The training which is one of the new staple offerings that aims to enhance the learning and participation of its new graduate scholars was participated in by 22 graduate scholars from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Timor Leste. Dr. Fung Cheung Kam See and Ms. Elsa Yow of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Regional Language Center (RELC), based in Singapore, served as lecturers for the training.
While this is the third time that RELC and SEARCA teamed-up to offer the English course to SEARCA graduate scholars, this was the first offering under the collaborative undertaking of the two SEAMEO Centers after they signed the agreement during the 37th SEAMEO High Officers Meeting in November 2014. In the said agreement, both Centers agreed to allocate resources towards the success of the said training.
On the other hand, Dr. Kam See emphasized the importance of independent learning to the participants and that there are a lot of internet resources that can help them further improve their English communication skills. “If you dedicate a few minutes of your time every day to practice, in just one year, you will see a big difference,” she advised.
After the English training, graduate scholars shall commence their respective study programs at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Kasetsart University in Thailand, Universiti Putra Malaysia, and Universitas Gadjah Mada in Indonesia.