Mariano Marcos
State University

MMSU faculty join talks on improving language instruction at American English confab

By Abril Ryan Dacanay, 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘰𝘳
 

Exchanging insights on English language education, faculty members of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) participated in the 3rd Annual Convention of the American English (AE) Alumni Philippines, held at the Bayview Park Hotel on March 7 and 8. 
 

Among the faculty members who joined were Vice President for Strategic Planning and Foresight Mee Jay Domingo, Prof. Jeanette Dials, Dr. Gina Sylvia Gaoat, and Prof. Abril Ryan Dacanay. They joined fellow educators and AE alumni in discussions and activities of English language instruction and professional collaboration.
 

Dr. Domingo served as a panelist in the session titled “Global Partnerships, Local Practice: AE Alumni PH as Catalysts for Collaborative Professional Growth.” He shared his insights on the value of being an AE alumni in strengthening professional networks and promoting collaborative initiatives that support English language education.
 

English Language Fellow Laura Roach also facilitated a plenary session for the first day, titled “Celebrating Freedom 250.” An interactive activity on democratic participation and engagement was conducted to ensure all participants had an opportunity to share their thoughts on the topic. 
 

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Mcllvena, Regional English Language Officer at the United States Embassy, commended the ongoing initiatives and efforts of Filipino educators and international partners to strengthen English language teaching.
 

Day 2 featured additional paper presentations, including studies on the impact of communicative language teaching on learners’ speaking skills, innovative digitalized literacy assessment systems, and play-based learning strategies for vocabulary development and retention.
 

Participants also took part in a panel discussion titled “US Grant Experience Reflections: AE Alumni Voices,” where AE alumni shared their experiences in US–funded professional development programs.
 

The convention also included discussions on the Continuing Professional Development program application for upcoming Massive Open Online Courses for English as a Medium of Instruction, TESOL Methodology, Content-based Instruction, and English for Career Development.
 

Themed “80 Years Strong, 250 Years Inspired: Transforming Education through Alumni Expertise and Experiential Learning,” the convention gathered English educators, researchers, and alumni of the United States–sponsored language program from across the country to discuss innovative teaching strategies, research, and collaborative professional development in English language education.