Twenty-seven incoming SEARCA scholars from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste completed a five-week synchronous consultation program held every Friday from 3 to 31 July 2026 via Zoom. The sessions complemented the 2026 YES! Your English Sidekick Micro-credential (YES! MC) and prepared the scholars for academic, social, and intercultural communication situations they may encounter at their respective study posts.
The YES! MC is offered online and asynchronously to incoming SEARCA scholars who are non-native English speakers. Its self-paced modules focus on strengthening foundational skills in grammar, writing, and reading.
To complement the asynchronous modules, SEARCA's Education and Collective Learning Department - Graduate Scholarship and Institutional Development (ECLD-GSID) Unit organized two-hour synchronous sessions to help the scholars build their confidence in everyday, academic, social, and professional communication. The sessions were facilitated by Dr. Benjamina Paula Flor, Adjunct Professor at the College of Development Communication (CDC), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). Each session gave the scholars opportunities to practice speaking and listening in situations they are likely to experience as graduate students in a supportive environment that encouraged active communication.
The first session focused on academic communication, including asking professors for clarification, participating in classroom discussions, requesting consultations, and writing academic emails.
The second session covered everyday communication, such as asking for directions, using public transportation, buying food and other necessities, and requesting assistance. The activities emphasized how simple everyday conversations can help scholars become more independent, reduce anxiety, and adjust more comfortably to their new environments.
The third session focused on social communication and relationship building. The scholars practiced initiating and maintaining conversations, responding to invitations, and building connections with classmates and other members of their academic communities.
During the fourth session, the scholars examined how culture shapes communication. They discussed differences between direct and indirect communication styles, possible causes of intercultural misunderstandings, and the importance of observation, empathy, openness, and flexibility in multicultural interactions.
The final session centered on professional and academic confidence. The scholars practiced introducing themselves, explaining their research interests, networking, delivering short presentations, and responding to academic questions.
The YES! MC is part of SEARCA's Graduate-on-Time Program, which strengthens the academic and professional capacities of the Center's master's and PhD scholars. Together, its asynchronous modules and synchronous sessions help scholars adapt to their study posts and strengthen the communication skills they need to participate confidently in graduate study, professional engagement, and multicultural academic communities.