The Rating
Why we need a site to compare
We live in times when literally everything can be gathered in a database and the information are presented to interested parties on comparison platforms. In most cases it makes completely sense and in many cases is even necessary, the market is becoming more transparent and customers run into the chance of having a fair comparison. clients or the students are enabled to compare Information, Quality and Prices.
In the case of the German Language Schools in the Philippines, however; we observed an uncontrolled growth of a “special kind” in the last years. To make a profit, a species of business people established themselves to audaciously exploit: usually the already financially challenged people
Often, people who can speak a bit of German become employed as teachers but can’t be called ‘real teachers’ and their certifications are rarely found.
Relating with the average income, learning German in no other country is as expensive as in the Philippines. The average costs of a course for one level is about 22.000 Pesos. If one wishes to achieve the B2 level one has to visit and master four levels first and almost take a review course. This means the outlays to learn German are about 100.000 Pesos in the Philippines while in Germany one can achieve level B2 sometimes for under 50.000 Pesos, and in many eastern European countries complete courses up until the B2 are offered for as low as 15.000 Pesos. Any of these prices however, still don’t guarantee the quality of the teachings.
Germany is far away and the German consulate is strict that will not accommodate an applicant without the B2 certificate ; this becomes impossible to travel and work in Germany even for a skilled professional. Within lies the motivation of these business people to choose their shady approach. There is simply no other way to achieve the B1 or B2 in the Philippines.
In many areas products and services have been developed in a similar fashion. First to arrive were ‘gold diggers‘ who demanded horrendous sums for their services. They attracted even more gold diggers who further restricted the competition. The first then lowered their prices to be able to sell, to sell more, or plainly to sell the most. When the open market stepped in and made the offers more transparent, an economy lead by advertising showed its advantages. By comparing the prices the supply and demand of many products regulated themselves to an acceptable market price level.
This website intends to rate the German language schools accordingly to achieve fair offers for everyone. With the aid of important criteria regarding quality and prices everyone should be able to choose the right path for themselves.
We encourage the spreading and sharing of this site as much as possible. We do not profit from it, nor do we want to. We are solely interested in a transparent market with transparent offers.
We also ask you to support this service and the information on this site by improving it. Share your experiences with the German language schools. Help us achieve a level of quality for all schools that isn’t only reasonable but just and sustainable. Do you know of any schools? Please notify us.
The Philippines is a great country and deserves equally great language schools, so hopefully this rating site will support the aim to improve their standards and help people making the right choices.
Claire Chua
Managing Director
Institute for International Cultural Collaboration
