オンライン英会話講師が語るフィリピンの「英語力が育つ環境」

「オンライン英会話ベストティーチャー」には、英語圏と非英語圏を合わせ、世界60ヵ国以上の講師が在籍しており、英語を学ぶとともに世界中の文化や人々と繋がることができます。

今回は、フィリピン出身のピンキー講師にインタビューしました。フィリピンで起業家として活躍する一方、看護師としても働いているそうです。英語教師として10年以上従事してきたピンキー講師は、日本の方に英語を教えていた際、日本語学習にも励んでいたそうです。

講師インタビュー、スタート！

Can you introduce yourself？

I’m Pinky Barrozo. I’m an English Tutor, Entrepreneur, and a Nurse by profession. I love traveling and meeting new friends. I have always been enthusiastic about sharing my skills and talents. I believe that the most effective way to learn a new language is by having a genuine desire to mingle with people.

What have you found interesting, surprising, or even difficult through teaching at Best Teacher?

Meeting new people every day and learning a lot of things from them is what makes it very interesting to teach at Best Teacher. What surprised me is that there are more people who are interested to improve their English communication skills than I have expected. Adjusting to various age groups, educational backgrounds, social status, and experiences of my students is the challenge that I face every day.

Can you talk about cultural differences you have had with your students?

Cultural differences such as time, a way of life, a way of behaving, and a way of working are what I have experienced through having lessons with students.

There’s a one-hour time difference between Japan and the Philippines, thus, I always need to adjust my time orientation whenever I offer lessons. When it comes to my students’ behavior and way of life, there’s no major adjustment because my students are typically courteous and considerate. They also value greatly ones’ time and effort. Most of my students are highly educated and professional at their work, so I am not having problems dealing with them. I think we seem to relate very well with one another because we have more things in common rather than differences.

Can you talk about tips and know-how for learning a language?

I speak English and Filipino. I learned English the same way I learned my native tongue which is Filipino. I was born and grew up listening to my family speak English. I learned to speak the language as soon as I started talking when I was a child.

I think mastering a language takes some natural effort to use it regularly in communicating with people. A language should be part of one’s way of thinking. It’s a skill that should be constantly exercised by thinking, listening, speaking, reading, and writing. All these processes should be integrated in order to effectively use any language.

What interests you in Japan?

I actually had the chance to visit Japan last April of this year. I went to Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Kyoto. I really enjoyed the culture, the great food, the scenery, and the friendly locals. If I will have another chance to visit again in the future, I will probably choose Hokkaido as my next destination. This time, I would probably schedule my trip to Hokkaido in winter because I would like to learn how to Ski. A good friend of mine who lives in the nearby city will teach me how to Ski. I also heard that there are lots of distinct local food in Hokkaido. Also, I would like to learn how to wear a Kimono, which I did not try during my first visit. I would definitely enjoy a longer vacation in this part of Japan.

What makes you special in teaching English at Best Teacher?

My genuine interest in meeting and helping people, my knowledge in various fields, and my experiences in life are my strong points in teaching English. For me, to effectively teach my students, I always see that I get to know them at a certain level which, is enough for me to understand their learning needs. From here, I try to identify both their strengths and weaknesses so that I can appropriately address which areas to enhance and to improve as well.

I always try to encourage and motivate my students to continue learning. I tell them that the most practical way to improve their English is by truly enjoying the practice.

Do you have any encouraging message for students?

Hello to all my beloved students, and to those who are yet to come. Learning a language is an important milestone in your career and in your life in general. It is an opportunity to make yourself into a better person. Always remember, that there is nothing that you cannot achieve if you believe in yourself, and give your best in all your works.

最後に

ピンキー講師が語ってくれた「語学学習のあるべき姿」はとても興味深い内容ですね。また、言語を言語として学ぶだけではなく、思考プロセスとして取り込むことの大切さを語ってくれています。次日本に訪れたら「北海道でご当地グルメを満喫し、スキーに挑戦したい」と語ってくれました。