Philippines English Language Study Abroad Fair 2017: A Success and Effectiveness

The exhibition was a resounding success, attended by many distinguished guests: Ms. Maria Cynthia Pelayo (First Secretary of the Philippine Embassy in Vietnam); Mr. Ian Paek (Vice President of the Cebu English Language Association) (CALA), and Representative of CPILS Academy; Mr. Matthew Park (Representative of HELP Academy under the Baguio English Language Association) (BESA); Ms. Julia Bich Ngoc (Representative of CG Academy); Mr. Lee Jaeho (Representative of CNN School); Mr. Lee N. Cunado and Mr. WonHee Jung (Representatives of EDA Academy); Mr. Takahiro Tsuru (Representative of IDEA English Academy); Mr. Dwayne Lehman (Principal of Noblesse International School); and Mr. Chikai Ohgiyama (Representative of UV Academy). Notably, Professor Pham Quang Minh (Rector of the University) attended and cut the ribbon to officially open the exhibition along with the distinguished guests.

Professor Pham Quang Minh (Rector of the University) delivered the opening speech for the exhibition.

Ian Paek (Vice President of the Cebu English Association) speech at the exhibition

From 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on October 1st, 2017, the exhibition attracted over 500 students, teachers, parents, and English enthusiasts. Representatives from 36 junior and senior high schools in Hung Yen province, including teachers and students, participated. In addition, students from many high schools in Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Bac Giang provinces and universities in Thai Nguyen province also attended. For schools in Hanoi, the exhibition received significant interest from students from major high schools such as Hanoi – Amsterdam, specialized foreign language schools, Nguyen Tat Thanh High School, FPT High School, Ta Quang Buu High School, Marie Curie High School, and many students from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Science, Hanoi University of Technology, National Economics University, Hanoi University, and the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology...

The exhibition attracted many attendees.

Within the framework of the exhibition, many interesting and meaningful activities brought excitement to the participants. Students received support and advice on short-term and long-term English study abroad programs, as well as high school or pre-university programs in the Philippines from participating English language schools and academies. Over 100 students participated in grammar and speaking skills tests. Nearly 100 teachers and students participated in trial classes in smart classrooms with Filipino teachers from Help and IDEA academies, following the 1:15, 1:10, 1:6, and 1:4 class models. With 12 classes per day (20 minutes/class), over 80 students participated in online classes via Skype with Filipino teachers, with the support of CPILS Academy, IDEA, and the online English training center at Clark, a strategic partner of TASS and USSH. The general feeling after attending the trial classes was one of excitement for the innovative, effective, and incredibly friendly teaching methods of the Filipino teachers. In addition, students had the opportunity to network and connect with international students who had studied in the Philippines this past summer. Some students were exceptionally talented, increasing their IELTS scores from 7.0 to 8.0 after just one month of study and practice. Some children under 15 years old confidently presented and answered interview questions in English naturally on stage. There were also successful international students like Ms. Vu Nguyet Anh, founder of the online dating app startup Rudicaf and editor of the "Connecting Ideas" program on the VTV6 Youth Department. She has garnered numerous admirable awards, including the 2016 Women Entrepreneurs Award. Top 20 Most Popular Startups of 2016... She shared that, although she was originally French, after one month of studying in the Philippines, she was able to confidently use English to present to important international partners. Besides useful consulting, learning, and sharing activities, students had the opportunity to receive valuable scholarships such as a free one-week online learning program, vouchers worth from 2 to 10 million VND, and most notably, a scholarship worth 14 million VND from Cella Academy for students registering for a one-month study program in the Philippines.

Ms. Vu Nguyet Anh shared her experiences at the exhibition.

The Philippines ranks third in Asia for English language teaching and learning, yet offers reasonable tuition and living costs, making it a popular choice for Vietnamese students and international students from countries like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China. The 2017 Philippines English Language Study Abroad Exhibition is a valuable opportunity for students to learn about and explore study abroad opportunities, and also provides a chance for schools and institutions in the Philippines to introduce teachers and parents to a highly effective and affordable English learning model.