Ilocanos urged to learn third language

Keyboard-of-Japanese-language (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

LAOAG CITY—Ilocanos wanting to improve their knowledge and skills for better work opportunities here and abroad may consider learning a third language.

In Laoag, a company is set to inaugurate a one-stop shop language center by January next year to offer Nihongo, German and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) review. The language center will rise in the city’s business district.

Initiated by a Piddig-born specialist nurse who is now based in London, United Kingdom, the Talaytayan Language Center-Laoag branch is now ready to accept new enrollees.

“The world is changing in a way that familiarity of a foreign language is needed before deployment for work abroad. And the people of the north should not [fall] behind compared to other parts of the country,” said Riza Tongson-Espe, a technical consultant of Bison Management Corporation and the current managing director of Tongson Specialist Services Ltd.

Taking advantage of the 380,000 jobs that await caregivers to Japan, Mrs. Espe said the language training in partnership with the Philippine Human Resource Global Information Center (PHRGIC) and SAGE Asian Language and Education Center (SALAEC) offers an edge to Ilocanos should they consider applying for work abroad.

“What we are trying to advocate here in the north is to educate everyone about the importance of acquiring multi-language education,” Mrs. Espe said in a press interview in Laoag.

Suzette Vicencio, SALAEC general manager based in Bulacan said their company is ready to team up with Ilocos Norte to provide learners with quality education for Nihongo.

The SALAEC maintains branches in Manila and Bulacan that specializes in Japanese Language and Culture.

Prior to the deployment of caregivers in Japan, Ms. Vicencio reiterated that there is a need to pass the Japanese language proficiency test or N4 from the country of origin.

“Filipino caregivers, even if they possess the necessary skills cannot be hired in Japan if they do not pass N4,” she said citing being proficient with Nihongo and other languages has numerous advantages not only for caregivers but also for language translators or interpreters among others.

Following a meeting at the Japan Diet with House Representative Congressman Hiromichi Watanabe, chairperson of the special committee for regional revitalization and Congressman Yoshitaka Sakurada with the business delegates and dignitaries from the Philippines, Japanese investors are now eyeing to set up training facility in the Philippines to enhance the employability of Filipino healthcare professionals such as Japan-bound nurses and caregivers.

Mrs. Espe, who is a part of the Philippine delegation, said it is high time for Ilocos residents to take advantage of this big opportunity.

Clark Dexter Badaran, PHRGIC president said scholarship grants are also available for applicants should they wish to pursue the Japanese language course for a period of three months and one week or equivalent to 320 hours.

Mr. Badaran assured that graduates of this short-term language training course have a hundred percent employment assistance.

“Ang problema lang namin ngayon ay wala pa kaming gaanong kalaking graduates para suportahan yung market ng Japan,” Mr. Badaran said as he reported the new language training course has so far produced at least 60 N4 passers from SALAEC.

As of 2017, the total population in Japan is 127,000,000. The Japanese government projected their population to decrease to 107,000,000 in 2050, with most of those older Japanese.

In view of this, Japan needs of a lot of care-workers to work for them. But to qualify, applicants should pass the Japanese language proficiency test and interview with the Japanese employer.