By JOHN VINCENT B. TORIBIO

The Language Center (LC) at the MMSU College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) has started to re-design its language courses to cater to the demand for virtually-facilitated programs suited in the ‘new normal.’

To address the challenges of the time, particularly the prohibition of face-to-face classes, the LC’s faculty-trainers convened in a two-day workshop (August 6-7) at the University Library to translate its current learning materials into online-fit resources. 

Dr. Marlina L. Lino, LC chief, asserted that the Center stands true to MMSU’s brand of excellence and resiliency as the “powerhouse team of the Center committed to recalibrate the course design and learning modules to continually attend to our local and international clientele.” 

Currently, the LC hopes to host another batch of Taiwanese students from the National Taichung University of Science and Technology in its Special English Program for International Students (SEPIS), the LC’s flagship program. 

This program is for international, non-native English-speaking students and is designed to help them to acquire fluency and accuracy in English enabling them to effectively integrate these competencies into their home culture. 

Here, classes employ grammar-based conversational activities, pronunciation practice, and communicative and task-based strategies. 

“The challenges of the ‘new normal’ are there to stay. Hence, we must tailor our flagship program and other short-term course offerings for the virtual learning environment,” Dr. Lino said.

The LC has already catered to three batches, which are comprised of 70 students from Taiwan and Japan who enrolled in the special program. 

Moreover, the LC team has also prepared highly improved course syllabi and contents for LC’s short-term courses. These include Conversational English, Grammar and Correct Usage, English Pronunciation, Oral Communication (Listening, Speaking, and Viewing), Public Speaking and Presentation Skills, Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary Development, Writing Skills, Creative Writing, and Business and Technical Writing. 

These courses usually run for 18 staggered hours which cater to both foreign and local students. Here, a class may either comprise 10-15 foreign students or 15-20 local students. Meanwhile, tutorials may include one to three students. 

Both the SEPIS and the short-term courses are handled by the following faculty trainers, headed by Dr. Lino: Prof. Luvee Hazel C. Aquino, Dr. Mee Jay A. Domingo, Dr. Mark Lawrence A. Fernandez, Dr. Jan Rich A. Guira, Prof. Danica Hanna A. Pastor, Dr. Rey John C. Villanueva, and this writer.

They are under the CAS - Department of Languages and Literature (DLL).

The LC, an independent unit of CAS, takes charge of providing the non-degree language needs of the University and its external clientele, as well as consultancy and translation services. (StratCom)