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#Increased confidence and self-esteem, positive thinking #Improved English skills, new friends #Enjoyment of life in Malta and self-belief
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I remember laughing so much in Malta. It felt like I laughed a year''s worth of laughter in one month in Malta :) Every day was enjoyable, and through that process I came to trust my feelings and myself more. Great value! Learn English safely in Malta in the Mediterranean! Review by gapper Shin O-ha |
# Hello! Through a month living in Malta, I spent the brilliant final part of my twenties!
Hello. I''m an ordinary person in my twenties who lived in Malta for a month.
I have suffered from depression since high school. From then on I thought about leaving for abroad—a new environment outside Korea—so I started working to save money to go overseas. But when I turned 20 and had been working at a department store for about a year, I suddenly felt that I wanted to study at university.
After entering university, I became absorbed in club activities and grades, and it feels like in my early to mid-twenties I did nothing that I truly wanted to do. I pushed people away, judging that there was no one worth learning from. After graduating, I faced myself as a woman in her twenties who had gained weight up to 70 kg from drinking and was suffering from diabetes due to hormonal imbalances.
It wasn''t the life I wanted. A life of always avoiding fear and being dragged along, a life of constantly clashing and having to overcome things—I used to rush in like a moth to the flame before thinking whether it was safe. Looking back, I was mentally and physically exhausted. There was nothing to laugh about, and the days when anxiety and depression swallowed me became more and more frequent..At a time when I kept thinking, ''Why am I like this lately?'', the business and work I was doing began to undergo major changes, and I often found myself having to apologize to people.
One day, at the moment I thought there was no answer in my life, I happened tosee a gap year program and thought, ''This might be the last chance of my twenties. I''ll be brave and give it a try,'' so I applied. I needed a new wave in my life, and I joined with the hope that a gap year might give me the opportunity to the new life I wanted.
Thankfully I was able to participate in the project, andduring the month I experienced another country''s culture and made many new friends. I, who had been trapped by my goals until then, started anew on my own and came to realize and learn many things.
*For Shin O-ha, who needed a turning point in life, a rest to heal her tired heart and a positive environment to regain confidence were necessary. To support Shin O-ha''s change, we recommended the project through consulting :) If you want to know where and how to start changing, and want a customized plan, we strongly recommend 1:1 consulting with a gap year specialist!
A certain way to change your life: Gap Year 1:1 Consulting
# I wanted to overcome my fear of English and meet new people.
I planned the goals I wanted to achieve during the gap year.
I wanted to overcome my fear of speaking in English. I also wanted to share my story a lot and make new friends.
# It was fun communicating in English with the new friends I met.
I had the opportunity to study English in depth in Malta, and I was really happy to make many new friends.
While taking grammar classes, even topics I had learned long ago in Korea and thought were familiar felt unfamiliar when presented in English. Listening to classes in English made me wonder, "Can I really say that I know this?" and once again I was glad I could solidify my grammar through the classes.
At the language school, friends were open to new encounters and speaking English, creating an atmosphere where everyone wanted to talk with each other.This created an environment where I could speak without pressure, and by sharing things like tourist spots and good restaurants we could become close quickly. I''m someone who tends to approach others proactively, but even if I was quiet, there were times to explain my culture or preferences related to class content, so I could naturally share my story. In this way I think the language school has the ideal conditions and circumstances for making foreign friends :)
I met many Japanese friends among the people I spent time with. Those connections continued to Korea; I''m planning to meet some Japanese friends in Korea and we keep chatting on WhatsApp.
In Malta, I was fortunate that friendly people approached me first, and thanks to that we went on a trip to the Blue Lagoon together and visited places like Marsaxlokk, Beautiful Bay, and Asian restaurants. In particular, one friend and I had overlapping layovers in Rome, so we planned our itinerary together.
Mariana, a teacher I became close with, is also someone I remember fondly.At the school, as a special class there''s an activity time every second Friday of the month, and our class planned a Valletta field trip. I wanted to leave precious memories with the teacher and friends, so I filmed a video.
Later I edited the video and shared it with many people, and everyone really liked it; I especially recall how happy Mariana was. I remember how, from two weeks before my departure, she seemed reluctant to let me go and would look sad every time attendance was called.To have someone who genuinely regretted my leaving made me think, "I really had a good time in Malta."
Also, there were many teachers from countries like Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland. At first, because they were older and teachers, it was a bit daunting and difficult to do activities together, but over time we became close and took many photos together. I also remember laughing when I got a WhatsApp message the day before I left asking me to contact them when I next come to their country. :)
# I gained a new perspective on "relationships" with people and was able to fully enjoy it.
There were many moments in Malta when I deeply experienced a sense of humanity.
Although the languages we spoke were different, I felt that people''s emotional responses are similar.. When I treated others well, they treated me warmly too. Especially, whenever I was in danger, I experienced help appearing from somewhere, I was able to deeply feel the warm solidarity among people.
I also gained a new perspective on relationships between people.
I realized that to properly understand someone, you need to read the breath hidden behind their words.. Also, I came to gauge how much patience I can give to others and where to set my boundaries.
Being alone in a new environment and forming new relationships made me think about many things.Kindness and attentive listening are fundamentally very good, but I also realized that you must be cautious. Realizing that the patience and goodwill I offer may be taken for granted by someone, I also learned the necessity of being more discerning and setting boundaries.
# I''m happy because I gained confidence.
Through my gap year, above all, my confidence and self-esteem seem to have improved a lot, so I''m happy.
I was also afraid of living abroad alone, but in the process of calmly assessing situations and solving problems, I felt a great sense of accomplishment.
Ah! AndMy cooking skills have improved a lot too.Haha, back in Korea I only used to make fried eggs, but as I started making dishes with sauces and seasoning, I gradually got better. At first I didn''t know how much a single serving was, so I made too much and shared it with nearby friends. As my cooking skills improved, I wanted to show off my food! So I invited friends to my flat and spent time talking while my flatmates and I ate my dishes, which brought us closer together.
I remember laughing a lot in Malta. It felt like I laughed a year''s worth of laughter in just one month in Malta :)Every day was enjoyable, and through that process I came to trust my feelings and myself more.
# Malta language study abroad — here''s my daily routine!
07:00 - Wake up & get ready for school
I think it took at least about 40 minutes to walk from Imsida to the school. If you took the bus, you had to leave the accommodation at 8:20 and catch the 8:25 bus to avoid being late.
There were many buses from Imsida to Valletta. Still, you should catch the bus at the Kullegg stop by 8:30 at the latest to arrive at the school on time without having to run.
(*Stops or routes may vary depending on your accommodation location, so keep that in mind!)
09:00 ~ 10:30 - Class
10:30 ~ 11:00 - Break
11:00 ~ 12:30 - Class ends
Students who didn''t take extra classes sometimes went home. Taking the bus from the Valletta stop to the accommodation in Imsida took about 15–20 minutes in total including bus waiting time. If you take the bus right after class ends, you can arrive at the Imsida accommodation before 1 PM.
15:00 ~ 18:00 - Free time
After returning home, if I had no plans, I''d eat lunch and take a nap until 3. I''d get up at 4 and have free time
and review the English expressions I learned in the morning or communicate with friends via Instagram or WhatsApp.
After that, I''d make dinner plans with friends or ponder what to eat for dinner.
18:00 ~ 19:00 or 20:00 - Have dinner
23:00 - Prepare for bed
I ended each day by recharging for an energetic tomorrow—spending free time chatting with friends or reviewing English :)
My tips for preparing my Malta language-study gap year!
I printed all the OT materials and other necessary documents provided by Gap Year and read them carefully about 3–4 times. I also watched more than 10 YouTube videos each about Malta and Italy and bought and read one related book for each. While watching videos explaining Malta''s history, I wrote down in advance what I wanted to do in Malta and made plans.
I personally ordered items that needed delivery, such as a foreign currency card and a Pacsafe bag, starting one week before departure. If you''re a gapper leaving for Malta, I recommend preparing your foreign currency card at least two weeks in advance! I bought mine one week before leaving and almost didn''t receive it in time. Therefore, I recommend preparing everything related to money well ahead of time.
# My Malta language-study gap year!
Experience★★★★★
Learning★★★★
Environment★★★★
Leisure ★★★★
Shin O-hawho went toMalta language study & one-month stay projectWant more information?!
Click the banner belowplease!
▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
|
I remember laughing so much in Malta. It felt like I laughed a year''s worth of laughter in one month in Malta :) Every day was enjoyable, and through that process I came to trust my feelings and myself more. Great value! Learn English safely in Malta in the Mediterranean! Review by gapper Shin O-ha |
# Hello! Through a month living in Malta, I spent the brilliant final part of my twenties!
Hello. I''m an ordinary person in my twenties who lived in Malta for a month.
I have suffered from depression since high school. From then on I thought about leaving for abroad—a new environment outside Korea—so I started working to save money to go overseas. But when I turned 20 and had been working at a department store for about a year, I suddenly felt that I wanted to study at university.
After entering university, I became absorbed in club activities and grades, and it feels like in my early to mid-twenties I did nothing that I truly wanted to do. I pushed people away, judging that there was no one worth learning from. After graduating, I faced myself as a woman in her twenties who had gained weight up to 70 kg from drinking and was suffering from diabetes due to hormonal imbalances.
It wasn''t the life I wanted. A life of always avoiding fear and being dragged along, a life of constantly clashing and having to overcome things—I used to rush in like a moth to the flame before thinking whether it was safe. Looking back, I was mentally and physically exhausted. There was nothing to laugh about, and the days when anxiety and depression swallowed me became more and more frequent..At a time when I kept thinking, ''Why am I like this lately?'', the business and work I was doing began to undergo major changes, and I often found myself having to apologize to people.
One day, at the moment I thought there was no answer in my life, I happened tosee a gap year program and thought, ''This might be the last chance of my twenties. I''ll be brave and give it a try,'' so I applied. I needed a new wave in my life, and I joined with the hope that a gap year might give me the opportunity to the new life I wanted.
Thankfully I was able to participate in the project, andduring the month I experienced another country''s culture and made many new friends. I, who had been trapped by my goals until then, started anew on my own and came to realize and learn many things.
*For Shin O-ha, who needed a turning point in life, a rest to heal her tired heart and a positive environment to regain confidence were necessary. To support Shin O-ha''s change, we recommended the project through consulting :) If you want to know where and how to start changing, and want a customized plan, we strongly recommend 1:1 consulting with a gap year specialist!
A certain way to change your life: Gap Year 1:1 Consulting
# I wanted to overcome my fear of English and meet new people.
I planned the goals I wanted to achieve during the gap year.
I wanted to overcome my fear of speaking in English. I also wanted to share my story a lot and make new friends.
# It was fun communicating in English with the new friends I met.
I had the opportunity to study English in depth in Malta, and I was really happy to make many new friends.
While taking grammar classes, even topics I had learned long ago in Korea and thought were familiar felt unfamiliar when presented in English. Listening to classes in English made me wonder, "Can I really say that I know this?" and once again I was glad I could solidify my grammar through the classes.
At the language school, friends were open to new encounters and speaking English, creating an atmosphere where everyone wanted to talk with each other.This created an environment where I could speak without pressure, and by sharing things like tourist spots and good restaurants we could become close quickly. I''m someone who tends to approach others proactively, but even if I was quiet, there were times to explain my culture or preferences related to class content, so I could naturally share my story. In this way I think the language school has the ideal conditions and circumstances for making foreign friends :)
I met many Japanese friends among the people I spent time with. Those connections continued to Korea; I''m planning to meet some Japanese friends in Korea and we keep chatting on WhatsApp.
In Malta, I was fortunate that friendly people approached me first, and thanks to that we went on a trip to the Blue Lagoon together and visited places like Marsaxlokk, Beautiful Bay, and Asian restaurants. In particular, one friend and I had overlapping layovers in Rome, so we planned our itinerary together.
Mariana, a teacher I became close with, is also someone I remember fondly.At the school, as a special class there''s an activity time every second Friday of the month, and our class planned a Valletta field trip. I wanted to leave precious memories with the teacher and friends, so I filmed a video.
Later I edited the video and shared it with many people, and everyone really liked it; I especially recall how happy Mariana was. I remember how, from two weeks before my departure, she seemed reluctant to let me go and would look sad every time attendance was called.To have someone who genuinely regretted my leaving made me think, "I really had a good time in Malta."
Also, there were many teachers from countries like Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland. At first, because they were older and teachers, it was a bit daunting and difficult to do activities together, but over time we became close and took many photos together. I also remember laughing when I got a WhatsApp message the day before I left asking me to contact them when I next come to their country. :)
# I gained a new perspective on "relationships" with people and was able to fully enjoy it.
There were many moments in Malta when I deeply experienced a sense of humanity.
Although the languages we spoke were different, I felt that people''s emotional responses are similar.. When I treated others well, they treated me warmly too. Especially, whenever I was in danger, I experienced help appearing from somewhere, I was able to deeply feel the warm solidarity among people.
I also gained a new perspective on relationships between people.
I realized that to properly understand someone, you need to read the breath hidden behind their words.. Also, I came to gauge how much patience I can give to others and where to set my boundaries.
Being alone in a new environment and forming new relationships made me think about many things.Kindness and attentive listening are fundamentally very good, but I also realized that you must be cautious. Realizing that the patience and goodwill I offer may be taken for granted by someone, I also learned the necessity of being more discerning and setting boundaries.
# I''m happy because I gained confidence.
Through my gap year, above all, my confidence and self-esteem seem to have improved a lot, so I''m happy.
I was also afraid of living abroad alone, but in the process of calmly assessing situations and solving problems, I felt a great sense of accomplishment.
Ah! AndMy cooking skills have improved a lot too.Haha, back in Korea I only used to make fried eggs, but as I started making dishes with sauces and seasoning, I gradually got better. At first I didn''t know how much a single serving was, so I made too much and shared it with nearby friends. As my cooking skills improved, I wanted to show off my food! So I invited friends to my flat and spent time talking while my flatmates and I ate my dishes, which brought us closer together.
I remember laughing a lot in Malta. It felt like I laughed a year''s worth of laughter in just one month in Malta :)Every day was enjoyable, and through that process I came to trust my feelings and myself more.
# Malta language study abroad — here''s my daily routine!
07:00 - Wake up & get ready for school
I think it took at least about 40 minutes to walk from Imsida to the school. If you took the bus, you had to leave the accommodation at 8:20 and catch the 8:25 bus to avoid being late.
There were many buses from Imsida to Valletta. Still, you should catch the bus at the Kullegg stop by 8:30 at the latest to arrive at the school on time without having to run.
(*Stops or routes may vary depending on your accommodation location, so keep that in mind!)
09:00 ~ 10:30 - Class
10:30 ~ 11:00 - Break
11:00 ~ 12:30 - Class ends
Students who didn''t take extra classes sometimes went home. Taking the bus from the Valletta stop to the accommodation in Imsida took about 15–20 minutes in total including bus waiting time. If you take the bus right after class ends, you can arrive at the Imsida accommodation before 1 PM.
15:00 ~ 18:00 - Free time
After returning home, if I had no plans, I''d eat lunch and take a nap until 3. I''d get up at 4 and have free time
and review the English expressions I learned in the morning or communicate with friends via Instagram or WhatsApp.
After that, I''d make dinner plans with friends or ponder what to eat for dinner.
18:00 ~ 19:00 or 20:00 - Have dinner
23:00 - Prepare for bed
I ended each day by recharging for an energetic tomorrow—spending free time chatting with friends or reviewing English :)
My tips for preparing my Malta language-study gap year!
I printed all the OT materials and other necessary documents provided by Gap Year and read them carefully about 3–4 times. I also watched more than 10 YouTube videos each about Malta and Italy and bought and read one related book for each. While watching videos explaining Malta''s history, I wrote down in advance what I wanted to do in Malta and made plans.
I personally ordered items that needed delivery, such as a foreign currency card and a Pacsafe bag, starting one week before departure. If you''re a gapper leaving for Malta, I recommend preparing your foreign currency card at least two weeks in advance! I bought mine one week before leaving and almost didn''t receive it in time. Therefore, I recommend preparing everything related to money well ahead of time.
# My Malta language-study gap year!
Experience★★★★★
Learning★★★★
Environment★★★★
Leisure ★★★★
Shin O-hawho went toMalta language study & one-month stay projectWant more information?!
Click the banner belowplease!
▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
What makes this project special
