Three American experts from the U.S. Department of State’s English Language Fellows program trained 40 pre-service teachers from across the Philippines in Project-Based Learning (PBL), a teaching method widely used in the United States that promotes real-world problem-solving through hands-on, collaborative projects.
Held from October 22 to 26 in Batac, Ilocos Norte, the workshop titled “Moving Ideas to Impact: A Project-Based Learning Design Workshop” was organized by the U.S. Embassy in Manila’s Regional English Language Office (RELO) and Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU). The program introduced PBL as a student-centered and real-life–connected approach grounded in American educational philosophy.
Through practical demonstrations and methodologies drawn from U.S. standards, the training prepared future Filipino educators to shift from traditional, lecture-based instruction to more innovative, research-driven, and inquiry-based teaching practices. The workshop emphasized creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and curiosity as essential skills for modern learners.
“The success of this workshop is a clear demonstration of our nations’ shared dedication to building educational excellence,” said U.S. Embassy RELO Officer Jeff McIlvenna. “By investing in these 40 pre-service teachers, we are strengthening our bilateral ties and ensuring that American innovations in education, like PBL, will multiply across Filipino classrooms and help improve learning among young Filipinos.”
By the end of the program, each participant had developed a Community-Connected PBL Blueprint, a ready-to-implement unit plan designed to address a local challenge or opportunity in their home communities.
“Each participant leaves as a ‘multiplier of knowledge’ who will shape their own institutions and prepare the next generation to be globally competitive and community-engaged citizens,” McIlvenna added. “This focus on immediate, tangible impact ensures the teachers’ new skills are applied directly to address needs within the Philippine educational system and their local communities.”
The initiative further strengthens U.S.–Philippine cooperation ahead of the 80th anniversary of bilateral relations and the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in 2026. U.S. English language programs continue to support education as a key pillar of partnership, advancing English proficiency, communication skills, and innovative teaching across Filipino classrooms.