TALK Yangco - Thông tin tổng quan về trường

TALK Academy Yangco Center

1.Introduce the schedule

Good day everyone. I am Teacher Jobelle and I am the Head Teacher of Yangco Center TALK Academy. I’ve been in the Academy for six years now and one of my main tasks is to make the schedule of each student as well as to provide guidance to each of them. I was once a teacher of the Academy and I believe that schedule is a very big part of one’s study life. The schedule is not just a time that we follow but it is the one that will guarantee the student’s success in studying English.

2. Schedule of new students from the placement to class assignment.

For new students, the following schedule is strictly followed:

a. Arrival- Usual arrival of the students in the Academy is on a Monday morning around 6 to 8 am from Manila or Clark Airport. Changes and adjustments are done with regard to their plane schedule. Once they arrive, room assignments and keys are given to each. Breakfast is served during that time.

b. Placement Tests (usually Monday)- At 1 pm, new students are required to go to the Self Study Room for the Registration. The registration includes personal details of the students. After the registration, the placement test will be facilitated. The time is as follows:

1:00~1:15- Registration
1:16~1:30- Interview (Speaking and Discussion)
1:31~2:00- Grammar (50 points)
2:01~2:30- Reading (35 points)
2:31~3:00- Writing (60 points)
3:01~4:00- TOEIC Test (100 points)
4:01~5:00- Orientation

During the interview, the level of the students will be determined and the group for the discussion will be made. Class assignments, books, and vocabulary will be provided to the student.
6:15 Students are given the time to shop at SM for their personal use.
8:30~10:30 Welcome party is given to all new students of all Centers.

c. Official Class – Class begins at Tuesday. Basic English Classes is from 8:00-6:00, Vocabulary Test from 7:00-8:00 and Night Class at 8:00:10:00.

3. Schedule changing procedures.

Changing of schedule is usually the most awaited time for the students. It is actually their only time to choose their teachers. It is done once in four (4) weeks on a Monday. Curriculum suggestion papers must be written by the requesting student with the following: English Name, Foreign Name, and Date. The student can change with the following: teacher, subject, book, etc.

If a student wants to change a teacher, then the student must write the former teacher and choose the new teacher from the schedule posted in the Bulletin Board. Reason must be clear enough on why the student want to change.

I follow a certain rule in the changing of the schedule. Priorities are usually the a) students who change curriculum; let’s say from an ESL to Power Speaking Class b) Change from a group class to 1:1 class c) students whose teachers quit the Academy. If the above reasons do not apply, then penalties of each student will be checked. Let’s say, two students want to have the same teacher at the same time, but Student A has a penalty, then the schedule will be given to Student B. If both students do not have any penalty or warning, Excused Letters will be considered. If all the above premises are not applicable, then the reason is looked into by the scheduler. For students who didn’t get their desired teacher, the scheduler will talk to them and they can choose from the other available teachers.

4. Academic regulations and penalty.

TALK Academy’s way of life is simple. Follow the rules and you will definitely survive. Our basic academic regulation is to have the test every four (4) weeks as well as to do their home works given by their teachers. Seat works are commonly given to students every day. Monthly tests are a way to check if they improved or not. Discussion classes regulation to have a presentation outside of the cubicle, meaning, with an audience. It is an academic regulation to uplift the confidence of each student in talking with a group. Other regulation in the other subjects includes the Grammar Quiz Bee. It is a monthly affair where students test their ability in the different grammar rules.

Grammar Quiz Bee

Presentation

5. Tasks of each course and subject for students.

At present, we have ESL Course which basically caters to beginner to advanced students. The ESL Course objective is to let the non native speakers of English practice the language in an English speaking zone. It involves basic to advanced grammar, writing, reading, listening as well as speaking skills.

Subjects: 421 Program

a. Speaking or Survival English - The goal of the subject is for the student to be comfortable in expressing himself in English. The subject focuses on the basic expressions for day to day situations. It directs the students to practice situational English. It teaches the students to apply the different expressions and patterns learned in the different subjects.

b. Pattern - Pattern English focuses on the basic sentence structures in basic communication skills.

c. Grammar - The subject emphasizes on the different concepts in English that can be applied to various macro skills.

d. Writing - The goal of the subject is to teach the students the skills of writing correctly. It is a way to practice organization of thought and application of grammar concepts.

e. Listening - Listening classes exposes the student to be adept in the English language by listening to the different materials such as audio recordings, video, music and other listening materials for beginner students.

f. Discussion - To let the students practice communication with fellow non native speakers in the target language. The subject improves their self esteem and confidence. It focuses on conversational English for them to fortify their speaking skills.

g. Pronunciation - It focuses on the technicalities on how to pronounce words such as stress, intonation and blending.

For 521 program, it’s the same with 421 just with an additional of 1 subject.

a.Speed Speaking/ Job ready Program- An integrated speaking for students that improves their comprehension and speaking skills.

611 program is as follows.

6. After school academic program.

TALK’s one goal is to unite diversity among the different cultures especially Filipinos, ung Koreans, Japanese, Taiwanese and other nationalities. Voluntary services are done once a month to promote the appreciation of the Filipino culture as well as to teach students the different culture of the Philippines. The services are also a way to improve the students and teachers well-being by helping others.

The picture shows a Korean Student in an orphanage in Baguio City.
 

Students and teachers also enjoy sports and other physical activities that make them energized.

7. Introduce popular teachers in each center.

I will introduce three popular teachers in the Yangco Center.


T. Hans is one of our TOEIC teachers. He is very famous because of his strategy in teaching TOEIC, speaking and IELTS. Most teachers concentrate on the grammar of the student but he focuses more on the application of the words and phrases of the student. He is very good in corrective feedback which is useful to the student language learning.


T. Nico is our pronunciation teacher. He is a Filipino but he speaks like a Native speaker. He is not just famous because of his accent but he can tell you all the rules in pronunciation and how to say it. Outside the class, he listens to the student pronunciation and check it point blank.


During changing of schedule, T Fides’ name will always be on top. Her main strategy is always on details. She explains and discusses in details. She answers questions in details. T Fides is with TALK academy for almost 4 years now.

8. Test progress method.

Standardized tests are used in TALK Academy. Each subject has its own test and all are carefully prepared to assess the knowledge and improvement of the students’ level. The results of the tests are basis for the teachers to continue or change the strategy of their teaching methods to address the students’ learning needs.

9. Any stories you’ve heard about student’s studies in talk academy.

In my six years in the Academy, common stories include how much they appreciate their teachers. During graduation, students fill their teachers’ room with letters and pictures which shows that it is not just about learning the English language but also learning how to become a better person.

Another story that I’ve experienced myself was from a student long time ago. They say, teaching is a noble profession, that you can’t see your work overnight but over the years. I‘ve never thought that the student will contact me after three years telling me that he got a job from a big company in Korea and how much he thanked me for teaching him how to make a resume and how to answer interview questions.

Thông tin chi tiết về trường TALK Yangco: http://www.philenglish.vn/khu-vuc-va-truong/baguio-city/talk-yangco/