Russia sees Cebu as English language hub

CEBU, Philippines - Russian Federation Ambassador to the Philippines Niklay Kudashev said Cebu has the potential to attract Russian nationals to study ESL (English and Second Language) here because it offers not just expertise in teaching English, but significantly its charm to lure travelers.

Initially, Cebu is now one of the most popular ESL destinations for Koreans, however, Kudashev said this strength should be expanded to attract other overseas market, especially the non-English speaking countries, like Russia.

Aside from promoting Cebu, as a tourism destination for Russians, the Ambassador encouraged Cebu, to strengthen its ESL expertise and that create a program that would interest Russians to study here.

Last year, the Cebu Business Club (CBC) through the Cebu Leads Foundation, initiated that creation of Cebu Hub for English Excellence (CHELE), an advocacy that will push Cebu as an ESL destination in the world.

This advocacy aims at attracting at least 30 thousand to 40 thousand education-tourists a month, if facilities for ESL will be properly established in the province.

CBC president Allan “Dondi” Joseph said that the education-tourism is now one of the best “growth drivers” for tourism in Cebu, as this could promote “long-staying” visitors.

Record showed that at present, Cebu registered over 10 thousand tourists, taking up ESL in Cebu a year. So far, majority of them are Korean nationals.

Joseph said that if big facilities will be built and standard will be properly set up, attracting thousands of ESL students, including from Russia, can be easily achieved.

One of the flagship programs that will be started by CHELE was the successful International Conference on TESOL (Teaching English to speakers of other languages) held in August last year.

Other major business organizations such as Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) supported the advocacy expressing confidence that Cebu will be able to take off in attracting education-tourists not only from Korea, but other countries in world, where English is not their “native tongue.”

Initially, the Cebu targeted the Chinese, Europeans and Japanese.

According to Joseph, this number is expected to triple if a formal body will be created to promote this product to the international market, while providing a good policy and programs that encourage other nationalities to consider Cebu as their preferred ESL site.

Joseph said Cebu also needs to provide good and internationally at par ESL facilities, with proper accreditation from international accreditation bodies.

There is a need for Cebu to formalize this positioning, and proper implementation of programs, as well as security assurance should be re-enforced, said Joseph.

Meanwhile, the Russian Consulate office in Cebu led by Consul Armi Lopez Garcia, recently announced its partnership with the University of San Carlos (USC), to open up a Russian Language Course to start off this coming August.

According to Garcia, this crash-course offer is designed especially for those tourism front-liners who frequently deal with Russian visitors, such as hotel personnel, as well as Filipinos who want to learn the Russian language for any purpose.

Garcia said Cebu should be prepared of the influx of Russian tourists in the next few months, and years, thus hotel industry or the tourism stakeholders in general should be prepared to “speak their [Russian] language.” (FREEMAN)