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#Reduced discomfort with doing things alone #Interest in English #Awe at the diversity of the world
When I hear Korean, I sometimes wonder, ''How would I express this in English..?'' And when I hear English I think, ''Oh, you can say it like that!''I began to get curious about English, and that made me more eager to learn.I feel that when I return to Korea I want to continue studying everyday English like this, not just exam English.
-Learning classic English cheaply in London, UK / Yu Hee-ju, gap-year traveler / 24-week gap year |
I still don''t regret that decision.
Hello. I''m Heeju Yu, a 23-year-old student on leave. My gap year started in April and has been going on for over five months, and in a blink it''s been six months since I''ve been in the UK. I''m currently in London on a working-holiday visa, earning money by working at an Asian restaurant. My major is business administration.After much deliberation I decided to take a gap year after finishing my third year and taking a leave of absence. I still don''t regret that decision.
The way I learned about the gap year was through my older sister. She was very interested in going abroad, so she kept researching gap years and recommended this website and program. She suggested I take a leave and try this program. At first I found it interesting, but then I forgot about it for a while.
But as my third year was ending, I still didn''t know what I wanted to do with my future and I wondered if it was okay to graduate like this. That naturally led to...The question ''If I take a leave... what should I do..?'' followed. At that moment this project came to mind and so I actually joined!
Actually, I was really worried before leaving.
I was very worried before leaving. It''s not that I''ve never been apart from my family, but being far away and not seeing them for over six months made me anxious.I grew up very dependent on my family, so every decision made me hesitate and feel scared.
Can I do it on my own? Will I get to the homestay safely? I even thought, what if the plane crashes. I''m a very fearful person.
I looked up how others prepared and did the same as everyone else. Also, besides the gap year, I had the working-holiday label, so I was busy getting the visa. I joined a working-holiday community, prepared the visa, looked for plane tickets, bought a suitcase, and slowly packed for about three days.After exchanging money and preparing slowly, the departure day arrived.
Uncharacteristically, I suddenly made a big decision.
The biggest goal of this gap year was gaining experience.I wanted to experience new things and make memories, and I didn''t really know exactly what I wanted to change, but...To become a better person, I wanted to come back as someone who can handle anything on their own.
The second goal was English. I didn''t expect my English to improve dramatically in a short time, but I hoped my fear of English would disappear. Since I was taking a leave because I felt uncertain about the future, I thought I should spend that time in a way that would help my future. If I just rested at home, I''d still feel uneasy and it wouldn''t feel like a true break.
So, uncharacteristically, I made that big decision all of a sudden.
A day in London
I woke up around 7:30 in the morning and arrived at the language school at 9:45. I took the GENERAL class with the main textbook until 12, then after an hour lunch I chose two among grammar, writing, pronunciation, and conversation classes and took two more hours.
By then it was about 3:15. If I had plans I''d go to a pub with friends or hang out in the park, and visit London''s sights. On days without plans I went home to rest or spent time watching American or British TV shows.
I felt it firsthand.
The best thing was that I got to have this opportunity.I wasn''t directly helped in a big practical way, but I felt emotionally supported, and it was nice that I could find an affordable language school without much trouble.
What I learned were the diverse cultures and languages of the foreign friends I met through the language school. It wasn''t just a thought that ''the world is big''—I felt it firsthand.
There are countless races and languages, and when we talk about a single topic it''s fascinating when there are similarities because they''re the same, and fascinating when there are differences because they''re different. I deeply regret not studying Japanese and Chinese classes more diligently.
# I also found it surprisingly amazing.
I signed up for a long-term program, but I met several Koreans who had joined for a short period. Even if we weren''t in the same class, we recognized each other in the hallways because we were both Korean, and there were many opportunities to have a drink and hang out together. Most went back to Korea, but I think they''ll all remain precious connections.
I also made foreign friends, and I found it easier to get close to fellow East Asians than to European friends. As a result, I made friends from Thailand, Japan, and Taiwan.When you make friends at the language school, they may not be native English speakers, but you have to use English to communicate, so it was quite helpful for practicing English speaking.
SometimesI was struck anew by the fact that people from other countries were communicating with each other in English.
# My gap year tips
(Language)
When I participated, many people who came with me struggled with the level placement based on the language school''s test results. Since they hadn''t practiced speaking, doing exercises or attending classes wasn''t a problem, but they tended to want to drop to a lower class because they lacked confidence when talking with a partner.
I was like that too. If you stick it out, you''ll adapt quickly. It''s also good to try switching to another class at the same level. It would have been helpful to practice speaking before coming.
(Accommodation)
I recommend a residence. I did a homestay at first and then found my own room, but watching the people around me, it seemed great for hanging out with language school friends. Sometimes they have parties and go on trips together, and if you meet a good roommate you can gain a close friend to go out with.
(Meals)
Although London is said to be expensive, food ingredients are relatively cheap, so buying simple groceries at the supermarket and cooking yourself can save money. Still, you should occasionally buy and try famous or must-try local dishes.
(Packing)
London is, after all, a place where people live, so you can get anything you really need. Price may be an issue... If you have space in your suitcase, it''s nice to bring various things, but I don''t think you need to pack too many small items.
# To prospective participants
It helps you a lot. You make memories and gain many experiences. It has a charm different from travel, so at least once, for a month or more,I want to say that living in a different culture and in a different language will become a great experience later on.
Research carefully and prepare thoroughly, but if you''re like me and lack courage, I recommend just taking the plunge. Before you know it you''ll be eating fish and chips in the UK.
# My London travel spots
I thought I would conquer all the parks and markets in the UK, and it''s nice to go out whenever you have time. There are so many great parks that you can''t pick just one: Regent''s Park, Primrose Hill, Greenwich, Green Park, and many others.
I recommend Brick Lane Market. If you go on the weekend there are many people and lots of markets open, so it''s great to stroll through the nearby flower market in the morning, then walk slowly to Brick Lane to buy street food and browse the vintage market.
# I began to be curious about English, and that increased my motivation.
After participating in the gap year, I felt less uncomfortable doing things on my own.I used to be someone who had a lot of difficulty making decisions, but after making such a big decision...I gained a certain amount of confidence.My English skills are still lacking, but whereas at first English only ran around in my head, now I can, even if it''s wrong, start to say it out loud little by little.
When I hear Korean, I sometimes think, ''How could I express that in English..?'' and when I hear English I think, ''Oh, you can say it like that too!''I started to become curious about English, and that made me want to learn more.Even after I return to Korea, I feel like I don''t want to study only exam English—I want to keep studying everyday English like this, too.
When I hear Korean, I sometimes wonder, ''How would I express this in English..?'' And when I hear English I think, ''Oh, you can say it like that!''I began to get curious about English, and that made me more eager to learn.I feel that when I return to Korea I want to continue studying everyday English like this, not just exam English.
-Learning classic English cheaply in London, UK / Yu Hee-ju, gap-year traveler / 24-week gap year |
I still don''t regret that decision.
Hello. I''m Heeju Yu, a 23-year-old student on leave. My gap year started in April and has been going on for over five months, and in a blink it''s been six months since I''ve been in the UK. I''m currently in London on a working-holiday visa, earning money by working at an Asian restaurant. My major is business administration.After much deliberation I decided to take a gap year after finishing my third year and taking a leave of absence. I still don''t regret that decision.
The way I learned about the gap year was through my older sister. She was very interested in going abroad, so she kept researching gap years and recommended this website and program. She suggested I take a leave and try this program. At first I found it interesting, but then I forgot about it for a while.
But as my third year was ending, I still didn''t know what I wanted to do with my future and I wondered if it was okay to graduate like this. That naturally led to...The question ''If I take a leave... what should I do..?'' followed. At that moment this project came to mind and so I actually joined!
Actually, I was really worried before leaving.
I was very worried before leaving. It''s not that I''ve never been apart from my family, but being far away and not seeing them for over six months made me anxious.I grew up very dependent on my family, so every decision made me hesitate and feel scared.
Can I do it on my own? Will I get to the homestay safely? I even thought, what if the plane crashes. I''m a very fearful person.
I looked up how others prepared and did the same as everyone else. Also, besides the gap year, I had the working-holiday label, so I was busy getting the visa. I joined a working-holiday community, prepared the visa, looked for plane tickets, bought a suitcase, and slowly packed for about three days.After exchanging money and preparing slowly, the departure day arrived.
Uncharacteristically, I suddenly made a big decision.
The biggest goal of this gap year was gaining experience.I wanted to experience new things and make memories, and I didn''t really know exactly what I wanted to change, but...To become a better person, I wanted to come back as someone who can handle anything on their own.
The second goal was English. I didn''t expect my English to improve dramatically in a short time, but I hoped my fear of English would disappear. Since I was taking a leave because I felt uncertain about the future, I thought I should spend that time in a way that would help my future. If I just rested at home, I''d still feel uneasy and it wouldn''t feel like a true break.
So, uncharacteristically, I made that big decision all of a sudden.
A day in London
I woke up around 7:30 in the morning and arrived at the language school at 9:45. I took the GENERAL class with the main textbook until 12, then after an hour lunch I chose two among grammar, writing, pronunciation, and conversation classes and took two more hours.
By then it was about 3:15. If I had plans I''d go to a pub with friends or hang out in the park, and visit London''s sights. On days without plans I went home to rest or spent time watching American or British TV shows.
I felt it firsthand.
The best thing was that I got to have this opportunity.I wasn''t directly helped in a big practical way, but I felt emotionally supported, and it was nice that I could find an affordable language school without much trouble.
What I learned were the diverse cultures and languages of the foreign friends I met through the language school. It wasn''t just a thought that ''the world is big''—I felt it firsthand.
There are countless races and languages, and when we talk about a single topic it''s fascinating when there are similarities because they''re the same, and fascinating when there are differences because they''re different. I deeply regret not studying Japanese and Chinese classes more diligently.
# I also found it surprisingly amazing.
I signed up for a long-term program, but I met several Koreans who had joined for a short period. Even if we weren''t in the same class, we recognized each other in the hallways because we were both Korean, and there were many opportunities to have a drink and hang out together. Most went back to Korea, but I think they''ll all remain precious connections.
I also made foreign friends, and I found it easier to get close to fellow East Asians than to European friends. As a result, I made friends from Thailand, Japan, and Taiwan.When you make friends at the language school, they may not be native English speakers, but you have to use English to communicate, so it was quite helpful for practicing English speaking.
SometimesI was struck anew by the fact that people from other countries were communicating with each other in English.
# My gap year tips
(Language)
When I participated, many people who came with me struggled with the level placement based on the language school''s test results. Since they hadn''t practiced speaking, doing exercises or attending classes wasn''t a problem, but they tended to want to drop to a lower class because they lacked confidence when talking with a partner.
I was like that too. If you stick it out, you''ll adapt quickly. It''s also good to try switching to another class at the same level. It would have been helpful to practice speaking before coming.
(Accommodation)
I recommend a residence. I did a homestay at first and then found my own room, but watching the people around me, it seemed great for hanging out with language school friends. Sometimes they have parties and go on trips together, and if you meet a good roommate you can gain a close friend to go out with.
(Meals)
Although London is said to be expensive, food ingredients are relatively cheap, so buying simple groceries at the supermarket and cooking yourself can save money. Still, you should occasionally buy and try famous or must-try local dishes.
(Packing)
London is, after all, a place where people live, so you can get anything you really need. Price may be an issue... If you have space in your suitcase, it''s nice to bring various things, but I don''t think you need to pack too many small items.
# To prospective participants
It helps you a lot. You make memories and gain many experiences. It has a charm different from travel, so at least once, for a month or more,I want to say that living in a different culture and in a different language will become a great experience later on.
Research carefully and prepare thoroughly, but if you''re like me and lack courage, I recommend just taking the plunge. Before you know it you''ll be eating fish and chips in the UK.
# My London travel spots
I thought I would conquer all the parks and markets in the UK, and it''s nice to go out whenever you have time. There are so many great parks that you can''t pick just one: Regent''s Park, Primrose Hill, Greenwich, Green Park, and many others.
I recommend Brick Lane Market. If you go on the weekend there are many people and lots of markets open, so it''s great to stroll through the nearby flower market in the morning, then walk slowly to Brick Lane to buy street food and browse the vintage market.
# I began to be curious about English, and that increased my motivation.
After participating in the gap year, I felt less uncomfortable doing things on my own.I used to be someone who had a lot of difficulty making decisions, but after making such a big decision...I gained a certain amount of confidence.My English skills are still lacking, but whereas at first English only ran around in my head, now I can, even if it''s wrong, start to say it out loud little by little.
When I hear Korean, I sometimes think, ''How could I express that in English..?'' and when I hear English I think, ''Oh, you can say it like that too!''I started to become curious about English, and that made me want to learn more.Even after I return to Korea, I feel like I don''t want to study only exam English—I want to keep studying everyday English like this, too.
What makes this project special
