To help alleviate the language barrier between overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their foreign employers, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will soon be adding six foreign languages into the basic language and culture training programs of OFWs.
TESDA Director General Guiling Mamondiong said that OFWs are normally beset by their workload and by their being homesick. Adding to this is the language barrier with their foreign employers during their stay in foreign countries.
German, Russian, French, Bahasa, Vietnamese and Mandarin (Taiwan) languages to help the OFWs communicate better and foster better understanding with their employers.
“At present, there are 36 TESDA-LSIs (Language Skills Institutes) established across the country [offering] language courses in English, Korean (Hangul), Nihonggo, Spanish, Mandarin (Chinese), Italian and Arabic,” Mamondiong said.
“Aside from the language proficiency program, the training aims to educate the OFWs about the culture of the country where they are working,” he added.
The TESDA previously signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Spanish Embassy and Instituto Cervantes de Manila (Spanish), Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Incorporated (Chinese-Mandarin), Italia Lavoro (Italian), and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KICA) for the language programs.
Applicants must be 18 years old and pre-selected to work locally or in-country foreign-owned company or overseas.
They are required to bring an original copy of birth certificate, ID pictures, brown envelope, an original copy of either college or high school diploma, transcript of records, training certificate from TESDA-registered programs, and National Certificate or Certificate of Competency from TESDA.
The classes are from Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for the morning sessions, and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for the afternoon sessions.
Source: The Manila Bulletin
