LC’s homegrown bookstore doubles as English upgrade facility

By Cherry Joy D. Garma

PIA-Ilocos Norte

SAMTOY Books, a homegrown bookstore here in Laoag City has started offering an English clinic improve students’ command of the English language.

The bookstore, housed at the provincial government-owned La Tabacalera, has become a temporary classroom for students and pupils from grade school to college students to polish their English proficiency.

The bookstore got its name from the Ilocano word “samtoy” a contraction of “Sao mi ditoy”, meaning “our language here.”

The English clinic offers a six month-course on grammar abilities, correct word usage, diction and pronunciation among other skills. The course started in August and will end in February next year.

Gladys Foronda, bookstore manager, said the clinic seeks to contribute to students’ skills development.

“This is community service. Apart from educating the youth, we are able to help those who cannot afford to go to school,” she said.

Samtoy Books collaborated with the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte and the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) to implement the program.

“The students will be guided by globally competitive and well-recognized English teachers from Ilocos Norte,” Foronda said noting that teachers are from the MMSU’s Department of Languages and Literature.

The clinic charges a minimal fee of P500 for students who could afford paying while other students are fully subsidized.

Foronda said five of 20 students who are currently enrolled entered the program at no cost.

“The lectures are very beneficial because teachers can focus on the individual student’s weaknesses. We based our lectures on international English standard,” Foronda added.

The course will focus more on students’ diction and pronunciation while it tries to enrich their vocabularies through reading materials that Samtoy books provided.

The clinic will be completed in February in time for the English Month observance where competitions such as creative writing and extemporaneous speaking are set.

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