TESDA: Foreign language next hot job skill





A total of 7,341 trainees finished their courses last year on foreign language and culture, which is emerging to be the next hot job skill.

The graduates came from various batches that took the six language offerings from the Language Skills Institute (LSI) of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). There are currently 35 LSI centers are spread all over the country.

"Facility in a foreign language, other than our default Filipino language, is an advantage in a global market that is linguistically and culturally diverse," Villanueva said.

One competitive advantage that the country's technical-vocational (tech-voc) graduates can have is their willingness to learn languages other than their own, he added.

"In their curriculum vitae, the declaration that one is a 'graduate with a foreign language' will have employers taking a second look," Villanueva said.

TESDA's Language Skills Institute offer six courses on language and culture: Basic English Language; Basic Japanese Language and Culture; Basic Korean Language and Culture; Basic Mandarin Language and Culture; Basic Arabic Language and Saudi/Gulf Culture; and, Basic Spanish Language for Different Vocations.

Except for the Basic Japanese Language and Culture course, which should be completed in 150 hours, all courses require 100 hours of completion.

"TESDA places itself at the forefront of education not only for technical skills, but also for workplace-based language training," Villanueva said.

The classes, he said,are specifically tailored to meet the needs of the learner, the employer and the workplace.

Villanueva said that a host of jobs await graduates of foreign language and culture, such as translators, interpreters and call center agents, which are among the fastest growing occupations in the world.

If a tech-voc graduate is also adept with the language and culture of his foreign employer, he could easily communicate and relate to their needs.

"Learning a foreign language is hugely rewarding as it gives one access to amazing insight into other cultures," Villanueva said.

The TESDA chief advised tech-voc graduates of foreign language to constantly use the language by speaking or writing.

"They have to strive to know more than the basics, and practice speaking the language because as they say, if you don't use it, you lose it," he said.

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