FILIPINO TEACHERS IN CAMBODIA ENHANCE ENGLISH SKILLS THROUGH
CONDUCT OF 1ST MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSE AND CAMP
PHNOM PENH -- Filipino English teachers in Cambodia recently completed a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) and Camp further enhancing their instructional skills in teaching the English language to thousands of Cambodian students.
Spearheaded by the Teachers’ Learning Action Guild in Cambodia, an organized group of Filipino English teachers, the first MOOC saw one hundred sixteen (116) graduates complete the five-week course on Using Educational Technology in the English Language Classroom. The Cambodia Camp was divided into three sub-camps in Phnom Penh (88 graduates), in Siem Reap (18 graduates) and in Sihanoukville (10 graduates).
At a completion ceremony held on 23 June 2018 at the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh, Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia Christopher B. Montero congratulated the graduates and highlighted the importance of the online course in helping build the capacity and competence of Filipino teachers in Cambodia.
“This is definitely a promising start in the establishment of a network of Filipino teachers that will serve as a platform to support one another in constantly upgrading your skills, to promote the overall interest of Pinoy teachers in Cambodia, and also to further solidify the reputation and, may I dare say, the brand, of Filipino education professionals in the Kingdom," Ambassador Montero noted.
The course kicked-off in March 2018 and consisted of online lessons, quizzes and assignments, as well as weekly face-to-face meet-ups or “camp.” As a way of giving back, each sub-camp organized a charity outreach event.
The Cambodia Camp falls under the main camp in Davao del Norte, which is technically supported and facilitated by Rebecca Casas Sagot, Education Program Supervisor 1-LRMDS of the Division of Davao del Norte, Department of Education. Along with the rest of the MOOC Camp participants of DavNor, the Cambodia Camp was also presented and conferred during the 12th June 2018 Celebration of Learning in Tagum City, Philippines.
The camp was facilitated by Jay Ian L. Capungan and co-facilitated by Imee L. Dalisdis, Arturo F. Esmeria, Maria Linda D. Aurellano , Marina C. Oligo, Jean U. Bomowey, Teresa L. Tangi, Humbard A. Rioja, Gloria B. Gabalonos, Jay-Ar B. Galang, Joel G. Mesa, Romar A. Rioja, Edeza M. Banquilis, Jean S. Behis, Maria Teresa A. Enriquez, Arimae Janica F. Manansala, Ariane Camille F. Manansala, Joy D. Beraquit and Zenaida M. Contante.
“This program gave us an opportunity to expand our friendship goals and to network with Filipino English teachers. We really appreciate the course because everything was free of charge,” Tess Enriquez, a Filipino teacher in Siem Reap, said at the completion ceremony.
The program is a fully-funded open online course of the US Department of State that was facilitated by Iowa State University, in partnership with FHI360- a nonprofit human development organization based in North Carolina, and Canvas Network- the online platform for the course. END
