TESDA LSI - About Us

THE TESDA LANGUAGE SKILLS INSTITUTE

Crossing the Language Divide

In a fast globalizing workplace, the workers of the world face stiffer competition not only in the area of technology, competencies and qualifications but also in the job specific language proficiency and understanding of culture. Workplace language proficiency ensures better job performance. Further, human relationships are enhanced between and among work teams, thereby resulting to higher productivity and efficiency.

Robert McDonald, Vice Chairman for Global Operations of Procter and Gamble said, “language is the fabric that clothes the human spirit”. He also said that communication and the ability to understand and be understood are critical if we are to break down barriers, bridge divides and create a world where the potential of diversity maybe harnessed for an improved and better life for everyone.

The Multi-Lingual Pinoy Worker of the World <Pinoy WOW>

There are over 6,800 languages spoken in the world today and globalization has influenced more economies to open up. Accordingly, companies have seen the urgent need to hire workers who can speak the workplace language for a more effective and efficient delivery of service.

Spain has just opened up its doors to the Filipinos and one of the requirements for a worker is knowledge of the Spanish language. The Korean market requires the knowledge of the Korean language for workers being deployed in their country. Prospects are also clear for multi-lingual workers in the local job market. The booming BPO industry in the country gives premium to workers who can speak a second foreign language, as what Alex Aguilar of TUCP said, “workers who can speak a second foreign language can definitely look forward to even more lucrative jobs, here or overseas, in global corporations, non-government organizations and multi-lateral institutions”.

Clearly, the <Pinoy WOW> have all the opportunities both locally and overseas. Therefore, it is our country’s duty to train and enskill these workers to meet these current and emerging labor market demands. In an article from Business Economics by Thomas Siems and Adam Ratner, they said that a well educated and skilled workforce drives a country’s economic growth and is one of globalization’s invisible hands.

The TESDA Language Skills Institute (LSI)

The <Pinoy WOW> can now move forward and advance himself in the battle of competencies with the establishment of the TESDA Language Skills Institute (LSI). The LSI is envisaged to be an internationally known provider of excellent training in English and other languages such as Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Arabic, Spanish and other languages for workforce development in the country.

It is designed to be an Institution of learning in three areas:

1) Development of language standards and curricula;

2) Assessment and Certification Center for language; and

3) Center for language trainer’s development.

A National LSI shall be located in Metro Manila and shall be supported by the network of 37 TESDA Centers of Excellence as Regional LSIs in the regions, including ARMM, across the country.

LSI training shall be offered in three modes:

1) face to face - training on a regular scheduled program;

2) full on-line - training provision is done solely through an internet-based, usually interactive software; and

3) Blended - the trainees learn the theoretical aspects of the competencies on-line combined with the traditional face to face training.

LSI Target Beneficiaries:

§ Filipino workers for local and overseas employment

§ Language Trainers

§ Others

LSI shall offer training in:

§ English

§ Spanish

§ Mandarin

§ Korean

§ Nihonggo

§ Italian

§ Russian

§ Other languages as maybe needed

THE LANGUAGE SKILLS CHAIR

Purpose:

The TESDA LSI shall establish the Language Skills Chair for the purpose of sustaining the development of a specific language skills program through trainer’s development, curriculum and standards enhancement and establishment of a national language skills assessment and certification system.

Funding:

Language Skills Chairs are funded by embassies, individuals, institutions and corporations who believe in the TESDA Language Skills Institute (LSI) mission of providing an excellent training in a specific language needed by the Filipino workers in their employment both locally and overseas.

They either establish an endowment fund, of which only the interest income is used, or give an annual gift or donation to be expended during the year. A donor may decide on the Chair’s name, language and manner of management.

While the size of Funds depends on the generosity of donors, the LSI suggests a minimum endowment or donation of US $5,000 per annum.

Responsibility of the LSI:

The LSI is expected to submit an annual report on the results/outputs of the Language Skills Chair.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy for the Pinoy Worker

A triumphant <Pinoy WOW> geared with knowledge, attitude and technical competencies with workplace language skills and appreciation of culture shall populate the world’s labor market. And like a prophecy in Delphi foretold…Pinoy Workers will conquer the globalized world of work!

With the vast opportunities being offered by the seemingly smaller and borderless world, the Pinoy workers’ proven competence, ability, trainability and adaptability simply put them on a competitive edge. The growing need for language-adept workers can be easily filled by our Pinoy workers who take pride in having the capacity and learning ability to learn languages easily. Learning another language or as many languages as possible as needed in the workplace is analogous to sprinkling a little spice to an otherwise already sumptuous dish to make it more palatable and appetizing. Workplace language skills will add to the competitive advantage of our Pinoy workers.

… multi-lingual, skilled, valuable, effective, sought after, successful and the country’s pride – this is the FILIPINO WORKER OF THE WORLD!

…WALK THE WALK, TALK THE TALK…