Many young Vietnamese people go to the Philippines to practice IELTS, determined to improve their foreign language.

Many young Vietnamese people have chosen to go to the Philippines to take the IELTS English certificate exam with the desire to quickly improve their foreign language skills.

Truong Anh Tuan practices IELTS with a Filipino teacher at I.Breeze English Center in Cebu City, Philippines - Photo: HA BINH

One morning in late September 2023, Vo Tri Dai (18 years old, from Tra Vinh ) was present at the "1-on-1" classroom of CPILS English Center in Cebu City, Philippines. "I paid 170 million VND to practiceIELTS for four months" - Dai said.

All inclusive

The package includes tuition, accommodation, three meals a day, and amenities such as a gym and a swimming pool. To help students focus on their studies, the center even offers free laundry service twice a week.

Dai's classes run from morning to late at night, with one-on-one tutoring and group classes of four, eight and 15 students. Every week, Dai takes a "mock test" with other students - a simulation of the IELTS exam - to test their level and familiarize them with test-taking strategies.

"I passed the entrance exam to Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry. I am currently holding back my results for a year to practice IELTS. I have studied for a month and have seen progress. I hope that by focusing on studying in an all-English environment for four months, I can achieve 5.5 to study abroad in Australia," Dai added. At CPILS, there are 15 Vietnamese students and 80% of them are practicing for the IELTS exam.

Twin sisters Pham Kim Ngoc and Pham Kim Ngan (18 years old, Can Tho ) chose to study at GLC English Center (Philippines). Ngoc said the two sisters will study here for six months. "In Vietnam, I couldn't speak much English. Hopefully after six months I can get 6.0 to study in Australia. My father chose this center and brought my sister and I to study here" - Ngoc added.

Similarly, student Truong Anh Tuan is also practicing IELTS at I.Breeze English Center, Cebu City, Philippines. "I am practicing intensively to meet the English requirements to study at RMIT University Vietnam" - Tuan said.

Save time

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung - marketing manager for the Vietnamese market of CPILS English Center - said many Vietnamese students choose to study English in the Philippines to save time.

"In an all-English environment, you will progress very quickly. In addition, many English centers cooperate with the British Council and IDP to organize IELTS exams at school for the convenience of students," said Mr. Tung.

According to Mr. Tung, the center's students come from Korea, Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia, Russia..., of which Vietnamese students account for about 10-15%.

Regarding the reason why students choose the Philippines to learn English , Ms. Chau Thi Nhu Quynh - GLC English Center - said jokingly: "Studying here is worry-free. Studying when it's time to eat is eating, sleeping is sleeping. There are plenty of sports and physical activities. Studying at home also involves doing housework, friends invite you to go out, but coming here is just studying. So those who are determined to only study will progress very quickly."

According to Ms. Marissa Anonuevo Masangkay (Philippine Department of Tourism), what attracts international students to the Philippines to study English is the one-on-one classes at reasonable costs.

"Other countries may also have it, but the cost is more expensive. Besides, enthusiastic teachers and an English-speaking environment also help students practice and improve their skills," said Ms. Marissa Anonuevo Masangkay.

Forecast to be exciting

Ms. Truong Thi Lan Anh - Director of Phil English Study Abroad Company - said that more than ten years ago, there were not many Vietnamese students studying English in the Philippines. Around 2017 to 2019 was the peak period when English centers in the Philippines always had about 10-20% of students from Vietnam.

In recent years, in the summer, many parents have sent their children to the Philippines to study IELTS preparation courses for 1-2 months. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a temporary suspension of schooling and is currently recovering. It is predicted that after the economy recovers, studying English in the Philippines will become more popular again.

According to Ms. Lan Anh, the advantage of learning English in the Philippines is the 1-on-1 model. This model combined with a schedule of 8-10 lessons/day helps students progress quickly.

"Another thing is that studying in the Philippines is very simple, no need to apply for a visa. The centers are very secure, there is a curfew so students are not allowed to go out, so parents can rest assured" - Ms. Lan Anh added. The cost of studying English in the Philippines currently ranges from 1,200 - 1,800 USD/month depending on the center...

Don't expect too much.

According to Ms. Truong Thi Lan Anh, students and parents should not expect too much that if they don't know anything, they will study in the Philippines for a few months and then speak English fluently. "You should also not expect that studying in the Philippines will increase your IELTS score rapidly because language always requires a long-term roadmap. In addition, many people think that all Filipino teachers speak well, well, and fluently, which is not true. Teachers are different, not everyone has good pronunciation. If you find that a teacher's pronunciation is not good or you cannot learn, you should immediately notify the center to change teachers," Ms. Lan Anh added.

Vietnam is an important market

We consider Vietnam an important market in attracting international students to the Philippines to study English. As I have observed, the number of Vietnamese students coming to the Philippines to study has increased recently.

To find a good course and school, parents should refer to the school websites and can ask for help from experienced study abroad consulting centers in Vietnam. If possible, students and parents can go to the place to learn directly before choosing. The website of the Philippine Department of Tourism also has information related to international students. We always encourage and support international students who want to study in the Philippines.

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