduates in Calabarzon during summer vacation and Saturdays.

Recognizing the need for a steady stream of good speakers of English to work at call centers in the southern part of the National Capital Region, Secretary Sto. Tomas and Director Dela Rama moved mountains to help John Clements Consultants put this altogether in a very short time. John Clements Consultants thanks them, and Undersecretary Danilo Cruz for their assistance and expertise.