The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) successfully completed its Course on Writing Memoranda and Letters (CWML) on 26 August 2020, with 28 personnel from the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA’s) Home Office and Consular Offices participating in the Course.
CWML is the second of the three-part English Language Program of FSI. As a Course building on the knowledge and skills gained from the previously held English Language Review Course (ELRC), CWML focuses on reinforcing written communication skills through strategies in achieving formality in business and diplomatic correspondence.
The Institute continues to offer its English Language Program for DFA officers and staff through 100% online modality, using Google Meet and Google Classroom.
Professor Gina S. Salazar of the University of the Philippines Manila conducted the Course using the Outcomes-based Approach, which required the participants to engage in discussions and go through writing workshops designed to improve their skills in writing diplomatic correspondence at a level responsive to the demands of their specific functions in the Department.
Ms. Jazmin Marie B. Marchan (first row, first tile), FSI’s CWML Training Program Manager.
With Professor Salazar’s guidance, the Course participants learned to integrate the fundamental principles of formality and courtesy of diplomatic communication and the indispensable competencies in business written communication skills.
FSI’s 100% digital delivery of its Courses continues to widen access for participants. For this CWML, majority of the participants were from the Consular Offices: DFA ASEANA, NCR West, NCR Northeast, Calasiao, La Union, General Santos, Santiago, Pampanga, Butuan, Malolos, Angeles, Puerto Princesa, Baguio, and Bacolod. CWML passers are qualified to join the Course on Speechwriting and Delivery—the last part of the Institute’s English Language Program series—which is tentatively scheduled in October 2020.
