Participants celebrating diversity at the Centre Universitaire Méditerranéen in Nice, France

Photo by: Francophonia Training Center

History-IS Faculty members Ms Maria Carmela Torset and Mr Gleford Lagcao Jr attended the training for French as foreign language teachers in Nice, France from 2 July to 16 July 2023. The two-week training was organized by Francophonia Training Center and supported by the Embassy of France in the Philippines and in Micronesia in partnership with the Association des Professeurs de Français aux Philippines (ASPFP).

With a goal of innovating strategies for teaching the French language and interculturality, the participants took part in a series of modules, poetic excursions around the French Riviera and intercultural soirées.

The participants had the opportunity to take modules on vlogging and making simple televised news, reading and writing teaching strategies, multiple intelligences, and creativity in learning how to communicate differently.

Ms Torset and Mr Lagcao receiving their certificates of participation for their chosen modules

With Ms Torset and Mr Lagcao representing Mindanao, the Philippines was also represented during the training by French language teachers from Luzon and Visayas. The training became an opportunity for Filipino teachers to enrich their professional network and learn from the teaching experiences of other French language teachers coming from different parts of the world.

The Filipino French teachers having an excursion in Villefranche-sur-Mer

Aside from the modules, the participants had their immersion through the different cultural activities organized by Francophonia. In one of the intercultural soirées, the Filipino participants presented the Philippine dance Pandanggo sa Ilaw. They also had the chance to explore Old Nice, Cannes, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Èze-sur-Mer and Menton (French municipalities), and Monaco.

The Filipino French teachers presented a traditional Philippine dance during Francophonia’s Intercultural Soirée.

The training ended with intercultural soirées, expanded professional network, and more opportunities for professional development for French language teachers.

The Philippine French teacher delegates are hopeful to continue preserving their network and re-echo their learnings through a future joint project as part of their commitment to promoting the French language and culture in the Philippines.