Geared towards equipping and providing elementary school heads and teachers with basic skills in using foreign languages, the Schools Division of Davao City, through the initiative of Dr. May Ann M. Jumuad, Education Program Supervisor in English and Special Program in Foreign Language (SPFL), conducted the Division SPFL Literacy Seminar-Workshop at The Ritz Hotel, Barrio Obrero, Davao City on August 16-18, 2023.
The three-day activity centered around a comprehensive foreign language basic literacy seminar-workshop, which convened 16 school heads and teachers from nearby elementary schools of SPFL implementing secondary schools.
“From what we are doing right now, we hope to generate positive results and be able to expand SPFL information among elementary schools here in Davao City and somehow expand the SPFL program to its maximum potential,” Dr. Jumuad said as she gave the rationale of the seminar and updates on the implementation of the SPFL program in the division.
She also highlighted that Davao City Division, with nine SPFL schools, has already produced a number of winnings in various SPFL contests and even a number of professionals, showcasing learners’ and teachers’ proficient communicative competence in a second foreign language.
To acquaint the participants with the program, four Davao City SPFL teachers shared their expertise on four foreign languages: Efren S. Hoyla of Davao City National High School for Japanese-Nihongo; Aristine P. Dayot of Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School for Spanish; Reynold A. Niñal of Calinan National High School for Chinese-Mandarin; and John Marckie D. Ciasico of Davao City National High School for Korean.
The participants engaged in different activities, like basic greetings, self-introduction, helpful expressions, and interactive performance tasks using Japanese-Nihongo, Spanish, Chinese-Mandarin, and Korean languages.
On the last day, a cultural engagement activity through a gallery exhibit wrapped up the seminar-workshop, where participants even tried different national costumes and recreational activities.
In response to this endeavor, the elementary school heads and teachers vouched to spread the information about SPFL to their learners, especially to the graduating sixth grade learners.
By Rudylen A. dela Torre