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#Focused on myself; deficiencies filled #Improved English skills; a positive mindset #Experienced enjoyment through conversation
-Study English without stress and enjoy it — that''s it! Kim Youngju, gap-year participant (gapper) / 12-week gap year |
# Through the gap year I wanted to know myself better, focus on myself, and fill the areas where I was lacking.
Hello. I''m Kim Youngju, a gapper. I first learned about Korea Gap Year on Facebook and, starting with one-on-one consulting, I experienced my first language study program in the Philippines and then a volunteer program in Vietnam.
Before leaving...I exchanged emails with the gap year coordinator to check what was needed, received prompt feedback on difficult or unclear issues while preparing, and searched the internet about the destination country and language-study programs.
I wasn''t really worried about staying for a long period when I left. Rather than that, I was more worried about whether I could do well — whether I could adapt to this project and enjoy it.
After the initial consultation, I became aware of my bad traits in detail — selfishness, negative attitudes, and so on...I increasingly wanted to change those traits for the better. So when I started the gap year, I set the goal of turning myself into a better version.
Through the gap year I wanted to know myself more, focus on myself, and fill my deficiencies in ways that would help me moving forward.
# If it''s a situation I can''t change, I felt I should find other ways within it to make things a little more comfortable.
I studied a basic course with 8 hours of classes a day. There are a total of 10 hours of class time, and in the morning I wake up, have a simple breakfast, get ready, and attend classes. After the five periods following lunchtime, school ends and I spend the evening with friends.
After dinner there is time before bedtime, so I might go to a nearby mall, swim in the pool, chat with friends in front of the pool, or study in the study hall.
What I liked– It was my first gap year and at the same time my first trip abroad. So...I enjoyed small things in daily life like looking at the sky or seeing foreigners on the street. Also, I''m really happy to have met foreign friends whom I wouldn''t have met if I hadn''t joined the gap year.
What moved me– At school, everyone was friendly and kind to new people, so I think I adapted without discomfort at first. And when I graduated, I was touched that friends felt sad about my leaving.
What I learned– Unlike studying English in Korea, using English every day even when it''s insufficient greatly helped with everyday conversation. Living with friends of various nationalities meant there were things to understand little by little, and I learned to be considerate and understanding.
What I realized– Adapting to a new environment isn''t easy, but to start enjoying life quickly you have to accept giving up certain things and find satisfaction within that. If it''s a situation I can''t change, I felt I should find other ways within it to be a bit more comfortable.
# People I met during the gap year
I think the good connections were the friends and teachers I met at school. The friends, whether I''m sad, angry, or happy...are the grateful people who were always by my side.When I was sad, they noticed first and asked what was wrong; when I was angry, they listened to why I was angry and tried to understand the situation.
I was mostly happy because I was with my friends. The local teachers were concerned about me being unfamiliar with the Philippines and, over the three months, treated me more like a close friend than a stiff, formal teacher.
#My personal Philippines travel destinations
If you go to the Philippines, I recommend taking weekend trips with your friends. Prices are relatively affordable, so you can experience a lot with little money.Bohol Island is fairly large, so there are many places to visit and the people are friendly.
Whether for a short 1 night 2 days trip or a longer 3 nights 4 days (when holidays are long), there are many visitors, and in the evenings it even feels like a resort, which is nice. Going through a guide makes it easier to experience activities locally. For costs, be sure to ask the school''s local teachers.
Kawasan Falls is also great for fun. You can go to Kawasan Falls, have lunch, then go island hopping at a nearby island—studying during the week and on weekends you can feel like you’re on a resort trip.
#My gap year tips
(Language)
The best method is to study grammar clearly before you participate, and then use your grammar as a foundation to increase your speaking skills while you’re there—this is an easy approach.However, in my case I only vaguely remembered the grammar I learned in high school and went without preparing in advance.
So at the start of the program I was disappointed in my English and felt anxious and depressed at times, but what worked best for me was having lots of short everyday conversations with foreign friends, changing classes that could be adjusted to focus on speaking, and talking a lot with the local teachers.
Because most students at language schools have average English skills, they help and encourage each other, so if you feel comfortable you will improve compared to before.I think you will.
(Accommodation)
The local water quality in the Philippines isn’t as good as in Korea, so newcomers might have a bit of a hard time.
If you have sensitive skin, you may experience skin trouble for a while until you adapt to the water, so it’s a good idea to prepare appropriate skincare products.The school does have a mineral water purifier, but...If you leave water in a bottle for a day or two to drink later, it can develop an odor, so be careful.
Also, Wi‑Fi doesn’t work well, so if possible it’s much better to bring your own pocket Wi‑Fi.
(Meals)
Because many East Asian students are gathered, meals are provided accordingly, so I didn’t have trouble adjusting, but the food is generally salty and sweet. Occasionally friends prepare dishes from their own countries and share them.For example, Koreans bring gim (seaweed), and Japanese friends bring ramen or furikake seasoning powder.
(Precautions)
There were times when local taxi drivers tried to take advantage of foreigners by overcharging. Before using public transportation, ask local staff about the typical fare to your destination, and if you face an unfair situation, don’t pretend you don’t know—speak clearly and firmly.
(Tips)
A new environment awaits participants, and not every moment will be enjoyable, but after living there for a while adapting isn’t difficult at all. Also, thanks to the friends you meet there, there’s at least one moment each day that will make you laugh.
You’re going for language study, but rather than focusing too much on formal lessons, I hope you’ll mingle a lot with the new environment and new friends.
#I realized that I, too, can feel joy through conversation.
My gap year was
Experience★★★★★
Since it was my first overseas experience, everything was new, and both the good and bad experiences were precious.
Learning★★★☆☆
I didn''t prepare enough by studying English beforehand, so my learning was slow at first.
Environment★★☆☆☆
The weather is very hot and humid; during the rainy season it often rains and pours.
Safety★★★☆☆
I knew the Philippines had a reputation for being dangerous, but Lapu-Lapu City next to Cebu where I lived didn''t feel dangerous in practice. However, when going into larger cities like Cebu, you should be careful about public safety.
Leisure★★★★☆
Because it''s a country with many islands, there are many opportunities to form groups with friends and take island trips on weekends. The disappointing part is that, aside from travel, there seems to be a lack of small-scale cultural or leisure options to enjoy.
-Study English without stress and enjoy it — that''s it! Kim Youngju, gap-year participant (gapper) / 12-week gap year |
# Through the gap year I wanted to know myself better, focus on myself, and fill the areas where I was lacking.
Hello. I''m Kim Youngju, a gapper. I first learned about Korea Gap Year on Facebook and, starting with one-on-one consulting, I experienced my first language study program in the Philippines and then a volunteer program in Vietnam.
Before leaving...I exchanged emails with the gap year coordinator to check what was needed, received prompt feedback on difficult or unclear issues while preparing, and searched the internet about the destination country and language-study programs.
I wasn''t really worried about staying for a long period when I left. Rather than that, I was more worried about whether I could do well — whether I could adapt to this project and enjoy it.
After the initial consultation, I became aware of my bad traits in detail — selfishness, negative attitudes, and so on...I increasingly wanted to change those traits for the better. So when I started the gap year, I set the goal of turning myself into a better version.
Through the gap year I wanted to know myself more, focus on myself, and fill my deficiencies in ways that would help me moving forward.
# If it''s a situation I can''t change, I felt I should find other ways within it to make things a little more comfortable.
I studied a basic course with 8 hours of classes a day. There are a total of 10 hours of class time, and in the morning I wake up, have a simple breakfast, get ready, and attend classes. After the five periods following lunchtime, school ends and I spend the evening with friends.
After dinner there is time before bedtime, so I might go to a nearby mall, swim in the pool, chat with friends in front of the pool, or study in the study hall.
What I liked– It was my first gap year and at the same time my first trip abroad. So...I enjoyed small things in daily life like looking at the sky or seeing foreigners on the street. Also, I''m really happy to have met foreign friends whom I wouldn''t have met if I hadn''t joined the gap year.
What moved me– At school, everyone was friendly and kind to new people, so I think I adapted without discomfort at first. And when I graduated, I was touched that friends felt sad about my leaving.
What I learned– Unlike studying English in Korea, using English every day even when it''s insufficient greatly helped with everyday conversation. Living with friends of various nationalities meant there were things to understand little by little, and I learned to be considerate and understanding.
What I realized– Adapting to a new environment isn''t easy, but to start enjoying life quickly you have to accept giving up certain things and find satisfaction within that. If it''s a situation I can''t change, I felt I should find other ways within it to be a bit more comfortable.
# People I met during the gap year
I think the good connections were the friends and teachers I met at school. The friends, whether I''m sad, angry, or happy...are the grateful people who were always by my side.When I was sad, they noticed first and asked what was wrong; when I was angry, they listened to why I was angry and tried to understand the situation.
I was mostly happy because I was with my friends. The local teachers were concerned about me being unfamiliar with the Philippines and, over the three months, treated me more like a close friend than a stiff, formal teacher.
#My personal Philippines travel destinations
If you go to the Philippines, I recommend taking weekend trips with your friends. Prices are relatively affordable, so you can experience a lot with little money.Bohol Island is fairly large, so there are many places to visit and the people are friendly.
Whether for a short 1 night 2 days trip or a longer 3 nights 4 days (when holidays are long), there are many visitors, and in the evenings it even feels like a resort, which is nice. Going through a guide makes it easier to experience activities locally. For costs, be sure to ask the school''s local teachers.
Kawasan Falls is also great for fun. You can go to Kawasan Falls, have lunch, then go island hopping at a nearby island—studying during the week and on weekends you can feel like you’re on a resort trip.
#My gap year tips
(Language)
The best method is to study grammar clearly before you participate, and then use your grammar as a foundation to increase your speaking skills while you’re there—this is an easy approach.However, in my case I only vaguely remembered the grammar I learned in high school and went without preparing in advance.
So at the start of the program I was disappointed in my English and felt anxious and depressed at times, but what worked best for me was having lots of short everyday conversations with foreign friends, changing classes that could be adjusted to focus on speaking, and talking a lot with the local teachers.
Because most students at language schools have average English skills, they help and encourage each other, so if you feel comfortable you will improve compared to before.I think you will.
(Accommodation)
The local water quality in the Philippines isn’t as good as in Korea, so newcomers might have a bit of a hard time.
If you have sensitive skin, you may experience skin trouble for a while until you adapt to the water, so it’s a good idea to prepare appropriate skincare products.The school does have a mineral water purifier, but...If you leave water in a bottle for a day or two to drink later, it can develop an odor, so be careful.
Also, Wi‑Fi doesn’t work well, so if possible it’s much better to bring your own pocket Wi‑Fi.
(Meals)
Because many East Asian students are gathered, meals are provided accordingly, so I didn’t have trouble adjusting, but the food is generally salty and sweet. Occasionally friends prepare dishes from their own countries and share them.For example, Koreans bring gim (seaweed), and Japanese friends bring ramen or furikake seasoning powder.
(Precautions)
There were times when local taxi drivers tried to take advantage of foreigners by overcharging. Before using public transportation, ask local staff about the typical fare to your destination, and if you face an unfair situation, don’t pretend you don’t know—speak clearly and firmly.
(Tips)
A new environment awaits participants, and not every moment will be enjoyable, but after living there for a while adapting isn’t difficult at all. Also, thanks to the friends you meet there, there’s at least one moment each day that will make you laugh.
You’re going for language study, but rather than focusing too much on formal lessons, I hope you’ll mingle a lot with the new environment and new friends.
#I realized that I, too, can feel joy through conversation.
My gap year was
Experience★★★★★
Since it was my first overseas experience, everything was new, and both the good and bad experiences were precious.
Learning★★★☆☆
I didn''t prepare enough by studying English beforehand, so my learning was slow at first.
Environment★★☆☆☆
The weather is very hot and humid; during the rainy season it often rains and pours.
Safety★★★☆☆
I knew the Philippines had a reputation for being dangerous, but Lapu-Lapu City next to Cebu where I lived didn''t feel dangerous in practice. However, when going into larger cities like Cebu, you should be careful about public safety.
Leisure★★★★☆
Because it''s a country with many islands, there are many opportunities to form groups with friends and take island trips on weekends. The disappointing part is that, aside from travel, there seems to be a lack of small-scale cultural or leisure options to enjoy.
What makes this project special
