| Rationale

Within the context of an integrated ASEAN, deepening intercultural communication, increasing regional networks and linkages, languages and arts appreciation and academic cooperation present opportunities and tools that would accelerate harmony in Southeast Asia.

In fact, this phenomenon has turned today’s academes into generating and serving the 21^st century learners’ quest towards a more competitive world market. One of the challenges posed among educators is developing a world-class learning community that is reflective of the academic, industrial and cultural differences.

Thus, it is said that the use of the English language and other regional languages may unite all ASEAN member countries as a common working language despite challenges in communication given the rich cultural diversity, geographical landscape and demographics.

The thoughts on innovating strategies to keep abreast with the integrated ASEAN is resonating because of the fact that people now live in an age when information and knowledge—although mistaken as similar, are necessary for effective and efficient business. That is why the government encourages the utilization of media in order to keep pace with this progress. Further, the manner on how people communicate in their future employment reflects their identity, academe and culture as a whole.

Global communication in the 21^st century is made possible by the use of a languages understood by all. The diversity of languages and the concept of world Englishes is the highlight of today’s cross-cultural communication—that respect of other languages is the key to achieve regional unity. These are already the medium used in the pursuit of knowledge, the advancement of science and technology, and the development of business and industry. It gives humankind access to the finite resources of the Internet and thus enables countries to work together to achieve their common goals. New information and research findings are efficiently shared in this international lingua franca.

Dedicated to fostering humanistic language teaching and learning, and achieving high levels of language proficiency among our Filipino and foreign students’ special needs or specific purposes for local and international communication and understanding, the Center for Languages and Intercultural Communication and Knowledge (CLICK) is operating under the Office of the Internationalization and Linkages (OIL) of the University.

CLICK opens its doors to foreign students and teachers, and life-long Filipino learners needing basic and advanced languages services.

CLICK is committed to deliver its services through the help of the OIL which has deep academic relations in the ASEAN community. Being part of the said office will certainly provide a platform to spark innovations and to explore areas of cooperation and linkages with foreign and local institutions—where language and intercultural knowledge ,and communication is most needed.

| Background of CLICK

La Union is one of the most beautiful and livable provinces in the Philippines. Famous for its clean air and water and surrounded by mountains, seas, rivers and forests, the area is a marvelous place to visit and to call home.

La Union, a province in the northern part of the Philippines, offers its residents the best country living—because of its peaceful, clean and safe environment.

Tourists’ attractions include churches, museums, art galleries, beaches, farms and festivals. For working professionals in the area, opportunities abound. Commercial centers and business districts are operating and thriving in the province. The city and towns in the province already have a strong start-up business and technology culture.

DMMMSU-SLUC is an education hub in the second district of La Union—and a popular school of choice by the residents of Pangasinan.

The Center for Languages and Intercultural Communication and Knowledge (CLICK) opens its doors for foreign students and teachers, and life-long Filipino learners needing basic and advanced languages services. It is a pet project of the English/Languages departments in the three campuses of the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University—which have deep academic relations with schools in Thailand—through MOUs and MOAs. The department welcomed its first batch of English Language trainees with 20 teachers for three weeks. The short-term project was then called Sawasdee to Hello (StH), with its first series entitled “English at Work in ASEAN”. To date, StH has already completed seven series—servicing approximately 200 clienteles (teachers, administrators, staff, students) from Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, Damrongratsongkroh School, Sarapeepittayakhom School, Yang Hom Wittayakhom School, Maeprik Vittaya School, Maesaiprasitsart School and the Lampang Province.

Other short-term courses (one semester and two-month programs) are also being offered to Chiang Rai Rajabhat University and Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University. Special courses—designed for Thai students—being offered are Technical Writing, Speech Communication Presentation Skills, Argumentation, Developmental Reading and Survival English.

Locally, the Languages Department in the South La Union Campus has already hosted three languages and arts festival—which is also known as Fusion. The festival has been running for third series already—with series focusing on Iloko culture, ASEAN integration, industrial revolution. Regional conferences and competitions are the highlights of Fusion—with participants coming from Pangasinan and Ilocos region.

The department has also addressed the English and communication needs of other stakeholders through their extension program, Beyond Horizon. It is a training program for Municipal employees in the second district of La Union.

It also maintains the Edukasyon: Gabay sa Kaunralan school-on-air radio program, with the DZAG- Radyo ng Bayan Agoo. The program serves as a broadcasting arm of all the activities and programs of the campus.

CLICK is a non-academic unit of DMMMSU which caters to clients who are interested in improving and honing their English Language proficiency in the four basic communication skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing; and other ASEAN languages—especially Filipino, Japanese and Thai, and Philippine regional languages like Ilokano and Pangasinan.

The short-term courses in the program are designed to integrate theory and practice to prepare the students for effective communication in diverse contexts and situations.

Its mission is to provide students (foreign and Filipino nationals) with intensive languages instruction, academic preparation and cultural immersion through high impact practices.

| Objectives

a. To operate as a recognized language consultancy center in DMMMSU

b. To provide a physical venue/building for the operation of such center

c. To serve as a forum for the exchange of informative insights and challenges in the field of communication, languages and the arts in the academe and practice

| Academic Staff of CLICK

The Center is proud of its teachers, who come from the English/Languages departments of the three campuses, who are specialists in their fields, particularly on languages’ theoretical perspectives and their applications. The teachers are diverse and hold undergraduate and graduate degrees, such as, linguistics, language education (English/Filipino), mass communication, development communication, technical education and English as a second language. Some teachers also have educational and professional backgrounds and certifications in foreign languages—such as Thai, French and Niponggo; and skills in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and others. They were carefully screened and their continuing education is mandatory. This makes the CLICK the best of its kind on this side of the region.

The Center is operated with a Coordinator, administrative staff and language specialists/teachers—who come from the three campuses of this university.

| Short-term Course Offering

1. Language & Culture Short Term English Program

This program focuses on real-life language activities. In class, students will improve their vocabulary and conversational skills by conversing with classmates about topics of interest.

They will work on their English skills through a variety of assignments and projects. For example, they may be assigned to interview residents about a topic. They'll improve their listening skills by studying the language in a foreign film. They'll also have a chance to interact with English-speaking Filipinos as they develop a final group presentation on a cultural topic.

Field trips are an important and enjoyable part of this program. During their time in the program, students will have the opportunity to go on a university tour, enjoy group sports activities, visit various La Union attractions (in coordination with the La Union Tourism Office) and tour some of the region’s many interesting neighborhoods.

2. Business/Office (Workplace) English Program

The program focuses on real-life language activities. In class, they’ll improve their vocabulary and conversational skills by having discussions with classmates and instructors about different topics of interest.

They will work on their business/office language skills through a variety of assignments and projects. For example, they will be assigned to interview business people at various La Union-area companies. They'll improve their listening skills by studying and discussing the language and content of entrepreneurship documentaries. They'll also have a chance to interact with Filipino business people as they develop a final group research project presentation on a topic related to business development.

Field trips are an important and enjoyable part of this program. During their time in the program, students will have the opportunity to go on a campus tour, enjoy group sports activities, visit various la Union attractions and tour some of province’s many interesting neighborhoods. Business/Office Track also includes two instructor-led visits to local businesses during class time.

3. Survival Communication in English, Filipino, Ilokano and Pangasinan

4. Oral Communication 1 & 2—Listening, Speaking and Viewing

5. Reading and Viewing

6. Writing and Viewing

7. Academic Communication

8. Content Specific Communication in Teaching Sciences, Technology and Mathematics English (STEM) Program

9. Other Basic Foreign Languages Program (for Filipinos only)

10. Filipino Language and Culture Program

11. No Fear English Program (for Filipinos only)

12. IELTS Test Preparation (see sample one-month program)