Legal Help for Filipino TESOL Teachers

For Filipino TESOL Teachers. Legal help and advice for free
see TESOL PHilippines membership

The Philippines EFL
A rapidly growing market

I have included a page on EFL in the Philippines due to the significant growth of EFL teaching in that country. The demand for English teaching in the Philippines has meant the closure of many schools in Korea as the Philippines becomes the favored choice of Koreans to study English.

In July 2008, the Korean government announced, via the daily news in Manila, that 26,000 E2 visas will be granted to Filipino teachers who (a) have Board certification and TESOL certification to start replacing western teachers.. Already Filipino teachers have started work in EPIK and other government programs.

General
In March 2008, 176,000 Koreans students were studying in the Philippines. Some study for one month, some go for one year. It has been reported that over 240,000 Korean students will go to the Philippines in June--July-August 2008 to study English. The Philippine ambassador to Korea noted that they expected that number to rise to 500,000 students a month before the end of 2009

Schools
Schools are run by Koreans who have either set up a company in the Philippines or married a Filipino and the company is registered in her name. The schools range from the magnificent (MMBS) to the opposite end of the scale. Major schools can be found in Tarlac, Manila, Cebu, Bagio, Bacalod. Large schools have over 1,000 students. Teaching is on a Man to man basis - one student one teacher. Occasionally classes are larger where TOEIC, IELTS etc is taught. Students pay about 1,000,000 Korean Won for months training which include accommodation and food.

Teachers
Usually teachers are Filipino women aged in their 20s. Many have never taught and many have no teaching background. They receive about $1.00 an hour. Korean students study 6-8 lessons a day with different teachers.

Teaching TESOL in the Philippines to Filipino teachers