Before joining the project, I was the type to worry a lot and wanted to change my tendency to worry so much, but after leaving Korea I realized that many of the things I worried about weren''t as big a deal as I thought.
Don''t let English stress you out anymore! Learn English while enjoying yourself in Cebu! Kim Minju — gap year participant (22, university student) / 8-week gap year |
# I used to worry a lot. I wanted to be brave and try to accomplish something on my own!
Hello. I am a 22-year-old student on leave living in Daejeon. I first learned about the gap year because of my older brother. He learned about gap years while working as a company intern and recommended it to me, who had taken a leave of absence, saying it was an opportunity.
At first I was so worried that I refused, but I decided to be brave and apply; although not fully independent, I applied with the thought that I wanted to accomplish something on my own.Even after applying I had a lot of worries. I usually think a lot and tend to worry a great deal, butOnce I actually went to Cebu, I met many foreign friends as well as Koreans, and I gained so many experiences that my worries felt meaningless.
For pre-departure preparations, I initially used the materials sent by Korean Gap Year as a reference and packed accordingly. Then I also searched online and prepared and checked additional items.
* For Ms. Kim Minju, who had many concerns about herself and her career,she was able to do self-reflection; a tailored 1:1 personal mission for new perspectives and challenges was provided daily, and a Gap Year Note was also provided so she could reflect on herself and make planswas provided.
# A time when I could communicate with people of various nationalities
A typical day (Cebu time) was waking up around 6 a.m. to prepare for the morning Sparta class; after the morning Sparta class ends I have breakfast. Then I go straight to classes, and among the classes there are special classes. What are special classes? They include listening to music, pronunciation correction, watching movies, etc. You choose two, but these special classes are not mandatory, so you don''t have to attend them.
After attending morning and afternoon classes, I have dinner at 6, and after dinner I take an evening Sparta class to end the day. Sparta classes are mandatory for only one month; after a month you can choose to participate freely.
The people I met locally were diverse: Koreans, Japanese, Vietnamese, Russians, Taiwanese, Filipinos, and others. I liked being able to meet people of various nationalities, and it was good to have some time to get to know myself a little.
# Leaving Korea made me realize many of the things I worried about weren''t a big deal!
Before joining the project, I was the type to worry a lot and wanted to change my tendency to worry so much,and after leaving Korea I realized that many of the things I worried about weren''t as big a deal as I had thought.
And above all, my goal was to gain confidence and learn more about myselfBecause of that, I didn''t know myself well, so I kept a journal and lived aiming to find out what I''m good at and what I like.
I also felt that I really needed to study English hard. I thought that by studying English diligently and reading a lot of books, I would be able to get along better with a wider range of people.
# My personal gap year tips
(How to get there)
When you exit the airport, there will be people holding pamphlets.
(Language)
It would be good to bring a few study books. Also, studying some conversational phrases before you go will make things a bit easier.
(Accommodation)
It''s a good idea to bring something to get rid of ants. Also, if you have sensitive skin, bring laundry soap to wash your underwear.
(Meal)
It suited my taste more than I expected. The chef was Korean, and if I really missed Korean food there were many Korean restaurants, so I sometimes went out to buy/eat it.
My gap year is
Experience★★★★★
Learning★★★★☆
Environment★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Leisure★★★★★
