Study abroad in the Philippines for professionals
Learn business English in Manila
“We provide an environment where professionals who need English can study efficiently in limited time. Study in Manila’s business district, learn business English and build the foundation to succeed overseas! I believe students who are demanding get the most out of our school.”
Junki Kanemitsu
CEO
Features of our school
Among language schools in the Philippines, ours specializes in working professionals. It is ideal for professionals serious about improving business English, business people who want an intensive short course between jobs, and freelancers who want to learn everyday English while teleworking in Manila. Of course, serious university students also come.
A curriculum designed for business situations
Since founding our school in the Philippines in 2011, we have developed our own materials and now have 1,200 original English materials. Lessons are one-on-one in three-hour blocks, covering what Japanese professionals need to succeed in a global business environment. At graduation, each student gives a final presentation of about 15 minutes.
Corporate English training for about 100 companies, most of them listed
Our school is used not only by individual students but also for many companies’ English training. Our founder comes from an audit firm, so we have extensive experience with audit and tax firms, and companies in manufacturing, real estate, telecoms and other industries also use us — most of them listed companies. Our teachers are therefore used to teaching Japanese professionals. Recently, inquiries for group study from universities and high schools have also increased.
Three of the “Big Four” audit firms have trained at our school.
A main coach system to support your study
After you apply, we assign you a Filipino main coach (MIC). Your coach researches your company, position and industry before you arrive. Sub-coaches work under the main coach, and the team supports your study in the Philippines all the way to your final presentation at graduation.
Practical business English lessons
Our school offers a unique lesson called “Real Meeting”. You don’t talk with a teacher — we invite business people actually working in the Philippines. You choose the situation, such as a meeting room or a dinner, and the teacher observes the conversation and gives feedback: one hour of preparation, one hour of practice and one hour of feedback. It is an optional class, but students can take it once for free, so please give it a try.
Connections with more than 100 companies in Manila
The Filipino professionals we invite to Real Meeting lessons work in accounting, manufacturing, telecoms, consulting, real estate, healthcare, finance and more. Talking with people in your own industry in Manila gives you more than just English.
Coca-Cola, TOYOTA, PwC Manila, SMDC (the Philippines’ largest real estate developer), Philam Life (a major Philippine insurer and subsidiary of AIA), and others.
Only 6 school holidays a year, with a lesson guarantee
The Philippines has more than 20 public holidays a year, but our school closes only about 6 days a year (Holy Week, Christmas and New Year). If you miss lessons because of a school holiday, we provide make-up lessons, which short-term professionals appreciate.
Location
About Manila
Our school is in central Makati in Metro Manila. Known as the "Wall Street of the Philippines", it is home to offices of international companies such as Citibank, Intel, Microsoft and Nestle.
Compared with Cebu, Manila has 6 times the GDP, 76 times as many companies and 14 times the population. It is easier to attract talented people, and some of our English teachers also work in business.
The school is close to Manila airport: 15 minutes by car from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, and 25 minutes from Terminals 2 and 3 (outside rush hour)
. The flight from Japan to Manila is about 4 hours. Flights to Cebu often involve transfers, but Manila has many direct flights and cheaper tickets, so many professionals come for just one week.
Many people imagine Manila to be unsafe, but in Makati women walk around even at night, so there is no problem if you act sensibly.
Everything from hospitals with state-of-the-art medical facilities to shopping malls is within walking distance.
School accommodation
Blakes Tower
Students stay in two condominiums. Blakes Tower is a 3-minute walk from the school and has a swimming pool on the 7th floor. It is attached to the Eton WestEnd Square business center, with restaurants on the ground floor and a gym (Anytime Fitness) on the 2nd floor. Professionals sent by their companies are very satisfied.
Air Residences
Air Residences is a luxury condominium a 6-minute walk from the school, with a pool (fee required) and concierge, offering an environment equal to or better than Japanese housing standards. Many Japanese expatriates live there. The 7th floor has a spacious amenity area with Wi-Fi that you can use freely.
It is attached to the Air Mall shopping center, where the ground-floor shops include a supermarket, pharmacy, restaurants, cafés, international post, massage, ATMs and money exchange — everything you need for daily life.
Rooms at Blakes Tower and Air Residences have a bed, study desk, chair, safety box and hair dryer. There is also a refrigerator, microwave and kettle, so you can do simple cooking. Although in the Philippines you usually cannot flush toilet paper, you can in these condominiums. All rooms are non-smoking.
Security guards are on duty 24 hours and entry requires an ID card, so you can stay with peace of mind.
School facilities
Grandline
Restaurants, supermarkets and shopping malls are within walking distance of the school. Security guards are stationed at the entrance 24 hours a day, so you can feel safe.
For comfortable study, we provide spacious one-on-one classrooms. Each student is assigned a classroom, which you can use as a study room when you have no lessons.
A day studying in the Philippines
7:00 – 9:30
Breakfast at school
Breakfast is served in the cafeteria on the school’s ground floor. The cafeteria is open from 7:00 to 21:00.
9:30 – 12:30
One-on-one lessons
One teacher handles a three-hour block. Each 55-minute lesson is followed by a 5-minute break, though some students take their breaks together and some take none at all.
12:30 – 14:00
Lunch break
Some students go to restaurants outside for lunch, and many use the school cafeteria.
The cafeteria serves meals for around 100 pesos.
14:00 – 17:00
One-on-one lessons
17:00 – 18:00
Break
18:00 – 21:00
Optional classes
After lessons, it is time for students to socialize. You can also add optional classes during this time. Many enjoy networking with professionals from other industries.
The Light course is 3 hours and the Standard course is 6 hours. For an additional fee, you can also add lessons on weekday evenings and weekends.
Weekends in Manila
How students spend weekends varies. Some study, but Manila has plenty of activities, and many enjoy diving, golf, casinos, cool highland resorts, slum tours and volunteering.
(We are members of three golf courses, so you can play golf at member rates.)
FAQ
How to apply
Payment is by bank transfer. Once we confirm payment, we assign your Filipino main coach. To prepare you for studying in the Philippines, communication from this point is in English with Filipino staff.
We hold an online counseling session to hear your goals for learning English. (e.g. learning business English, learning everyday conversation)
We conduct a 60-minute online English level test (four skills). (If you are busy, you can take the test after arriving in the Philippines.)
Your main coach creates and sends you a tailor-made syllabus matched to your English level and goals. (It takes one week to prepare.)
We also send the materials for the first week.
Please check what to bring and important notes using the “Study Abroad Guide“.
We arrange airport transfers for those who request them. Manila airport has three terminals. For details, see p.19 onward of the Study Abroad Guide.
After you arrive at the school, we hold an orientation explaining everything you need for student life — meals, shopping, medical facilities, banks and weekend leisure. (Arrival dinner)
On your first day, we hold a welcome dinner so you can get to know your main coach.
Study abroad fees
The fees below apply to individual applications. For corporate or group applications, please contact us separately.
Blakes Tower
| Light course (3 hours) | Standard (6 hours) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single room | Twin room | Single room | Twin room | |
| 1 week | 57,500 JPY | 40,000 JPY | 80,000 JPY | 62,500 JPY |
| 2 weeks | 115,000 JPY | 80,000 JPY | 160,000 JPY | 125,000 JPY |
| 3 weeks | 172,500 JPY | 120,000 JPY | 240,000 JPY | 187,500 JPY |
| 4 weeks | 230,000 JPY | 160,000 JPY | 320,000 JPY | 250,000 JPY |
Air Residences
| Light course (3 hours) | Standard (6 hours) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single room | Twin room | Single room | Twin room | |
| 1 week | – | – | 94,000 JPY | 69,500 JPY |
| 2 weeks | – | – | 188,000 JPY | 139,000 JPY |
| 3 weeks | – | – | 282,000 JPY | 208,500 JPY |
| 4 weeks | – | – | 376,000 JPY | 278,000 JPY |
What the fee includes
- Enrollment fee
- Lessons (including materials)
- Breakfast (weekdays only)
- Accommodation (including weekday cleaning)
Costs paid after arriving in the Philippines
Paid in Philippine pesos after arriving in the Philippines
| SSP (Special Study Permit), every 24 weeks | 7,000 PHP |
| Visa extension Required if you stay in the Philippines for more than 30 days | From 3,030 PHP |
| ACR I-Card (Alien Certificate of Registration), for stays of 59 days or more | USD 50 |
| Utilities | 1,000 PHP/week |
| Pocket Wi-Fi Only if needed | 1,000 PHP/week |
| Laundry Mon–Fri, same-day return | 210 PHP per load |
Other necessary costs
| Airport transfer Available 24 hours; please request it when applying if needed | 3,500 JPY one way |
| Meals (other than weekday breakfast) | |
| Entertainment | |
| Travel insurance | |
| Airfare |
Consult our Japan office
If your goal in studying in the Philippines is to improve your English conversation, we are confident in the quality of our teachers and students. Our experienced teachers, who have taught staff of major Japanese and international companies, look forward to welcoming you in the Philippines.