The Filipino Language Programme in Brunei: Challenges and Updates.’ Language, Culture, Multiculturalism, Multilingual Education, and the K-12 Curriculum: Trends, Issues, Challenges, Practices
Adveva, F.M. ‘The Filipino Language Programme in Brunei: Challenges and Updates.’ Language, Culture, Multiculturalism, Multilingual Education, and the K-12 Curriculum: Trends, Issues, Challenges, Practices. University of the Philippines-Diliman. November 20 – 22, 2014.
ABSTRACT
The opening of the Filipino Language course at the Language Centre of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) in 2010 contributed to the rise in popularity of the language not just in the working sectors in Brunei where Filipinos are currently employed, but also in the academe. The Filipino Language programme started when the Faculty of Brunei Studies required their majors to take up ASEAN languages; which include Filipino language. Apart from this, it is also currently offered by the Philippine Consulate General in Brunei during term breaks to teach Filipino language and culture to Filipino children born and raised in Brunei.
At present, Filipino is being offered at UBD’s Language Centre as an elective course open to all degree programmes. It is also part of UBD’s Continuing Education Centre programme of Foreign Language classes open to the public. With the ongoing Filipino Language Programme as the newest language programme at UBD, Filipino teachers are also actively involved in providing specialist courses, consultation, and translation services to industry and government departments. This paper will present a brief development and updates of the Filipino Language Programme inside and outside UBD. It will also impart the experiences and concerns of the Filipino teachers. This wil include teaching strategies and assessment techniques that the presenter found to be effective in the teaching of Filipino to Bruneians within their own contexts.