Master a New Language Through TESDA's Free Languages Courses

(SPOT.ph) Planning to go abroad for work? If you're heading to a country with other native languages aside from English, you might want to check out Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) free language programs which aims to help overseas Filipino workers adapt quicker to the language and culture in other countries.

While Filipinos have the edge to cater to English-speaking countries, this TESDA offering can further boost their chances to secure work, survive, and thrive outside the Philippines, according to the agency. 

You can choose between four language offerings for this batch: English, Korean, Spanish, or Japanese. 

• English Proficiency for Customer Service Workers (100 Hours)
• Basic Korean Language and Culture (100 Hours)
• Spanish Language for Different Vocations (100 Hours)
• Japanese Language and Culture (150 Hours)
• Japanese Language and Culture - Level II (300 Hours)

Each program will take at least 100 hours of face-to-face training at TESDA's  National Language Skills Center in Taguig.

Pre-registration is now open to Filipinos who are 18 years old or above and are at least high school graduates. Priority will be given to those who are "pre-qualified to work locally or abroad" in line with TESDA's Citizen Charter but those interested to casually learn a different language are also welcome to apply.

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How to register for TESDA's free language programs

Each program will be broken up to four hours of daily training from Monday to Friday, with the option to take either the morning (8 a.m. to 12 p.m.) or afternoon (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.) session. Classes will start either August or September, according to TESDA.

Interested? Email lsi@tesda.gov.ph or call 8818-8062. More instructions will be given for the pre-registration process.

The inclusion of culture teachings to these foreign language programs will allow Filipino workers to seamlessly integrate themselves to their country of choice, TESDA Officer-in-Charge Deputy Director General Rosanna Urdaneta said.

In 2021, the TESDA National Language Skills Center produced 1,148 graduates in English, Japanese, and Spanish, many of whom were OFWs and BPO workers.

According to Deputy Director General for Operations Aniceto “John” Bertiz III, TESDA is also planning to add more languages courses like Arabic, Mandarin, Italian, and French in the near future.

Classes are held at TESDA National Language Skills Center located at Lot 10 Block 42, Phase 3 Calantas, Taguig.

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