134,445 educators earn CPD units in DepEd-NEAP Master Class in ACELT Sociolinguistics in Education (SEED)

On 29 November 2024, the Ateneo Center for English Language Teaching (ACELT) and the Department of Education-National Educators’ Academy of the Philippines (DepEd-NEAP) held a master class titled Reconceptualizing Teacher Ideology in Multilingual English Language Classrooms: An ACELT SEED Project, engaging thousands of educators in critical discussions on language ideologies in teaching. The event, part of ACELT’s Sociolinguistics in English Education (SEED) initiative, featured Dr Cecilia A Suarez, ACELT Director, and Dr Ruanni Tupas, Associate Professor of Sociolinguistics in English at the Institute of Education, University College London.

The ACELT SEED Project is an ongoing initiative, conceptualized by Dr Tupas in collaboration with Dr Suarez and ACELT, aimed at deepening educators’ understanding of the complexities of language use, particularly in multilingual contexts. The master class introduced new perspectives on teaching English, moving beyond traditional discussions of what English to teach and how to teach it. Instead, it emphasized a third pathway for change—rethinking English itself. Participants reflected on their own language ideologies and how these beliefs shape their teaching practices.

The event’s impact was far-reaching, with 134,445 educators earning Continuing Professional Development (CPD) units, with Live Reach of 94,482 Filipino educators. This milestone underscores the growing recognition of sociolinguistic awareness in English language education and highlights the importance of critically engaging with the evolving role of English in multilingual classrooms.

By challenging conventional assumptions and encouraging self-reflection, the master class reinforced the need for a more inclusive and socially responsive approach to English teaching—one that acknowledges linguistic diversity and empowers educators to reshape their classroom practices accordingly.