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#Overcame English anxiety; gained confidence #A process of finding myself #Felt self-acceptance and comfort
If there are friends who are having various worries before starting a gap year now, I would like to tell them this. "Just start! If you give up the challenge, you''ll have similar regrets and worries again in a few years. " Especially to younger people in their twenties, I want to tell them to start challenging themselves even sooner.Also, to those in their thirties, I want to say there''s nothing to worry about — even I, an ultra-timid person, took on the challenge. Learning classic English cheaply in London, UK Lee Yuri, gap-year person (gapper) (38, office worker) / 4-week gap year |
# A challenge started in my late 30s — just get started
My gap-year goal was ''to love myself through complete rest and to find the direction for the future.'' I thought about it every day. Is it okay for me to rest?After working at one company for 15 years, I felt I needed something new, but I simply couldn''t find the courage.
Is quitting now just vanity? At my age, it was terrifying to quit without having another company lined up or having found another path. But if I changed jobs now, my ''rest'' would likely be only the one-week summer vacation a year.I really desperately wanted a full rest. And through rest I wanted to find the direction I should go.
''Well, if I worked 15 years, I can take a few months off, right? Let''s give myself a gift. But let''s make it a meaningful rest where I can find myself,'' was the conclusion I reached after long deliberation.At that moment, the gap year suddenly came to mind.In fact, a few years ago I had watched a program that introduced the gap year with interest.
Back then I really wanted to try it, but I didn''t have the courage. Who knew time would pass and I''d end up seeking a gap year! Once I made up my mind, everything proceeded quickly.
If there are friends who are having various worries before starting a gap year now, I would like to tell them this.
"Just start!
If you give up the challenge, you''ll have similar regrets and worries again in a few years. "
Especially younger people in their twenties, I want to tell them to start challenging themselves even sooner.Also, to those in their thirties, I''d like to tell them there''s nothing to worry about — even I, an ultra-shy person, took on the challenge.
* For Lee Yuri, who had a strong desire to change herself, a personalized 1:1 mission related to change, new experiences, and mental relaxation was provided daily, and a gap-year notebook was also provided to reflect on herself and make plans.
# Why I chose to learn English
I used to have a severe fear of English. (I can''t believe I''m saying that in the past tense.) I worked in the finance team at my company so I hardly ever had to use English, and it was one of my least favorite subjects in school, so English and I drifted further apart. Even when traveling abroad, my face would flush when I had to say very basic sentences. I was always ashamed of being bad at English.
To love myself I wanted to get rid of that shame. I chose ''London'' because it''s possible to travel to nearby European countries, and I could take classes in the morning and travel freely in the afternoons,because it matched my goals of rest and learning English.
However, after worrying whether I, a super-timid person with a severe fear of English, could do it, I decided to first do the [Enjoy Learning English in Cebu] project for two months and then go to London.
# Two gap years (Cebu + London)
Spending two months in Cebu was an excellent choice. In the Philippines, one-on-one lessons are possible, so it was the best environment for a beginner like me to learn English. There was a textbook, but Because it was one-on-one lessons, I could change the classes in whatever direction I wanted, and since classes ran from morning until evening, it was an environment optimized for learning.
Also, there was a Korean manager on site at the language school, so when I had difficulties I could resolve problems without any language barrier, which was great.
The gap year atmospheres in Cebu and London were completely different. Unlike Cebu, which provided meals and even did laundry and cleaning, in London I had to do everything myself. But unlike Cebu, where school entry times and rules were strict, I liked that everything in London was free and relaxed.
London was such a beautiful city that even just walking was enjoyable. Every day felt like a trip. In Cebu they repeatedly taught listening, writing, and speaking, and in London I could use those sentences with many foreign friends, so my skills improved a lot.In London there were hardly any Asians and about 90% were Brazilians, Spaniards, Italians, etc., so it was an environment where you had to use only English.And although I didn''t know or choose it, the English I learned in Cebu was British English, so it was really helpful when I went to London.
What surprised me about the gap year was that the language schools in both Cebu and London were in really great locations.The language school in Cebu had great nearby amenities like convenience stores, bakeries, and banks. For accommodation in London I chose a residence, and the location was really excellent. The residence was in Zone 2 and the school was in Zone 1, so most famous spots were within walking distance.
A 6–8 minute walk from the school is the British Museum. It was really at the heart of things. I also liked the facilities at both schools. They were organized and clean.
I highly recommend the Cebu + London project! Strongly recommend!
Learning English is a process of finding myself.
Learning English was a process of finding myself. When learning English at the language school, the first thing they do is ask questions all about me.
-Introduce yourself.
-What food/music/movies do you like the most? What do you dislike the most? Why?
-What was the happiest thing in your life? Why was it the happiest?
-What makes you happy? Why?
-What makes you the saddest? Why?
And so on — I received these questions every day and asked the same questions to friends. These questions were very basic but they were questions I hadn''t asked myself in a long time.
What makes me happy? This wasn''t an English problem. I needed to know myself first.During the gap year I didn''t just learn English; it was a time to look at myself fully and rediscover the self I had been neglecting.
Another thing I felt while in London was that it''s okay not to speak English perfectly. Once, after buying something in a London shop, I asked for the packaging box to be thrown away, but the clerk neatly put the box into a shopping bag. I thought I''d spoken incorrectly and, reddening, said, "Sorry, I meant I don''t need the box. I''m sorry I don''t speak English well."
But the clerk immediately winked and said, "Oh! No, I''ve only been in London for 10 months. I don''t speak English well either." I had thought that people in Britain all spoke English perfectly, but insteadIt''s a country where many races live together, so even if I couldn''t speak the language perfectly they listened patiently and explained things slowly.
This was also the main reason I overcame my fear of speaking English. The most important thing is not perfect sentences but politeness.With just "Thank you", "Please", "Excuse me", "Sorry" and a smile, people will want to help you.
Leaving the everyday, the future I envision.
When I was worn down by company work, I lived each day without time to think deeply about whether the job suited me, what I''m good at, or what my dreams were.After finishing this gap year, I realized I liked the finance work I was doing and wanted to continue developing my expertise.
Also, after overcoming my fear of speaking English, I developed a dream to learn English further. I had shut my heart tightly, thinking English wouldn''t work out in this life, butMy mindset opened up. As a result, I began to see my life more broadly.
If I hadn''t taken a gap year, I would probably still be stuck in a repetitive routine, feeling frustrated without knowing what was wrong. I really felt how important it is to put daily life aside for a while and focus only on myself. You don''t necessarily have to take a gap year abroad, but I think taking time away from familiar routines to plan your entire life is essential regardless of age.
When I can take a short break while diligently pursuing my dreams, I want to challenge myself with a gap year again.
Of course, that doesn''t mean there were no difficulties during the gap year. I suffered from laryngitis in Cebu, my phone suddenly broke in London, and the day before traveling to Paris I fell badly, limped to the hospital, and almost had to give up the Paris trip (fortunately I still went). There were many Korean restaurants and a Korean supermarket nearby, but I still felt down because I missed my homemade kimchi.
But looking back now, even those things have become memories.If someone asks you in 30 years what you did in 2018, you can proudly say you took a gap year and then tell them about the hardships you experienced. What would I have answered if I hadn''t taken a gap year?I probably would have just said, ''I was working at a company... I don''t remember,'' as a short reply.
My personal gap year tip
- Airport pickup
I booked an airport pickup service in advance andarrived comfortably.If you''re going alone and it''s your first time, and you feel anxious,
I recommend an airport pickup service.
- Language
I get nervous about speaking English. It was so serious that I was very worried, but beforehand in Cebu, conducting a two-month project wasthe factthat
was a great help to me..I wrote that when participating, it was a little difficult, but when I had an emergency issue there was a time when I was slightly inconvenienced, only
and mostly no problem without getting by able to was.I to study who came a student that knowing everyone slowly spoke
and listened it was okay.
- Items to bring
locally mostly purchase possible, so luggage lightly and going is good.
My gap year is
Experience ★★★★★
Learning ★★★★☆
Environment ★★★★☆
Safety ★★★★☆
Leisure ★★★★☆
Capturing the growth journeys
of our participants.
