THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the University of the Philippines’ Department of European Languages (UP-DEL) are collaborating to develop an innovative Spanish language textbook.
The textbook, believed to be the first of its sort in the country, is for the benefit of Filipino students.
The Spanish language profoundly influenced Filipinos and was the country’s official language in the late 16th century. Spain occupied the Philippines for 333 years, and the Tagalog language has borrowed words from Spanish.
The material is aimed at being a “context-sensitive, culturally responsive, open-access digital resource” that could serve as a textbook and a workbook for Spanish language teachers and students.
According to TESDA director general, Secretary Suharto Mangudadatu, the textbook will benefit future learners in the country in a variety of ways. This will also allow them to improve their educational experiences.
“We are honored to contribute to the development of this innovative language textbook, which will undoubtedly benefit future Spanish language learners and enrich their educational experience,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Spanish Language Restoration Movement praised the “commendable initiative” and said that it may also be utilized in schools.
“This is a commendable initiative from TESDA and UP, but what we need is for (the Department of Education to do as well for the basic education level,” they said in a Facebook post.
The National Language Skills Center would be responsible for verifying the textbook’s content to ensure its consistency with the agency’s Spanish course curriculum.
Once completed, the material will be available for free online and can be printed for P250.
TESDA also currently offers a 100-hour Spanish Language for Different Vocations course.
The collaboration between TESDA and UP-DEL constitutes a significant step forward in Philippine language education, with the goal of equipping students with the linguistic skills and cultural understanding required to flourish in today’s linked world.
