DOST unveils free English language training program

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has unveiled an electronic learning or e-learning software program to help develop English language skills that will make one qualified for employment in call centers.

Dr. Susan Festin, project leader of the Learning English Application for Pinoys (LEAP) program, said that the e-learning program will be distributed for free to 10 mostly state universities and colleges for the free use of their college students to develop their English language skills.

The English language proficiencies developed by the course is especially designed to attain a level of proficiency that is acceptable for acceptance into local call centers that need high English language communication skills.

Festin, an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science in UP Diliman’s College of Engineering, said that the LEAP program was developed by a composite team of software engineers and designers, as well as language experts in UP Diliman’s College of Engineering and College of Arts & Letters.

The DOST, it was learned, issued the LEAP-UP Diliman team a P13 million grant to develop the program.

The LEAP course program is a 200-hour English training software that has two modules on grammar and vocabulary, and Speech.

The LEAP was one of many innovations and inventions developed by the DOST S&T workforce, and those of local entrepreneurs that also got support from the DOST, as the department spearheaded the celebration of the National Science & Technology Week with the Expo Science 2013 at the SMX Convention Center at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City which started  on July 23 and ended on July 27.

Also being showcased at the Expo Science 2013 are the Advanced Materials Testing Laboratory or ADMATEL, a testing facility for the semiconductor industry; the Automated Guideway Transit (AGT) system aimed at providing alternative transportation in Metro Manila to ease traffic congestion; the Project NOAH and its components as a vital tool to address climate change; DOST’s Certified Seed Production program for improved agricultural productivity; and the other ICT-driven tools to make the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry more competitive.