The Philippines show and tell some ESL
October 13, 2006 | 12:00am
Seoul, Korea, Sept. 23, 11 a.m.: The Philippine flag is raised as a kangaroo comes hopping by. Everywhere you turn, other nations are just as vibrantly represented. Till the next day, certain parts of the world will remain in this room. They have all gathered in the spirit of education – English education.
Here at the 23rd Study Abroad and Language Fair, the matters of discussion are both of a second degree – that is, a second language and a second home. As the hours tick by, more and more Korean students make their way to the Convention and Exhibition Center (COEX) here in Seoul to discover how they can learn the English language and, more importantly, have fun doing it. Held twice a year (in spring and fall), this fair is also headed to Busan soon after. And wherever it goes, it forges on with its mission to help Koreans develop their fluency in English.
This movement is known by a three-letter code: ESL, or "English as a Second Language." The program lasts anywhere from four days to six months. The goal is one of complete English immersion, culturally, socially, and proactively. Long has it been since the Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) sensed this emerging need. And just in time, they incorporated ESL into their tourism packages.
Educational institutions throughout the country joined DOT in this endeavor. Preparing ESL programs to suit just about everyone’s budgets and time constraints, these schools can be found within and beyond the Metro Manila. Currently, ESL facilities are located in the provinces of Antipolo, Pampanga, Tarlac, Subic, Tagaytay, Cavite, Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao, and Cebu.
Right in the heart of Cebu City is Myka Lizares and Techie Celis’ Global Languages Academy and Services, Inc. (GLAS). They offer ESL at elementary, pre-intermediate, and intermediate levels, and such courses can last anywhere from four to 24 weeks. Believing that good ESL education goes beyond the four walls of a classroom, they have readily incorporated a number of cultural and career-related activities that can be enjoyed by their students.
While in Cebu, one can choose to take part in an immersion program, which gives students a chance to land a job in the tourism sector. An on-the-job-training (OJT) program becomes a window to exciting career prospects. This is done in cooperation with GLAS’ partner hotels, such as Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel, Marco Polo Hotel, and Park Lane Hotel.
One may also consider learning more about the Information Technology (IT) world, alongside another of GLAS’ partners, the Informatics Computer Institute-Uptown Cebu. At the same time, GLAS and Informatics also offer the Buddy System, where cultural exchange is very much encouraged.
Aside from these activities, there are also familiarization tours that take ESL students around Cebu and Mactan, as well as Bohol and Camotes. Charity work has also been made a part of one’s ESL experience, with visits made to homes for the aged, dying and destitute, as well as orphanages. As for lodging options, one may choose to stay with a host family or check in at hotels or pension houses, inclusive of breakfast and laundry service.
Back in Metro Manila, Miriam College has also been offering ESL programs. They even have a special facility for this called the Language Learning Center. Here, they have been teaching English as a second or foreign language for about two years now. Their packages range from a 24- to 45-hour courses for the proficiency program and one to three weeks for the tour program. Both proficiency and tour programs cover topics in English speaking, listening, reading and writing.
As you would imagine, though, the tour programs are a whole lot more fun. City tours and out-of-town excursions become part of the learning experience. Students get to visit Old Manila, museums, and all the malls in the city while they soon pack up to head to Subic, Tagaytay, Corregidor, Mt. Samat, and Pagsanjan. In the end, it is not only an appreciation of the English language that they develop, but a growing fascination with Filipino culture as well.
Perhaps also owing to the success of their entrepreneurship program (which Young Star checked out last year), Miriam College’s Language Learning Center is also offering a Business English and Corporate Communications course. The program lasts for two weeks and one can avail of a package inclusive of hotel accommodation and meals. Just the same, Miriam’s Planning and Development manager Jose Antonio Lopez says their Language Learning Center remains open to those who wish to learn other languages, namely Mandarin, French, Nihonggo, Spanish, and Filipino. He is also pleased to report that there are a good number of Koreans who have come to enroll in the school’s regular degree programs.
Also participating in the 23rd study abroad fair were Terra Nova Ventures Education, Top English Center Foundation, Baguio English Communication Institute, NEO International Language School, La Salle Language Center-Bacolod, University of Cebu ESL Center, International English Center, Cebu International Academy, Monol Corporation, Best English as a Second Language Academy Inc., Phoenix One Knowledge Solutions Inc., JIC Tutorial Language Corporation, and Modern Languages International.
In fact, there are even more schools than these 16 that are ready to offer ESL in the Philippines. And with time, more are expected to take part in this growing industry. The explanation lies in the inbound tourism figures. According to Bureau of Immigration chief of IRD Gary Mendoza, 2005 saw the arrival of 13,743 Korean students with 11,881 on special study permit and the remaining 1,862 on a Section 9 (F) or college visa. At the end of the first half of 2006, he is happy to add that the country has already welcomed 10,412 Korean student arrivals. And on a more optimistic note, he hopes to welcome at least 10,000 more.
The odds seem to be in the country’s favor, so says Maricon Basco-Ebron, head of DOT’s Team Korea and regional manager for Asia Pacific Travel trade sales and promotion. As far as she can tell, the Korean market is a blessing to the country’s tourism sector, "We are the biggest right now. We have been posting double-digit increases since last year. Talagang continuous yung growth ng Korean market. "
It seems Korea (South Korea, that is) has been relentless when it comes to travel. Earlier this year, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) named the country a tourism "superpower," referring to the fact that the number of Koreans travelers abroad has already surpassed the 10-million mark for the first time in 2005. And of this writing, Maricon proudly reports that we received half a million visitors. Outbound Korean tourism is growing at a healthy rate of 14.2 percent for the year, with the Philippines fast becoming one of Koreans’ favorite destinations.
The Philippines’ general leisure and honeymoon markets have benefited most from these travelers. It is in these market segments that Koreans are also joined by tourists from China and Japan. These three markets are what Tourism Secretary Ace Durano calls the country’s "bread baskets." At the moment, Koreans are leading the way, due largely to their love of adventure, shopping, food and the nightlife. It also helps that Manila is a mere 3 1/2-hour flight from Incheon and just about the same time from Busan. In addition, there is a choice of either heading for cosmopolitan Metro Manila or being greeted by the sultry islands of Cebu. Proximity and ESL competency are both key considerations in choosing the right destination. Yet another factor helps: the price.
Maricon explains, "For ESL, they look at us as a cheaper destination. One issue that was discussed with me prior to this event is that they go to the Philippines because it’s so cheap and then it’s so close. You know, the airfare for them is so cheap already, their families can even visit them so, in fact, it’s not only the student himself, the family can go with them, too. In effect, that in itself is another multiplier." She likewise noted that it could also be Koreans’ fondness for our very own Chowking that brings them here. Apart from good food, the sumptuous sights of our isles have stirred in them the desire to venture into activity-specific programs. There are golf camps, soccer fields, rock-climbing venues, badminton courts, and diving programs to begin with, all of which incorporate English education in their teaching principles. On the other hand, local destination picks for the Koreans include Vigan, Baguio, Banaue, Clark, Subic, Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, Davao, Boracay, Anilao and Puerto Galera.
Meanwhile, other visitors who come for the ESL programs include students from neighboring countries like China and Japan. In fact, a good number of Chinese have been coming to the country for ESL recently in preparation for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. There are also nurses who come to the Philippines to develop English fluency before heading out to the United States.
Undoubtedly, globalization spurs the need to be able to understand and converse in one tongue. Long has the phenomenon of East meeting West been championed. The Philippines may well be at the forefront of this phenomenon in this part of the world.
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