Despite the Philippines having an average basic literacy rate of 95%, there are still pockets of illiteracy in different regions, especially in rural and remote areas that are hardest to reach by educators. Illiteracy is a key issue that hampers an individual’s ability to function in society. It limits employment opportunities and perpetuates the cycle of poverty.
Recognizing the crucial role literacy plays in uplifting lives, Globe has partnered with NABU, a reading app and mother tongue publishing platform that makes literacy accessible to children globally.
There was a time in my kids’ lives when two of them entertained the idea of taking up a culinary course. Well, sort of. They were in high school and to be honest, they were not really that active in the kitchen so I was not sure then if it was just wishful thinking or a serious career plan.
Our dilemma then was that we knew next to nothing about the culinary arts. My husband and I were both graduates of business courses. What did we know about baking and cooking? Our kids eventually ended up studying in the school of their choice (the blue school in Katipunan) taking other courses. That blue school, many years later, opened its own culinary school, Le Cordon Bleu, but by then, all my kids had already graduated. What one of my daughters does now when she suddenly gets the culinary urge is to enroll in short courses offered by a popular local chef. Another daughter who now lives far from us has learned on her own how to cook several dishes. Her Facebook photo album is now filling up with different kinds of dishes she has learned to whip up.
It won’t be long before a school for creative innovators and developers will rise in San Pedro, Laguna. Recently, Unionbank held a virtual groundbreaking ceremony for its Innovation Campus, a real estate property development that will support its innovation initiatives.
Unionbank began its digital journey 5 years ago. That digitalization proved especially advantageous during this pandemic as consumers and depositors shifted their transactions heavily to online. Unionbank President and CEO, Edwin Bautista, said the Innovation Campus is “a dream come true and a testament to the commitment of Management and the Board to innovation as a major strategic thrust”.
Filipinos who dream of studying, living, or working abroad have several requirements to hurdle. One of them is a language achievement test to prove they can speak the language of the country they are applying to. For English-speaking countries, one of these tests is the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Like other language proficiency tests, the IELTS requires preparation for takers to meet the desired scores. This is where the British Council is hoping to help. Being one of the co-owners of the IELTS (the others are IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English), the British Council provides support and guidance through learning centers where test candidates can avail of resources that will help prepare them to take the test.
Nicholas Thomas, Country Director, British Council
Last May 2018, the newest center was opened by the British Council – the Language Hub. Located at the British Council’s new office on the 7th floor of The Curve at Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. It is a new center for learning English and preparing for English tests, particularly IELTS, where individuals can avail of reliable resources and high-quality services that can help them better prepare for their test and achieve their best possible IELTS score.
Nick Thomas, Director for British Council, says of the Learning Hub — “The British Council Learning Hub is a testament to the British Council’s commitment to provide the assistance the test takers need to get their best possible score in IELTS. By delivering that, we help them realize their dreams and achieve their goals of studying at a university overseas, working for a multinational company or starting a new life abroad.”
The Learning Hub offers several programs:
IELTS Orientation – a free 2-hour talk for those planning to take the test. Attendees are provided an overview of the IELTS test, the different sections, and tips and techniques to achieve their desired scores.
IELTS One-Day Preparation Workshops – familiarizes test takers with the test format, test taking tips and techniques. The workshop takes a practical approach to learning and covers the IELTS’ test sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Both registered and non-registered test takers can sign up for these workshops for a fee of PhP 2,200.
IELTS Exceed Writing Workshops – assist test takers in preparing for the writing portion of the test. Workshop content is derived from an evidence-based research using the writing content of past test takers in the Philippines. A group of British Council IELTS experts developed this program to address common mistakes committed in the Writing section. Registered British Council IELTS-registered test takers can take this for free.
IELTS Pretests – organized in partnership with Cambridge Assessment English, this provides test takers with a simulation of the actual IELTS test. Test takers will be subjected to actual test conditions and will answer sample test questions which will be scored by IELTS examiners and markers. Through the raw scores, test takers will have an idea about the test sections they need to work more on and help them prepare more for the actual test.
IELTS Information Sessions – these sessions aims to provide potential IELTS test takers information about the different destinations where IELTS is recognized. Such information would include steps on how to secure a visa for work, study or immigration as well as how IELTS can help test takers get to their dream destinations.
IELTS Library – this is a resource area that holds IELTS books, practice test materials, audio CDs, and other resources made available for British Council test takers.
In addition to the programs, there are online resources available as follows:
Road to IELTS – an online preparation course which British Council-registered IELTS test takers can access for free up to 30 hours. It includes ebooks that help test takers practice different skills like listening, reading, writing and speaking. It also has teacher tutorials and timed practice tests.
IELTS Preparation app – this is a FREE mobile app that gives a comprehensive overview of the listening and speaking tests. Practice tests for both skills and grammar and vocabulary exercises can be found in the app.
Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) – this is a free limited time online IELTS course accessible to all those learning English, especially those reviewing for the IELTS test. The course includes videos from IELTS experts on tips and techniques in answering IELTS test questions and provides exercises to check your reading, listening, writing and speaking skills.
Ieltsasia.org/ph (website) – this site contains a lot of online resources including practice test downloads, preparation videos, tips and techniques through Doctor IELTS
To learn more about the Learning Hub, the IELTS test, and the British Council, visit their website. You can also connect to them on Facebook.
A nation’s global standing can be measured in many ways. Some will look at economic data; others will gauge a nation’s infrastructure progress. But there is another way to check just how far advanced a nation’s citizens are, and that is LITERACY.
