Experts from the United States Department of State’s English Language Fellows program trained 40 pre-service teachers from the Philippines last month.

Three American experts have trained Filipino educators in Project-Based Learning (PBL), a teaching method widely adopted in the United States where students learn by focusing on real-world problem-solving through hands-on projects, the US Embassy in Manila said on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

Dubbed "Moving Ideas to Impact: A Project-Based Learning Design Workshop," the training promoted PBL as a student-centered pedagogical approach rooted in the American educational philosophy that education must be active and connected to real life. 

By focusing on practical methodologies drawn from American educational standards, the workshop equipped the next generation of Filipino educators with knowledge and tools to shift from traditional, lecture-based instruction to leading innovative, student-centered classrooms that encourage research, analysis, creativity, collaboration, and curiosity at a young age. 

“The success of this workshop is a clear demonstration of our nations’ shared dedication to building educational excellence," said US Embassy RELO 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," McIlvenna added.

By the end of the workshop, each participant crafted a Community-Connected PBL Blueprint—a ready-to-implement unit plan designed to address a local challenge or opportunity within their home communities. 

“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 added.  “This focus on immediate, tangible impact ensures the teachers’ newly acquired skills are applied directly to address needs in the Philippine educational system and the local community.” 

Organized by the US Embassy in Manila’s Regional English Language Office (RELO) and Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), the training took place from Oct. 22 to 26 in Batac, Ilocos Norte.

According to the embassy, the initiative reinforces the enduring partnership between the United States and the Philippines ahead of the 80th anniversary of US-Philippine bilateral relations and the 250th anniversary of US independence in 2026. 

US English language programs emphasize education as a critical pillar of cooperation and innovation through the development of English language learning and effective communication skills in the next generation of educators and their students, the embassy added.