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Why Not Study English in the Philippines?
By Park Hyo-gyeong, Head Student Editor
Many students each year have left for English-speaking countries such as the U.S., Australia, Britain, and the Philippines to study English. The Philippines in particular appeal because of the more affordable tuition. Chonnam National University (CNU) has made an agreement with some universities in the Philippines, and about 60 CNU students have gone to study in the Philippines each year through various international exchange programs such as the Course for Internationalization and the Heemang Studying Abroad programs. As you know, English is an official language but not a native language in the Philippines. So what is studying English in the Philippines like? Aren’t you curious about whether the Philippines’ environment or the quality is sure for language training? Last winter vacation, the CNU Press and Broadcasting Center dispatched an overseas coverage team to English education institutes in the Philippines to look into the environment of CNU student’s studying abroad in the Philippines.
This reporter visited university-affiliated language institutes: the Cebu Doctor’s University English as a Second Language (CDU ESU) and La Salle Language Center (LSLC), which have signed agreements with CNU. The language institutes each had their own educational curriculum for students, and the curriculum was divided into several courses according to the amount of study. Students could take a course of their own choosing, and they could have extra classes if they wanted. Among the classes, the one-to-one classes gained popular acclaim by students. The one-to-one class is that consists of an instructor and a student provides face-to-face instruction in a small classroom. Lee Gyu-bong, an assistant director of LSLC, said, “The one-to-one class is the most appropriate for Korean students because they are very afraid of making mistakes in speaking English.” Moreover, the classes were conducted in various forms and with diverse topics, and they are especially designed for improving students’ communication skills. It is different from regular Korean English academies which only emphasize English grammar. Through those classes, students are able to develop their way of thinking in English to naturally express themselves and they can also develop their ability to communicate in English. Park Jung-min (Senior, Division of Industrial and Electrical Engineering), one of CNU students who studied ESL through the Heemang Studying Abroad program operated by CNU, said, “We have an English presentation every week. I was able to enhance my English skills through the presentations in particular. They helped me to learn and memorize various words.”
The environment of the institutes which this reporter investigated was not bad to study. The dormitory and other facilities were well equipped. Students have free internet access everywhere in the institutes and study at a self-study room. Students who were studying there were generally satisfied with the curriculum of the institutes. Every instructor had an English teacher’s certificate, so they were good at English. In addition to basic classes, students could take university classes at CDU or the University of St. La Salle. The institutes also encouraged students to practice English by taking part in university festivals, volunteer work, and other events. However, there were a few obstructions to studying abroad in the Philippines. The most serious problem is that all most students studying English there were Koreans, and English is not a native language in the Philippines. As a result, Korean students use the Korean language outside the class, which seemed to be avoidable because not every Filipino can speak English and they usually use their own languages in their daily lives. Although these problems, CNU students who came through CNU’s international programs said that it was a good chance to study in the Philippines by learning English and having various cultural experiences as well. Shin Hye-won (Sophomore, Dept. of Food and Nutrition), said, “I was afraid of speaking English before. But, through this experience, I now have the confidence to talk with foreigners. If I go back to Korea, I could get to know any foreigner on campus without fear.” Miss Pheng, an instructor of CDU ESL, said, “Most Korean students are very afraid of speaking English because they are ashamed of making a mistake in English grammar. Grammar is not as important as speaking fluent English. Student should know that confidence is very important.” This reporter feels that studying English in the Philippines is good for students who want to go study abroad cheaply. However, wherever they study English, it is the most important that they should have active attitude for learning and practicing English.
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