Sixteen trainees from Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Bulacan, Ilocos sur, Mt. Province including four Koreans and a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer completed the TESOL Certificate IV course requirements on November 4 at BSU.

      The trainees are the third batch of TESOL graduates under the BSU-AILA-SCILI tripartite program that started in 2007. The program is spearheaded by the university in a bid to equip English teachers with the current trends in teaching here and abroad.

      TESOL Cert IV which is accredited by the Commonwealth of Australia and prestigiously recognized worldwide with National Provider Number 1602 is under the partnership of BSU with Australian International Language Academy and Southern Cross International Language Institute (BSU-AILA-SCILI).

      The course covers various approaches, techniques and strategies in teaching and learning the English language. It also provides practical skills in the development, delivery and assessment of lessons.

      According to TESOL main lecturer Prof. Keith W. Wright, the third batch accomplished not only the requirements for TESOL but also some modules for TAA.

      Prof. Wright, who is also AILA Director was assisted by the 11 BSU faculty members who are also members of the first batch of TESOL Cert IV graduates in 2007. The 11 BSU faculty members, now called the "core TESOL faculty" have also finished Teaching And Training (TAA) Cert IV course under SCILI Director Dr. Carmel Thompson.

      SCILI or is a company based in Australia that assesses the TESOL Certificate IV program.

      TESOL Cert IV course (batch IV) is slated in April, 2009.