AROUND  40 pre-service teachers from the Philippines received intensive training last month from three American education specialists under the United States Department of State’s English Language Fellows Program, the US Embassy in Manila said.

The program focused on Project-Based Learning (PBL), a widely used method in the United States that emphasizes real-world problem-solving through hands-on, collaborative projects.

Titled “Moving Ideas to Impact: A Project-Based Learning Design Workshop,” the five-day training emphasized PBL as a student-centered approach rooted in the American belief that education should be active, experiential, and connected to everyday life.

By introducing practical strategies aligned with US educational standards, the workshop aimed to help future Filipino educators transition away from traditional, lecture-heavy instruction. Instead, participants were trained to build classrooms that nurture research, analysis, creativity, collaboration, and curiosity among students.

“The success of this workshop is a clear demonstration of our nations’ shared dedication to building educational excellence,” said US Embassy Regional English Language Officer Jeff McIlvenna.

“By investing in these 40 pre-service teachers, we are strengthening our bilateral ties and ensuring that American innovations in education like PBL will multiply across Filipino classrooms and help improve learning among young Filipinos,” he added.

Throughout the training, participants developed a Community-Connected PBL Blueprint, a ready-to-use unit plan addressing a pressing issue or opportunity in their local communities. The output is expected to serve as a direct channel for applying their new skills in real classrooms.

“Each participant leaves as a ‘multiplier of knowledge’ who will shape their own institutions, preparing the next generation to be globally competitive and community-engaged citizens,” McIlvenna said.

Held from Oct. 22 to 26 in Batac, Ilocos Norte, the workshop was organized by the US Embassy’s Regional English Language Office in partnership with Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU).

According to the embassy, the initiative highlights the enduring partnership between the United States and the Philippines as the two nations approach the 80th anniversary of their bilateral relations and the 250th anniversary of US independence in 2026.

US English language programs, the embassy added, continue to promote cooperation and innovation by strengthening English proficiency and communication skills among emerging educators and the students they serve.