English is Cool holds youth camps to boost English skills
Founding members of the English is Cool Coalition, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), Hands on Manila and EON, The Stakeholder Relations Firm, held the pilot English Camps at the Far Eastern University, Manila Doctors College, Fort Santiago, and Central Colleges of the Philippines to encourage the Filipino youth to learn and practice English.
Robert de Quelen, Deputy Managing Director of EON, noted: "We want to encourage the Filipino youth to speak English, not be afraid of the accent, and not be afraid of making mistakes. English is a fantastic way to communicate with people."
Henry Schumacher, Executive Vice President of the ECCP, added, "The first objective of English is Cool is to change the perception that English is just for the elite. We want the Filipino youth to realize that English is their ticket to the future, and it is also fun."
The English Camps at the Far Eastern University brought together a total of 700 participants, including deans, faculty members, students, and a number of volunteers from companies and institutions such as ePLDT, the American Chamber of Commerce, and the International School Manila to practice and test their English skills in themed activities and contests. The FEU English Camps ran for three consecutive Saturdays and kicked off with a campus tour and viewing of the Mangya Exhibit with expat volunteers. Students were encouraged to practice their conversational English skills with the volunteers. In the second camp, students participated in an Idiomatic Expressions contest followed by a reading and writing clinic in the succeeding camp.
The ECCP and the British Council Teacher Club likewise joined the fun through English Camps at Manila Doctors College, Fort Santiago, and Central Colleges of the Philippines. With a total of 50 participants, activities ranged from as simple as the formation of questions, to the more challenging activities like testing the students’ skills in idiomatic expressions, metaphors, and even euphemisms. Although students were shy in the beginning, the activities encouraged them to be confident in their use of English.
With activities like the English Camps, the ECCP, Hands on Manila, and EON, together with prominent local businesses have undertaken the challenge to initiate and spearhead an English advocacy campaign that aims to reverse the decline in national proficiency and help strengthen the country’s competitive edge. For more information on English is Cool, visit www.english-is-cool.org
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