International students from Indonesia and Vietnam under the SEA-Teacher Program successfully completed an immersion program on Ilokano and Filipino languages and cultures at MMSU College of Teacher Education (CTE) on October 20 at the 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘪 𝘈𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘯𝘪.

The program titled “𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘢, 𝘜𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘬𝘢𝘯!: 𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘢 𝘞𝘪𝘬𝘢 𝘢𝘵 𝘒𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘯𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘨-𝘢𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘭” was organized by the Sentro ng Wika at Kultura (SWK) based in CTE. SWK Chief Maria Eliza Lopez explained that the month-long activity, conducted on October 8, 13, 15, and 17, aimed to help foreign students communicate effectively in Filipino and Ilokano. “Through this program, we hope our foreign students will better appreciate our local culture and everyday Filipino life,” Dr. Lopez underscored.

The program opened with Module 1: Pagpapakilala at Magalang na Pananalita (Basic Introduction and Greetings), led by Asst. Prof. Leonardo Tejano and Ms. Shalina Asuncion-Cusilit. Meanwhile, Module 2: Pagpapahayag ng Damdamin at Kagustuhan (Expressing Feelings and Preferences) was led by Asst. Prof. Kharen Vidad and Mr. Archie Blas. Module 3: Mga Tao, Lugar, at Gawain sa Paaralan (People, Places, and Activities in School) was led by Mr. Charbel Galera and Ms. Frayle Jhill Layaoen. The lecture series concluded on October 17 with Module 4: Pagpapahayag ng Araw, Oras, at mga Kaganapan (Time, Day, and Events). Throughout the program, student buddies from the CTE assisted the participants.

During the closing program, Syafa’ Aurora Irvanto from Mulawarman University shared, “It helped us learn the beautiful culture of the Filipino and Ilokano people. It is very beautiful and colorful. We also talked about history. I would love to learn more about Filipino and Ilokano culture in the future.”

Meanwhile, CTE Dean Ronald Candy Lasaten congratulated the SEA teachers for being part of the student exchange program. “May you bring home not just memories but also the value of 𝘱𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘬𝘢𝘱𝘸𝘢-𝘵𝘢𝘰, or compassion and connection, which define us Filipinos,” he said.

Participants from Universitas Mulawarman, Indonesia were Syafa’ Aurora Irvanto, Inggrit Tiara Nuari, Kasyuri Zuttauli and Sumarni, while Duy Thuy Tran (Janet), Mi Hong Le (Mi), An Xuan Nguyen (Scott), and Phat Nhat Phan (Darren) were from Dong Thap University, Vietnam.

The program was a collaboration among the SWK, MMSU International Linkages and Partnership, MMSU Planning and Development, MMSU CTE Internship Program, and student organizations, including the MMSU CTE Student Council, Kapisanang Inang Wika, Social Studies Club, Values Education Club, Women’s Club, Gunglo Dagiti Mannurat nga Ilokano, Technology for Career and Enterprise Association, Communication Arts Guild, and The CTE Bulletin.

MMSU-CTE