Friday, March 18, 2005, 07:19 GMT
English Mecca in the South China Sea
Koreans are flocking to the Philippines for their first steps at learning English and living abroad
The Philippines is in the heart of Southeast Asia and English is its second language. For Koreans it is one of the best countries to study English, especially for the beginners. They consider this country as a first step to learn and use English, as well as building the confidence they need before going to Canada, New Zealand, Australia or Ireland.
"We study first in the Philippines, and then we either go to Canada or New Zealand or any other country where English is the mother tongue," said Park Jong Wok, 27, from the Korean city of Busan. "In my case, I went to Canada after studying in the Philippines for six months because I wanted to use what I learned."
Park had several one-on-one classes at a language institute in Quezon City, on the outskirts of Manila. "It helped me to speak a lot and gave me a lot of confidence to speak English," he said.
For several years now, language institutes have been mushrooming in many places in the Philippines, even the countryside. For Koreans, having a one-on-one class is the best way to study English. A vast number of these English institutes are widely recognized within the industry to be owned by Koreans. They operate their businesses by setting up "dummy" companies with a Filipino "paper owner."
In a one-on-one class, the student spends an hour with his or her teacher using a conversational type of book. It's "a no-holds-barred" type of class. The student and teacher can talk about any thing under the sun. Moreover, the student can have as many such classes as he or she wants, and add another kind of class.
For example, at CNNS (Communicate Near Native Speakers) English Language Institute, a student can have at least two one-on-one classes and he or she can also register for a group class, discussion class or listening class and a screening class for a higher level.
According to the Philippines Department of Tourism, 93.5 percent of Filipinos can speak English well. English is used as a medium of instruction in schools and universities and is widely spoken in business transactions and casual conversations.
"Korean students choose the Philippines because it's near Korea and cheap. Aside from that, I think this is the only place that offers a one-on-one type of class," explained Nita Tallod, a former academic supervisor at one institute in the Philippines, who now works in Osan, Korea.
She told OhmyNews that most of the students have very little background in English when they first arrive in the Philippines.
"They will study the basics for several months and once they have learned those, they want to challenge their ability in English in the real environment where people speak English," she said.
Lee Jae Kyu, 27, who studied English in the Philippines for six months said, "I'm not afraid of foreigners any more, in fact for us Koreans, it's hard to overcome this fear." He added that once such fears are overcome, the learner is ready to go on to the next step. He said studying in the Philippines helped him a lot.
"I can recommend the Philippines to students to study English," Lee said. "I like the way they teach us, especially the one-on-one classes. In our class we can have the whole time to speak English and no one can interrupt us," he added.
Ironically, the teachers in the Philippines are considered good English instructors and yet they are taken for granted. Most of the language institutes do not offer job security, nor benefits for their teachers.
"We are tired of teaching students, especially the beginners, and we can't make both ends meet," said one teacher, who doesn't want to be identified. "We make them good speakers and better people, but we are left demoralized in our country."
Lee admitted that his Filipino teachers are good at what they do, but said, "I think some Koreans won't agree, because they blindly believe that native speakers are better than Filipinos."
He added that most Koreans have a prejudice against Filipinos because they judge Korea to be a better nation. In a monoculture like Korea, Koreans are proud of their ethnically homogeneous society.
"I'd like to say that once you open your heart to them, (the teachers) will do their best to help you not only as a student, but to become a better person," said student Jung Eui Tae, 26. "They will become your real friends."
Every day there are Koreans who begin plans to study abroad to conquer English, either in the Philippines or another country.
"I'm going to the Philippines next month," Oh Jin Hwan, 27, said. "I like their program -- the one-on-one classes and it's cheap as well." He has worked hard to earn money for his plan to study English.
For Koreans, their economy work style demands people to move at jet-like speeds. They need to always be on the ball. Competition is part of their daily life.
Oh doesn't want to be left behind among the approximately 600 million people who speak English in the world, as the 2004 World Book Encyclopedia has estimated. He is afraid to be part of the millions of young men and women who are unemployed.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) has reported, unemployment rates are generally higher for the more educated than those who are less educated in most developing countries of the region. Unemployment is mainly an urban phenomenon.
"I want to study English in the Philippines to have a good job in the future," Oh said.
Like the others, he said he believed that he would not only develop his English skills, but other important things like living in, and learning about, a different country.
Most students who have studied abroad believe that it would be a self-transforming experience, a quantum leap in their intellectual and social development.
"My thinking about myself and my life has changed after studying in the Philippines," explained Jung. "The people are very nice, unlike some of the Koreans who are selfish."
"I'd like to live there," he concluded.
Koreans are flocking to the Philippines for their first steps at learning English and living abroad
The Philippines is in the heart of Southeast Asia and English is its second language. For Koreans it is one of the best countries to study English, especially for the beginners. They consider this country as a first step to learn and use English, as well as building the confidence they need before going to Canada, New Zealand, Australia or Ireland.
"We study first in the Philippines, and then we either go to Canada or New Zealand or any other country where English is the mother tongue," said Park Jong Wok, 27, from the Korean city of Busan. "In my case, I went to Canada after studying in the Philippines for six months because I wanted to use what I learned."
Park had several one-on-one classes at a language institute in Quezon City, on the outskirts of Manila. "It helped me to speak a lot and gave me a lot of confidence to speak English," he said.
For several years now, language institutes have been mushrooming in many places in the Philippines, even the countryside. For Koreans, having a one-on-one class is the best way to study English. A vast number of these English institutes are widely recognized within the industry to be owned by Koreans. They operate their businesses by setting up "dummy" companies with a Filipino "paper owner."
In a one-on-one class, the student spends an hour with his or her teacher using a conversational type of book. It's "a no-holds-barred" type of class. The student and teacher can talk about any thing under the sun. Moreover, the student can have as many such classes as he or she wants, and add another kind of class.
For example, at CNNS (Communicate Near Native Speakers) English Language Institute, a student can have at least two one-on-one classes and he or she can also register for a group class, discussion class or listening class and a screening class for a higher level.
According to the Philippines Department of Tourism, 93.5 percent of Filipinos can speak English well. English is used as a medium of instruction in schools and universities and is widely spoken in business transactions and casual conversations.
"Korean students choose the Philippines because it's near Korea and cheap. Aside from that, I think this is the only place that offers a one-on-one type of class," explained Nita Tallod, a former academic supervisor at one institute in the Philippines, who now works in Osan, Korea.
She told OhmyNews that most of the students have very little background in English when they first arrive in the Philippines.
"They will study the basics for several months and once they have learned those, they want to challenge their ability in English in the real environment where people speak English," she said.
Lee Jae Kyu, 27, who studied English in the Philippines for six months said, "I'm not afraid of foreigners any more, in fact for us Koreans, it's hard to overcome this fear." He added that once such fears are overcome, the learner is ready to go on to the next step. He said studying in the Philippines helped him a lot.
"I can recommend the Philippines to students to study English," Lee said. "I like the way they teach us, especially the one-on-one classes. In our class we can have the whole time to speak English and no one can interrupt us," he added.
Ironically, the teachers in the Philippines are considered good English instructors and yet they are taken for granted. Most of the language institutes do not offer job security, nor benefits for their teachers.
"We are tired of teaching students, especially the beginners, and we can't make both ends meet," said one teacher, who doesn't want to be identified. "We make them good speakers and better people, but we are left demoralized in our country."
Lee admitted that his Filipino teachers are good at what they do, but said, "I think some Koreans won't agree, because they blindly believe that native speakers are better than Filipinos."
He added that most Koreans have a prejudice against Filipinos because they judge Korea to be a better nation. In a monoculture like Korea, Koreans are proud of their ethnically homogeneous society.
"I'd like to say that once you open your heart to them, (the teachers) will do their best to help you not only as a student, but to become a better person," said student Jung Eui Tae, 26. "They will become your real friends."
Every day there are Koreans who begin plans to study abroad to conquer English, either in the Philippines or another country.
"I'm going to the Philippines next month," Oh Jin Hwan, 27, said. "I like their program -- the one-on-one classes and it's cheap as well." He has worked hard to earn money for his plan to study English.
For Koreans, their economy work style demands people to move at jet-like speeds. They need to always be on the ball. Competition is part of their daily life.
Oh doesn't want to be left behind among the approximately 600 million people who speak English in the world, as the 2004 World Book Encyclopedia has estimated. He is afraid to be part of the millions of young men and women who are unemployed.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) has reported, unemployment rates are generally higher for the more educated than those who are less educated in most developing countries of the region. Unemployment is mainly an urban phenomenon.
"I want to study English in the Philippines to have a good job in the future," Oh said.
Like the others, he said he believed that he would not only develop his English skills, but other important things like living in, and learning about, a different country.
Most students who have studied abroad believe that it would be a self-transforming experience, a quantum leap in their intellectual and social development.
"My thinking about myself and my life has changed after studying in the Philippines," explained Jung. "The people are very nice, unlike some of the Koreans who are selfish."
"I'd like to live there," he concluded.