I gained a bit more confidence in English and my reluctance to study English disappeared. So the project is over, but I plan to continue studying English consistently. Looking back now, I felt it was a shame that the two months passed by so quickly. Let''s not be stressed about English anymore! Learn English while enjoying yourself in Cebu. |
# I was very tired of people and joined a gap year because I wanted to meet many foreign friends.
I started because I was exhausted from dealing with people while working away from home. At first I applied because I wanted to try volunteer work in Vietnam, but since that project required a certain level of English, I joined this program first before starting the Vietnam project.
I thought it would be enough to have confidence in English and be able to communicate to some extent, and rather than thinking "I must study English really hard," I joined the project with the idea of meeting many foreign friends.
In my case, right when I started it was Halloween, so we had two extra days off before classes began~ I met a great roommate and immediately went on a 1-night, 2-day trip to Bohol with other friends! My roommate was Taiwanese and liked Korea so much that she spoke Korean very well! That helped us become close faster haha.
After this program was confirmed,I wanted to get a scuba diving certification in Cebu, and as it happened a Korean person I met here also went for fun diving, so I went again right away~Putting it together like this, it seems like all I did was travel as soon as I arrived… haha
Maybe because I used to do physical work, sitting and studying all day made my body feel very stiff… So I found a nearby gym and went together with my roommate. In Cebu, there don''t seem to be many people who go to gyms, so the price was similar to Korea..
# I liked that the teachers caught my pronunciation and grammar without missing them.
After about a week passed, I began to get closer to the other students, so we went together to have beer nearby, went to the mall every weekend to look around, and ate a lot of good food. I also went to the movies with friends. We watched an easy-to-understand animated film. I didn''t understand everything, but it was a unique experience~
Class time was also so fun~ The teachers liked Korean dramas too, which created common ground and helped us become close faster. And of course I had classes using textbooks, butI would prepare English questions to bring to class and talk about them, and I also wrote English diaries and worked on correcting grammar. It helped a lot~As I gained confidence in English, even if I didn''t know much, when I spoke the teachers would catch pronunciation and grammar, which was great.
They also do a consultation once a month, so if I was lacking in any area they would focus more on that. AndIf there was a teacher whose class I thought didn''t suit me, I didn''t have to keep taking that class—I could ask to change teachers, so I could learn from various teachers.
When I first started, it was so fun and amazing. Actually coming to the language study abroad that I had only thought about was so exciting, like a dream or reality.Even for me, about three weeks in I hit a slump before a test. I thought my skills had improved a lot, but when I prepared for the test with the teachers, I realized I lacked much more than I had thought.
I sometimes wondered what I was doing here, and although it was my fault for not studying, I didn''t want to be stressed about studying after coming this far... But after taking the test I felt more relieved. When I think about it, I had spoken Korean for 28 years, so it''s unreasonable to expect to be able to do much after living abroad for just one month. That made me feel more at ease. I think I enjoyed it more because of that.
There were two-hour gaps without classes~ At first I would go to my room to rest or take a nap during those times, butAt some point I started going to teachers who didn''t have classes and just chatting and hanging out with them. So even if they weren''t my class teachers, I got close to many teachers and talked a lot.
Also, since I was abroad, a close older sister (friend) came to visit! So on my days off we went out and had fun together. Meeting someone I knew while abroad and hanging out felt refreshing~
# My personal gap year tips
(Language)
At first I thought I should study before going, but I went without preparing. Still, it was no problem at all.In my case, I tried to keep talking with people even if I didn''t know much.
Even if I didn''t make perfect sentences, everyone understood me and listened carefully to the end even if I spoke slowly. I also liked that they corrected me right away when I was wrong. Even if you''re not sure, I think it''s good to be confident and talk with many people!
(Accommodation)
The accommodations were all fine, but the water pressure was a bit weak. And because it''s the Philippines, if you leave food in your room you sometimes get ants. Bring mint oil and spray it on the bed or desk and the ants won''t come!
(Meals)
I don''t really have many food restrictions, so I was fine. Breakfast was similar every day. They mainly served Korean food, so I was okay with that.
(What to bring)
I don''t think you need to bring heavy shampoo or toiletries at first.The prices are cheap and the Philippines has well-developed hair and skin products, so buying and using them shouldn''t be a problem.
Also, it''s better not to bring nice clothes. The detergent is too strong and it damages the fabric quality.
(Travel)
I went to Bohol for a 1-night, 2-day trip. It''s about a 2-hour boat ride and the island is roughly six times the size of Jeju. It''s so big that you can''t see it all, but the sea is nice and there are lots of activities. It''s worth visiting at least once.
Scuba diving & snorkeling.I had tried snorkeling before, so this time I...I challenged myself to go scuba diving. The certification costs are cheaper than in Korea, so I also got certified. You can try a trial dive or go snorkeling — both are good!
Oslob & Kawasan.This is a place I wanted to visit but couldn''t, so I still regret it. You can see whale sharks there and enjoy activities.
There are many other places to go, like Tops Hill for night views and Lantau Restaurant for sunsets!
(To prospective participants)
I just hope you enjoy it. In my case, perhaps because I didn''t study intensively beforehand, I didn''t feel stressed. Instead, I tried to talk a lot with other people.For others, there was a lot of homework and some people were very stressed from studying because of tests. Everyone gets stressed when studying English, but in this program it seems to depend on how much effort you put in.
# Because there were few Koreans, I was able to mingle with foreigners and meet more people!
I met many people. I had heard that most Philippine language schools have many Koreans, but when I arrived there were not even five. Also, during the program I only met six Koreans.Personally, I liked that Koreans were a minority. I could socialize more with foreigners, and since people brought their roommates and spent time together instead of only hanging out with other Koreans, I met more people.
I had some tough times and I tend to like people who have goals. Everyone I met here was passionate, had goals, and had their own sorrows. So the times talking about their lives and future goals were the best.Not everyone''s thoughts are the same, and the perspectives of foreigners from different cultures were even more different from ours, so my mindset could change a little.
I thought my personality would completely change after going to the Philippines, but things didn''t change that much.However, I gained a bit more confidence in English and my aversion to studying English disappeared. So although the project is over, I plan to continue studying English steadily.
Looking back now, the two months went by so quickly that I was disappointed. If I hadn''t had plans afterward, I probably would have extended a bit longer. It was so much fun that I''d like to come again if I get the chance.
My gap year is
experience ★★★★★
It was much more fun than I expected, and I had many unique experiences different from traveling.
Learning★★★★☆
I learned a lot. However, two months felt a bit short.
Environment★★★☆☆
There is a lot of exhaust pollution, and the living conditions are indeed poor.
Safety★★★★☆
I think there’s no major problem as long as you keep track of your belongings.
Leisure★★★★★
I studied, exercised, and also traveled.
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