Why do Foreigners Study English as a Second Language in the Philippines?

Proponents: Rajik C. Rasul, Yan Gao

Program: 4th Year, Research Development AB-English

Introduction

The Philippines is Asia’s most popular destination for foreigners to learn English.
There are native English-speaking countries like the USA, Canada, Australia,
Ireland and the UK. However, the Philippines has a very outstanding track record.

The Philippines is quickly becoming the education center of Asia. The country’s
low prices, open culture, and quality schools are attracting record numbers of
foreign students. Koreans are leading the way with the Chinese, Japanese,
Indonesians, and many others following suit.

The Philippines is in a unique position to benefit from the global demand for
English education. American colonialism brought the English language in the
country in the early twentieth century. Although it is not the native language of
most Filipinos, English is an official language here. Today, the Philippines markets
itself as the world’s third-largest English speaking country.

The study is titled “Why do foreigners study English in the Philippines?” Despite
the Philippines being a relatively small player in the global English language
education industry, it has emerged as a popular destination for foreigners seeking
to improve their English language skills. While previous studies have identified
various factors that contribute to the attractiveness of the Philippines as a study
destination, there is still limited research on why foreigners choose to study
English in the country. Furthermore, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis on
the effectiveness and quality of English language education in the Philippines and
how it compares to other popular study destinations for English language
learners.

Conceptual Framework
This study investigates why foreign student study the English language in the
Philippines. In particular, the nationalities of the major foreign students will be
identified as well as the reasons behind their coming to the Philippines will be
established.
Figure 1 shows the factors, variables, and measurements that were identified and
established.
(1) (2) (3)
Foreign students who - Surveys, data, and - Government to
study English in the information from promote the
Philippines are: Korean, credible sources country as a top
Chinese, Japanese, global destination
Indonesian, Thai, Libyan, - Survey for studying
Brazilian, Russian, others respondents will English
be identified by
age, nationality, - The Department of
and gender Tourism should
take the lead in
- Based on the 9th promoting the
edition of country since it
EDUCATION leads to increasing
FIRST’s (EF) English travel and tourism
Proficiency Index from many
(EPI), the countries
Philippines is
nd
ranked 2 with an
EPI of 60.14(High
Proficiency) and
92% of Filipinos
speak English
 - The Philippines is
the largest English-
speaking nation in
Asia

- Costs of studying
English in the
Philippines are low
compared to other
countries

NOTE:
Box 1 shows the major nationalities of the foreigners who study English in the
Philippines.
Box 2 indicates the sources and data of the study
Box 3 contains recommendations on what government can do to improve and
take advantage of the opportunities presented by the inflow of foreign students
in to the country.
Statement of the Problem
The study titled is “Why do foreigners study English in the Philippines?” Despite
the Philippines being a relatively small player in the global English language
education industry, it has emerged as a popular destination for foreigners seeking
to improve their English language skills. While previous studies have identified
various factors that contribute to the attractiveness of the Philippines as a study
destination, there is still limited research on why foreigners choose to study
English in the country. Furthermore, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis on
the effectiveness and quality of English language education in the Philippines and
how it compares to other popular study destinations for English language
learners.
To be able to help us learn why foreigners are coming to the Philippines to study
English, we will undertake a sample survey of foreigners. Specifically, the survey
will answer the following questions:
1. What are the characteristics of the respondents in terms of:
1.1. sex
1.2. age
1.3. nationality
.
2. What are the reasons why they are studying in the Philippines?
Significance of the Study
This study will benefit prospective foreign students as well as government
agencies, as shown below:
Foreign students
The study's findings can help foreign students make informed decisions about
studying English in the Philippines. The study can provide information about the
benefits of studying in the Philippines, such as the affordability of education, and
opportunities for cultural immersion. The study can also help foreign students
better understand what to expect from their English language education
experience in the Philippines, such as the quality of education providers and the
availability of resources and support.
Government Agencies
The study's findings can help concerned government agencies in the Philippines
develop effective teaching strategies that meet the needs of their foreign
students. Additionally, the study can provide a benchmark for evaluating the
effectiveness of English language education programs in the Philippines and help
educators identify areas for improvement.
Furthermore, the study's findings can help education providers understand the
factors that attract foreign students to the Philippines to study English, as well as
the strengths and weaknesses of English language education in the country. This
information can help education providers develop effective strategies to improve
their programs and make them more competitive in the global English language
education market. Additionally, the study can help education providers better
understand the needs and preferences of foreign students studying English in the
Philippines, which can help them tailor their programs to meet the needs of their
students and provide a better learning experience.
Scope and Delimitation
This paper, entitled “Why do Foreigners Study in the Philippines?” seeks to find
out the answers to the questions based on surveys and data from credible
sources including the government. This paper relies on the accuracy and
relevance of the surveys and data utilized.

1. The study is limited to foreign students who choose to study English in the
Philippines.
2. The study will use a specific research methodology, such as surveys or
interviews, to collect data. The study will not use other research methods,
such as case studies or experiments.
3. The study will be limited to the English language education industry in the
Philippines.
4. The study will be limited to the perceptions and experiences of foreign
students studying English in the Philippines, such as education providers,
policymakers, or local residents.