SLSU-TO Filipino Education Launches Project FilTALK as part of IZN Efforts
Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) officially launched the FilTALK: Filipino as a Foreign Language project with a successful virtual orientation session held on May 13 (Tuesday evening), drawing over 60 international student participants from 10 partner universities around the globe.
Spearheaded by Project Leader Mark B. Galdo and the third-year BSEd Filipino student team from the Technology for Teaching and Learning 2 – Filipino Education course, alongside students from the Kontekstwalisadong Komunikasyon Filipino course who serve as the technical team, FilTALK is a pioneering intercultural initiative designed to promote the Filipino language and culture through interactive, module-based virtual learning. The program will run from May 13 to May 23, 2025, with daily sessions scheduled from 4:00 to 5:00 PM (Philippine Time).
The idea for FilTALK was born from the Technology of Teaching and Learning 2 – Filipino course, with Dr. Galdo's contextualized pedagogical model (2023) as the foundation. The project is designed to align with SLSU's internationalization goals while supporting key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Over 10 sessions, students will participate in interactive discussions, language exercises, cultural presentations, and performance-based activities, all aimed at deepening their understanding and appreciation of Filipino culture. The project is also a chance for SLSU student-teachers to hone their teaching skills while fostering global connections. Dr. Galdo expressed his hope for continued institutional support, emphasizing that FilTALK strengthens the global competencies of SLSU's education students and highlights the importance of promoting Filipino language education globally.
With the tagline "Masaya 'to: Let's FilTALK!", the project is about creating a meaningful space for cultural exchange and conversation. Already, the project has generated excitement from SLSU's international partners, emphasizing the university's commitment to inclusive, globally connected education.
