Projects
|
FAQ
|
Announcements
#Overcame shyness; increased confidence in English and in myself #Language study in Cebu, Philippines; friends from various nationalities #Moved, proud
At the Philippine language school I attended through Korea Gap Year, it was great to be able to be with friends of various nationalities—not just Koreans, but also Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese, Saudi Arabians, Filipinos, and others.
If you relax and naturally hang out and have fun with friends and teachers, before you know it, your skills will have improved a lot!You absolutely don''t need to be impatient, haha.
Let''s stop stressing about English! Learn English while enjoying yourself in Cebu! Kim Yejin, gap-year participant (gapper) (23, university student) / 10-week gap year
|
# I felt it would be a waste to spend my leave of absence only studying for certificates.
Hello~ I''m a university student who temporarily took a leave from school to enjoy a gap year. I love cultural activities, so whenever I have the time and money I definitely enjoy them, and I''m considering a career related to culture after graduation. I''m a bit shy, but I also really enjoy creating new experiences with new people. At first everyone thinks I''m a cold person, but once we get close I''m very energetic and love to have fun!
I thought it would be a waste to spend this one-year leave of absence only studying for certifications. Soafter discussing it with my parents, I decided to take a gap year, and during that time I planned to study English hard, try changing my personality a bit, and study hard in areas related to my major.
* For Kim Yejin, who wanted to challenge herself with new experiences and find her career path,daily missions that challenged existing ways of thinking and tailored one-on-one personal missions addressing new experiences and career concerns were provided, and a gap-year notebook to reflect on oneself and make plans was alsoprovided.
# My goal was to improve my English speaking skills and gain confidence!
For me, going to the Philippines hadtwo goals: improving my English speaking ability and gaining confidence.A characteristic of Koreans is that they especially focus on English reading and grammar, so I was really strong in grammar, but when it came to actually speaking English I would hesitate a lot.
The second was confidence: not just confidence in English, but the confidence to interact with people in general.I really like meeting new people, but I''m shy and often couldn''t approach them and would hesitate. But through the gap year I was able to fix that a little, which was great.
# How did you prepare before leaving?
I think I might have been the most relaxed among the gap-year participants—everything went smoothly. Preparing my mindset was the biggest issue. Also the people around me. I was ready, but the people around me weren''t ready to let me go, so it was emotionally hard for all of us.
So I wasn''t without worries before leaving. It was my first time living alone away from my family and home, and since I was going to live abroad, not only I but my parents were worried a lot about homesickness. Still,I tried to think positively by treating it as another new experience, and as my friends and I relied on and encouraged each other, later on it felt like nothing to worry about.
# Every moment was truly moving, and I was able to learn about myself.
Before going to the Philippines, I thought I couldn''t become close with foreign friends because of the language barrier. But I was able to share deeper feelings with my friends than I expected, and when we parted we were so sad we even cried—we had become that close. Every moment was truly moving, and I was able to learn about myself.
I spent a lot of time with friends, but I also had plenty of personal time, which I found hard to have in Korea.I liked that I had so much time for myself. There are still many things to think about going forward, but I also found things I want to do and thought a lot about how I should move forward.Also, by observing the people around me — learning certain things from one person and different things from another — I was able to gradually build confidence in myself.
# I gained a lot of confidence in English and in myself!
This experience greatly boosted my confidence in both my English and myself!After the Cebu language program in the Philippines, I''m already doing the next project in another country, and as soon as I arrived English started flowing and I was talking with my friends — I''m proud of myself :) Of course I''m still shy around strangers... but I definitely feel more confident speaking!!
# Daily routine on-site
As for life at the language school, my first four weeks included Sparta classes. Timetables vary by person and level, but in my case it was: morning sparta – 1:1 speaking & listening – movie – 1:1 reading & writing – 1:4 discussion – music – evening sparta.
What I personally liked about this schedule was that the intensity could be adjusted (I liked having time to rest after one-on-one classes) and that the special classes were watching movies and listening to music, so I was very satisfied that I could enjoy cultural activities at the same time.With such a tight schedule from morning to afternoon, my English skills definitely improved a lot.
Of course, the afternoons after class were free time spent entirely with friends.
# Friends I met locally
At the Philippine language school I attended through Korea Gap Year, it was great to be with friends from various nationalities — not just Koreans but Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese, Saudis, Filipinos, and others.I could easily get close to Korean friends because of the shared language, and I clicked with Taiwanese friends because our personalities matched, so we became close quickly.
Through Gap Year I met Saudi Arabian friends for the first time, and people I expected to be very conservative were actually surprisingly open and fun-loving — it was entertaining. I still can''t forget the distinctive Saudi dance my Saudi friend did.. haha
# My local travel recommendations!
The typical island-hopping tours in Cebu, Philippines can be enjoyed once or twice and that''s enough. Among the many islands, I found Nalusuan Island to have the clearest water and the best visibility for snorkeling. For swimming, pools were actually better.Above all, I liked that you can have fun at a much cheaper price than in Korea.
Also, the Mactan area has many large and small resorts, and renting one and partying there all night with friends is fun! If you want cheap and varied food, I recommend the IT Park night market — it''s open every Thu–Sun night, has a great variety, and is cheaper than restaurants so you can really enjoy yourself.
Also, I heard that movie theaters in Cebu city are very cheap, but I couldn''t try them, which was a pity.All the friends who went said they enjoyed it at a low price, so I recommend trying the cinemas in the malls.I recommend it. It would be fun, for example, to test yourself by watching American or British films without subtitles to see how much you understand, haha.
# For prospective gappers
Honestly, I too felt afraid at first about going abroad alone, but there''s absolutely no need to be! If you have fear and pressure, it''s hard to improve your English and to meet friends. In fact, I saw some Korean friends I met whose fear and pressure slowed their English improvement, and they left Cebu feeling only stressed.
No matter how much others tell you, your own mindset is most important. If you hold onto fear about English and crush yourself with pressure, improvement will be nowhere in sight.Keep your mind relaxed and naturally hang out with friends and teachers; before you know it your skills will have suddenly improved! There''s no need to be impatient, haha.
# My personal gap year preparation tips!
- Language
You can improve your English simply by attending classes diligently. Especially Many students didn''t participate in Sparta classes or special classes, but personally I think that taking two Sparta classes and one special class is enough to significantly improve your skills.
- Accommodation
In my case I wasn''t particularly sensitive about sleeping arrangements so I didn''t worry much, but the cleanliness varies depending on the condition of the room. If you''re sensitive to this, I recommend long-term stays at nearby hotels, which are more expensive than dormitories.
- Meals
For me, the food didn''t suit my taste so I only ate a little rice and mainly ate fruit. However, food preferences vary, and it depends on the person. I also sometimes found it so delicious that I ate more than two bowls of rice.
- What to bring
If buying water all the time is burdensome, be sure to bring a tumblerPlease be sure to bring one.Slipperscan be purchased locally without much issue, but it''s much better to bring the three-stripe slippers sold at Korean Daiso or stationery shops, or to bring your own.
Also, if you plan to write letters later to friends and local teachers, letter paperI recommend bringing it! Although it''s a hot country, the classroom air conditioning can be strong, so a blanket and long-sleeved clothesPlease be sure to bring them!
My gap year is
Experience ★★★★
: I believe it''s something you can''t truly feel without experiencing it. Experience is that important.
Learning ★★★★★
: I was able to learn a lot, not only English but also about other countries'' cultures.
Environment ★★★
: The facilities are fairly good by Philippine standards, but compared to Korea there are some inconveniences.
Safety ★★★
: The language school itself is really safe, but it''s best not to walk outside the school alone at night after it gets dark.
Leisure ★★★
: Overall prices are low, but if you spend without planning you might end up spending even more money.
Capturing the growth journeys
of our participants.
