CHMSC and 51 Talk pave way to greater opportunities

By: Rommel M. Azucena Jr.

Photos by: Franz T. Durano

CARLOS Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC) and industry partner 51Talk, an online English education platform in China and the Philippines, held a pre-launching event of its English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) campaign through the enhancement of CHMSC speech laboratory at the Global Learning Café, Green Bldg. Talisay Campus on October 22, 2019, Tuesday.

“In Metro Bacolod alone, there are thousands of 51Talk home-based online English teachers who are earning a sustainable and profitable livelihood in the comfort of their own homes,” 51Talk Country Head Jennifer Que said.

“We linked up with the largest college in the province [of Negros Occidental] because there is huge demand in this industry. By promoting this to the high-quality graduates CHMSC produces year-on-year, we are providing them a career path towards becoming a home-based online English teacher,” Que added.

The enhancement of the speech laboratory to make it conducive for online teaching simulation and training includes the upgrade of hardware and providing of software and training materials by 51Talk. They will also share training programs to help introduce and develop training and elective courses focused on equipping CHMSC students and graduates alike who wish to become online English teachers.

“The speech laboratory is actually currently under the College of Arts and Sciences and is being utilized by our students in Bachelor of Arts Major in English language, and we really need to enhance the* laboratory especially now that we are expanding to face the challenges of the 21^st century. Students could not just be well-versed in terms of English communication but also in experience,” Jay B. Estrellas, EdD, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences said during the press conference held during the pre-launching event.

51Talk signed a memorandum of agreement with CHMSC in January 28 of this year.

Meanwhile, on the same day, 51Talk conducted an ESL 101 Training and Online Teaching Faculty Immersion led by 51Talk Culture & People Development Manager Mikhaila R. Laudencia and Teacher Training Manager Anna Marie G. Rivera participated by 20 faculty members from the College of Industrial Technology (CIT), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), and College of Education (CoED) and 4 staff from the Center for External Affairs at the Function Hall, 3rd Floor, Green Bldg. Talisay Campus.