Over the past 2 years or so, the statistics are showing that a lot of Koreans are coming to visit the Philippines! I see it everywhere I look too. I see many Koreans out around town. I see a lot of Korean Restaurants popping up everywhere you look. It seems that the Philippines has become a favorite destination for Koreans!
Do you know what one of the biggest draws is of the Philippines for Koreans? They come here to learn how to speak English! The Philippines, I guess is the nearest English speaking country to Korea. Also, it’s inexpensive to study here! You can go to a school to learn English for just a fraction of what the education would cost in Korea. On top of that, the Koreans who come here to study can enjoy lovely warm weather, visit the beaches and such, and generally live very well on a limited income! Learning English is an added bonus for them too! I am also seeing Japanese coming to the Philippines to learn the language here (English language that is), but not yet in the numbers that the Koreans are.
A number of American, British and Australian Ex-Pats are also getting into the business of teaching English too, so the increased visits of Koreans coming to learn the language could be have a positive impact on English speaking ex-pats living here too!
So, if you are in the Philippines and see a group of Koreans, give them a wave or a nod, say “HI” and be friendly to them!
Does this mean the possibiity of a job for me Bob, I can teach the Queens English, sounds like just up my street, what do you think Bob ?
Hi Peter – I am not sure how many Queens are coming to learn English! Just joking. 🙂
Yes indeed, you could teach English to these folks… a lot of ex-pats are starting to do that to make extra money. It is my understanding that you can earn around $1,000 per month doing English Instruction. You can live on $1,000 per month, but I'd look for a few extra money-making ideas to supplement that.
Thanks for that Bob, I checked on the TESL course here in UK, its about £295.00 for a 3 day course, basically anyone can attend for the course, one course was 30 days costing some £895.00 but 3 day courses seem the norm, it might be worth considering if one wants a second string to their bow as it were, with a couple of businesses as well, its not a bad idea as long as its part time, and youre not trying to earn a big living out of it.
Hi Julius – I agree that if you put up your own school and hire some teachers, you could make nice money from teaching Koreans and others to speak English. To be just a teacher without owning a school is not too lucrative, in my opinion. From what I’ve heard, those kind of guys earn around $1000 per month and work pretty much full time. I would not consider doing that, as I can make more money with that amount of time doing other things.
I agree with you, Bob. I know what it’s like being a teacher and working full-time for other people. I have a little background in ESOL back in the states. But starting a English language school for Koreans will be a little more challenging. I’ll definitely need teachers who are fluent in Koreans, as well as, being pretty good in English. I’m going to Manila tomorrow and do a little recon on some of these schools. I’m going to see what kind of operations they have set up. I’ll keep you posted. Till next time….
Bob,
Teaching Koreans how to speak English is very lucrative, especially if you can start your own school. One is popping up everyday in the Philippines. Just like anywhere else in the world, one's success is dependent on how aggressively you market your service and size of your networking. I even thought about teaching English on a part-time business while I'm building my adventure tour business. Till next time…
I heard that many of the English language schools are on Cebu. I'm a teacher here in the US and when I retire there I was thinking of getting into the teaching English business. My wife is from near Davao, so we'll get down there to visit. I really miss the Durian.
Hi Kevin – Thanks for stopping by the blog and leaving your comment! I have to say, though… I can't really agree with the information that you have heard. I think that Cebu is indeed a major player in the English Language schools, but it certainly is not the only player, or even the biggest, I'd say. Certainly no reason not to go to Cebu for your teaching business, though. I do believe the market for that in Cebu is huge, and it's a good candidate for what you want to do!
Bob,
Thanks for the reply. The reason I like Cebu is that I'm trying to combine my interests in teaching and scuba and living near the ocean . I have done research that shows both Cebu and the Manila area have many English language schools. Manila also has the large call centers but I don't like that area. I'm also starting a non profit here in the US for the southern philippines that I hope to have up and running by this July. Nice blog, glad I found it.
Hi Kevin – I couldn't agree more about Manila! If your choice is down to Manila or Cebu, you've made the right choice! Good luck.
Hi Bob!
I am in a computer business and I would like to venture the so called Internet school here in manila with good market in Korean schools all they have to do is send in the english data made by their korean students and our filipino english teachers will correct the grammar and will send it back to them. Its like outsourcing the time consuming correction of essay test etc. What do you think?
Hi ameenah – It sounds like a good plan! Just depends on if the school staff would need your assistance.
Hi Bob.
Personally, being a Filipino, I don't like the idea of Koreans flocking to our country. I've been an English teacher to Koreans myself and the experience I gained from it is not very pleasant, to say the least. In fact it only left me a very negative impression of them.
Koreans are opportunistic people. (A majority of them) They come here to our country to "use" Filipinos' knowledge of the English language but they have very little respect if none at all for Filipinos.
Filipino English teachers are TERRIBLY underpaid and mistreated by them. Both by Korean school owners and the students themselves. They can be very rude and demanding and think that they can get away with their disrespectful behavior just because Filipinos a very hospitable and civil.
I've never been more nationalistic in my life until I realized how better off Filipinos are than Koreans. We may be poor but our manners are far better than theirs. I honestly wish that Koreans, and same is true with other foreigners, who do not respect Filipinos, leave our country. because a kind nation such as our do not deserve to be treated so inhumanely.
If only public schools here in the Philippines could support many Filipino English teachers… I do honestly think that we would be better off teaching our own children. At least by that, I'm sure something truly good would come out of it.
Ms. Rach,
I was very interested in your post. I am about to start a school and I am looking for staff of English teachers. After much research, I have concluded that a positive change in attitude from the students and better working environment could be acheived if this result was demanded from the president of the school.
To that end I wanted to know if it would be easier to recruit teachers like yourself if they were better paid and treated like the professionals they are. I am an American and have long lamented how poorly Filipinos are treated, but I have constantly told Filipinos that if they don’t demand respect, don’t expect respect.
Personally, I would not allow any student to mistreat my staff. We are not only here to teach english, but to be good citizens and ambassadors for our countries.
Please contact me as there may be a good business opportunity for both of us.
Robert
Hi Rach – It's best not to generalize about a group of people. I see that you did say "a majority of them," but still, better to judge individuals individually. Don't pre-judge Koreans because of your experience with a few of them. For instance, I have been treated very well by the vast majority of Filipinos. But, there have been some Filipinos who have treated me very badly. Some even told me that they can treat me how they want because "you are only a foreigner." I found that treatment very displeasing. However, I would never judge you on what that Filipino told me. I understand that many Koreans are rude and don't treat others kindly, but still, judge each person for who THEY are, not who their fellow countrymen are. Just my advice.
Bob,
Thanks for your blog! Learned a lot from you guys, wish i'll meet you guys on my next trip there this year to get more info.
Hi Serafin – Thanks for your kind words! I'm glad you've found the site useful. If you are ever in Davao let me know, I'd enjoy getting together!
hi there! do koreans love the philipines so much? are they here just for studying english?
hey bob, do you think koreans love our country? (philippines) and do you think our country is dirty than other? thanks!
HI Deanne – I can't really say for sure what the Koreans feel about the Philippines, but I am sure that some like it very much, others just come to study. It just varies by the person.
The large amount of litter in many parts of the Philippines is a problem, and it took me a while to get used to it. I still prefer places that are well maintained and clean, so I am happy to see the Philippines heading in that general direction.
:oops:hi! bob thanks for your answer.. i hope u're enjoying our country even though our country is dirty, and thanks for this blog or website. u know, im a bit patriotic.. lol.. but anyway, thanks again..
Hi deanne – I love the Philippines! Not all of it is dirty. I hope that the parts of the Philippines that are dirty will be cleaned up.
I was originally from the Philippines, was born in Baguio City but has living here in Ireland for many years now. I've just been back from my holiday in the Philippines in Baguio City where I saw a massive changes in Philippine society. When I was young, I never see any foreigner in my hometown but now, when I was there 6 months back, I saw the City Center has been well flooded with many foreigners visiting, working and living in my hometown. I saw many Koreans, Chinese, Indians and ever Arabs in the City Centre however, many foreigners who comes in the country do not speak good english that causes them to be isolated. If they wishes to be merged well, they should speaks good english good enough to be understood.
Hi Edwin – For the Koreans, most of them come here to learn English! So, they don't speak much English when they come, but hopefully when they go home they can speak English already! 🙂
That's true Bob however, before they comes, they should have even a basic knowledge of simple english. I know exactly how painful it is speaking with non english speakers. I'm a nurse working in a Hospital here in Dublin where, we have many Chinese students who works in the Hospital as attendants who couldn't speak basic english and I find it to be dangerous working with people who cannot maintain good communication.
but your actually right Bob!.. Koreans along with other foreigners in the Philippines who doesn't speak English tend to go there to learn the English language at the same time, to explore the real beauty of my hometown!…:grin:
Hi Edwin – Yes, I think that by coming here they can get an advantage by learning English, and also give an advantage to the Philippines by spending money here and such! It's a win-win situation!
hello Bob,
Actually this is our business here in Baguio-English homestay and it is really a big money out here. just imagine if you have a house that can cater 20 Koreans and charge them 30,000pesos that is really big. For other foreigners here you can check my website if you are interested in this business http://www.taylorshomestay.spaces.live.com
Bob how about there? Because i am really planning to move down there and transfer my business as well as build an ESL school. What ratio you think i can have it successful there?
Hi Charlene – A lot of Koreans come to Davao too, and I feel confident that you can have a booming business here just like you have now! If you are successful in Baguio, that means to me that you know how to do it, and I am 100% certain that you can replicate it here in Davao.
🙂 hi again bob! how's your blog? is there any koreans have a comment in your blog?
Hi Deanne – I am doing fine. Thanks for asking! I can't say if any Koreans comment on my blog, because I don't really ask the nationality of folks who comment. Some people use all kinds of nicknames when they comment, so I can't be sure what nationality they are!
Even you, I don't know what your nationality is! 😆
Take care.
Hi Deanne,
I am a Korean.
I am sure there will be more, not less, Korean students heading to Philippines in the future.
With respect to your 30,000 per month figure, you are being bit optimistic, I fear. A typical housing for Korean students charge single occupant/room at 20,000pesos per month in metro manila. This includes FULL-BOARD meals (korean food…), 24hour interent, hot water, aircon, tv, international unlimited calls to Korea (internet phone). If you deduct these expenses from 20,000, you will, of course get much less than 20k. But Korean students always pay on time, and don't destroy your stuff. And don't party in the house.
From your site, I would have to guess that you are in the process of starting the business. And you don't have a Korean staff or a Korean partner. I say this because the Korean language in your site is aweful and is immediately obvious to any Korean reading it that the owner is NOT a Korean. I suggest you find a solid Korean partner, which may be bit difficult to do, as most Koreans interested in the business are doing it themselves with the help of Filipino staff, not partners.
If you are already in the buisness, and getting 30,000 per month per student, congratulations! You made it!
Hi all ! I am a British/Australian citizen interested in opening an English language Centre in Cebu, Philippines. I am a fully qualified teacher and IBO certified. i hope to tap into the korean, Japanese and Chinese markets. Any suggestions on how to find students, agents or partners?
[email protected]
cheers
Hi brian – Sorry, I have not good input to offer you. It is not a business that I have really looked into, so I don't feel that I can give accurate information. Maybe some of our other readers can offer some input.
Hi Bob, thx anyway. hope to be joining you in paradise anyway..:)
enough of the rat race. cheers
anybody else??? any help is welcome.
Brian,
It seems that you have no idea how to go about starting such school in Phil. I recommend that you first get a job at a language school in Philippine first, and learn how they operate. Then decide if and how you can start one on your own. There are very few Japanese/Chinese students in Phil for the sole purpose of learning English. So your market is really Korean. Most language schools for Koreans have marketing partner in Korea who recruit students within Korea, and send them to schools in Philippines. The students don't come to Philippines blind and look for schools after they arrive.
So, you would really need a Korean partner either here in Phil, or in Korea. Kind of tough to do, as Koreans would rather do it themselves (too much headache working with "kanos"), and hire foreigners as teachers.
That said, a language school owned and operated by native tongue foreigner would be regarded highly among Korean students. So it would be a matter of how you would market your school in Korea.
In any case, I would advise against jumping into the biz without first working in the environment first.
Good luck!
HI Bob, I came across your site while searching for job oppurtunities for foreigners here in Manila. I'm glad i found your blog. It's very informative, because I also have a British friend who plans to start an English school for Koreans.Keep it up! Thanks. 🙂
Hi jheiyd – Thanks for visiting! I'm glad you found the site to be useful!
We welcome Koreans in our poor but proud land. There are many reports that koreans are bad neighbors. Again, you are correct bob in pointing out that many Filipinos are bad neighbors too. To all Koreans here in the Philippine please read this. Pardon me for my poor translation. That is the best babelfish can do: http://koreaphilippines.blogspot.com/
Hi jdimatinag – you certainly did better on the translation that I could have! Thank you very much for your comment.
hey Bob.
i just would like to ask if you know where i could find a copy of an article about "a Korean's comment on the Philippines/ Filipinos? (comment on how corrupt the Filipinos, something like that??). Our teacher asked us to look for it and have it pass to him next week. I hope you can help me. thanks.
Hi mickae- Search from almost any comment from "Jae" –here is one that you could find.
Three Philippine universities are among the world’s 50 best in teaching English, according to the 2012 survey by London research and ratings firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).
Ateneo de Manila University led the three Philippine universities, placing 24th globally with a score of 68.9, a substantial improvement from its previous ranking of 35th.
Sharing the 32nd spot with the University of California Irvine, the University of the Philippines garnered a score of 65.7. De La Salle University placed 44th with a score of 63.1.
Universities in countries like United Kingdom and United States where the native language is English cornered the top five spots, in the following order: University of Cambridge, Harvard University, University of Oxford, Yale University, and University of California, Berkeley.
The universities were ranked based on academic reputation, employer reputation, and citations per paper.
cA Politically correct stated written message above. Living and working in Korea and having a condo in Manila had offered me the great opportunity to see both points of view from Koreans living in Pinas and in Seoul for the last 7 years. I can attest to the lack of appreciation of the South Korean people for the Philippines and its people, even several Korean church leaders referrer to them in very disrespectful terms. The Korean people sense of superiority and their desire to exploit the cheap labor cost is rampant. Lets not forget that Koreans were country that was oppressed and enslaved by China and Japan for centuries and now they will step on anyone to keep pushing forward and you see that in their completely normal selfishness and rudeness. Experienced comments and I apologize if I offend anyone.