Pines Academy’s international partners have been a significant factor in the foundation of its excellence for over 22 years— the agencies pass on the goal of Pines to those who want to study English in the Philippines; the academy connects the fine line between learning the language and providing the best service for the students. With this strategy, both parties guarantee more convenient access to quality English proficiency programs. Pines partners can visit anytime for updates and in-person assessments of the academy.
On March 7, Dewey Education conducted campus tours and interviews and experienced Pines 1-on-1 classes.
Here’s the in-depth flow of their visit:
Around 1:30 PM, they met Pines Vice President (VP) for Academics, Shirley Anne Padeo for a sit-in interview. VP Shirley started by introducing Pines International Academy to them.
According to her, Pines is an English school in Baguio City, which started its operation in 2001. Soon after opening, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Education Ministry of the Philippines granted accreditation to the academy. It has two campuses that direct students to the right track; the Main Speaking and Chapis Test Campus. The Speaking Campus is for students who want to enhance their English fluency at a beginner’s pace. On the other hand, the Test campus is for students who wish to maximize their English proficiency to study in English-speaking countries.
She further explained that the academy can accommodate around 500 students— 350 at the Main Speaking Campus and 150 at Chapis Test Campus. It has equipped and secured facilities. She gave details about Pines facilities that include 1-on-1 and group classrooms, a gym, a cafeteria, a clinic, a dining hall, an information desk, a managers’ area, a lobby, a library, a marketing headquarters, a faculty room, laundry room, a kitchen, registration, and students’ lounge. It also has an elevator and a parking area. The convenient locations of both campuses are also a plus as they are strategically near places where students can balance their studies with lifestyle and leisure.
Ma’am Shirley discussed CEFR when asked about Pines Academy’s qualifications in providing international standards for language education. Through the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), English learners will get a detailed description of their English level. It has three broad bands divided into six levels— A, B, and C (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2). This way, Pines can have specific and measurable objectives in each class through target goals and avoid wasting time achieving a certain English proficiency level.
After the sit-in interview, the agents toured the Main Speaking Campus and underwent demo classes. Two agents attended the 1-on-1 demo classes, which lasted about 30 minutes. At the same time, other agents took it as a chance to find some of their students and interacted with them.
After the Main Speaking Campus tour, they traveled to Chapis Test Campus and had the opportunity to interview IELTS TRAINER PRO (ITP) -Head Teacher, Kristel Mae Polahon. She shared that in 2013, Chapis Test Campus opened its doors to English learners. It specializes in IELTS, TOEIC, TOEFL, and OPIC Preparation. It has the same facilities as the Main Speaking Campus. The only difference is the implementation of the English-only Policy.
When asked what makes the teachers qualified to teach the courses, she discussed one of the strict requirements of Pines— teachers need to have a band score of seven and up in IELTS and undergo intense pieces of training before they can teach. She then introduced the difference between IELTS and IELTS Guarantee:
“IELTS aims to guide and help students reach their target band score within their target time. It has four 1-on-1 and four group classes. On the other hand, the IELTS Guarantee aims to provide students with relevant information and practical skills necessary for the IELTS test. It offers comprehensive knowledge of the test. Each section of this course thoroughly discusses the test format, question types, critical test-taking skills, strategies, and techniques. When you study IELTS at Pines, you experience the adrenaline rush of taking the test through mock trials beforehand. With this, students can hone their skills and strategies for the actual test. It has five 1-on-1 and two group classes.”
