Female, 24, working professional (consulting), study in the Philippines 2 weeks. English level 3 (Low Intermediate) → level 4 (High Intermediate)
What made you decide to study in the Philippines?
I was changing jobs, and I might have chances to use English at my next workplace. I had studied for university entrance exams, so I’m fine with English as a subject — my TOEIC is 965. But I felt weak at speaking, so I decided to train in the Philippines.
But it was my first time in Asia, and I was uneasy about bugs. So I looked for a school with good facilities and chose Grandline.
How were the facilities you were worried about?
The school and accommodation were really good. The condominium is clean, and it’s cleaned every weekday, so life was very comfortable.
Inside was fine, but outside the school there were bugs. It’s a warmer region than Japan, so it can’t be helped. It was the start of the rainy season, and before rain there were cockroaches in the alleys, which surprised me a little.
How was safety in Manila?
The first night was a little scary, but daytime was fine. Security around the school is solid, so I never felt uneasy.
But about five minutes from the school, there were people sleeping on the street. It was my first time seeing that, so I was surprised at first. Walking around the school during the day is fine, but I think you should be careful at night.
How were the lessons?
There was a test before starting, and they made a business English syllabus matched to my level. I had studied grammar and vocabulary to some extent, so I wasn’t aiming to learn those in the Philippines — I just focused on output.
All the lesson materials were business-related, which was fun. Learning about business ethics, CSR and management in English was interesting.
There was also a lesson called Real Meeting, where an outside guest comes to talk. They invited someone from the government, like the Philippine equivalent of the Ministry of Agriculture. I had worked in agriculture, so it was a valuable conversation.
All the students were working professionals — most were sent by their companies, and only a few came individually. I studied business English, but some students were learning everyday conversation. I’m very satisfied that I could properly learn business English.
How were weekends in Manila?
I only had one weekend, but on Saturday I went to Intramuros with other students, and on Sunday I walked around Manila alone. I also went to a Sunday market — I really enjoyed it.
Did you notice a change in your English?
I felt growth after one week. All lessons are one-on-one, so by focusing on output, what I had learned for university entrance exams and TOEIC came together.
Until then I couldn’t start speaking without carefully thinking about grammar first. I think the psychological hurdle was big and that’s why I couldn’t speak. Studying in the Philippines changed my mindset to speak even if it’s a bit broken, and I feel my conversational range has grown.
I think studying in the Philippines is great short-term training for professionals. But two weeks was short. I added one extra lesson every day, and since the curriculum has several sessions outside class, a short stay can easily get packed. That’s something to watch out for.
Even if I have to use English at my next job, I’ve reached a level where I can confidently say, “I can handle business English to some extent!” I could study and recharge too — it was really great.
If you want to master business English efficiently, please see the details of studying in the Philippines.