Marikina sends 20 English teachers for Tokyo Olympics

Marikina's local government has sent 20 educators to Japan's Sakai Town to teach English to Japanese people in preparing for the Olympics in Tokyo 2020, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said.

Teodoro said an agreement between Marikina City and Sakai Town to employ Marikina Filipino educators to teach Japanese school kids and professionals the English language mostly used by participants at the upcoming Summer Olympics in 2020. 

“To date, Marikina City already sent seventeen teachers to Sakai Town, Japan to teach English,” Mayor Teodoro said during a Welcome Ceremony at the Sakai Town Hall in Japan on July 15.

Sakai Town Mayor Masahiro Hashimoto said he will recommend Marikina teachers should other cities in Japan want to emulate their program.

“Marikina teachers are very good English teachers. If other cities in Japan wish to follow our program, we will certainly recommend Marikina City,” Hashimoto said.

Teodoro said the teachers are the pride of Marikina City.

Teodoro was able to talk to Youji Aoya, chairman and owner of Bandotaro, one of the biggest restaurant chains in the Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan where Sakai Town is located.

Aoya has offered the opportunity for Hotel and Restaurant Management students of Marikina to have their internship at his company.

“While the Marikina Local University students teach us English, we ensure that they will be receiving quality training on the standards in hotel and restaurant management. They will be well taken-care of in the program,” he said.

Participating qualified interns will also be given the necessary provisions that include accommodations and allowance.

Teodoro said he will work closely with Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina for the planned partnership.

"This educational exchange is one of the key pillars of the relationship between Marikina City and Sakai Town, Japan," Teodoro said.

"We strongly encourage learners to take part in this program as much as it is educational and cultural, it will also give the advantage in obtaining jobs in Japan to the participating learners," he added.