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#Increased self-esteem, became more satisfied with life #Improved English skills and increased confidence #Happiness, fell in love with the Philippines
Reflecting on myself, I can feel satisfied with my life.Maybe it''s because my self-esteem has risen; my English has improved, and now using English is enjoyable, I feel so proud when English naturally comes to my ear; I look up English-language movies, I try reading the lines aloud, and I feel my perspective has broadened a lot.
Study English enjoyably without stress — that''s it!
Kim Jeong-yeon, gap year participant ''Gapper'' (25, university student) / 12-week gap year |
I had a very precious and meaningful time.
Hello, I''m Kim Jeong-yeon.
Through my gap year, I completed a three-month language study program in the Philippines,Because I''ve long dreamed of studying abroad, it was a very precious and meaningful time.
At first I planned to study in the US, but it was more expensive than I thought, so I looked for something more efficient and within my budget and chose the Philippines.Now that I’ve been there, I’ve come to love the Philippines very much, and I can''t stop praising the gap year to people around me.
There were two program options for language study in the Philippines. Before deciding, I kept worrying and consulting about what suited me, and because I wanted to enjoy learning rather than a strict program, I chose Course A.I liked that, unlike other countries, the Philippines offered one-on-one classes, and above all, since building confidence was one of my goals, I thought it was the right project for me.
* For Kim Jeong-yeon, who had a strong desire to change herself, customized one-on-one personal missions related to self-reflection, self-esteem, and post-gap-year career planning were provided daily, and a ''gap year note'' to reflect on herself and make plans was also given.
All I ever had was the desire to be good at English, but I lacked the courage to speak on my own.
I had longed to study abroad, so I wasn''t very worried about leaving Korea. I was only concerned about whether my sun allergy would be okay in the Philippines'' tropical climate, but I wasn''t afraid of staying long-term. I was actually excited and wanted to go quickly to stay abroad rather than just travel.
After deciding to go, I needed to check my health. While abroad you can''t always get treated immediately like in Korea and there may be a higher risk of infectious disease, so I got the required vaccinations, went to the dentist for a checkup, and had my wisdom teeth removed, which I had been too scared to pull. Afterwards I prepared daily necessities for three months, studied basic English grammar, and gathered information about English and the Philippines via YouTube.
I personally wanted to gain confidence through this gap year. I''ve studied English since I was a student, but it was test-focused learning, so when I actually went abroad or met foreigners in Korea, I lacked confidence; I knew things in my head but words didn''t come out easily.All I ever had was the desire to be good at English, but I lacked the courage to speak on my own.
In the Philippines, teachers explain things I already know, but because I didn''t know the English terms I assumed I didn''t know them and approached classes that way. Starting from that level allowed my skills to build up steadily.
A day in the Philippines
First period starts at 8. Before that you eat breakfast and prepare for class; from 8 to 12 there are five 45-minute lessons with 5-minute breaks, and lunch is from 12 to 1. People usually eat for 20–30 minutes, but whereas in Korea I would minimize lunch time, there you talk with friends and eat while laughing, so you have a leisurely lunch.
Afterward you use the remaining time to do homework in the study hall or take a nap in your room, and then at 1 p.m. the sixth period starts. Classes are again in 45-minute units and when all classes finish it''s 5 p.m. In my case, as Course A, I had lessons for 8 out of 10 periods, with breaks arranged between periods.
This varies by student, so you can make your own plan. On Fridays, it''s like group presentations in Korea: students of various levels mix, create a script based on an assigned topic, prepare together, and then present.At first it can be a bit burdensome, but it helps you make many friends, and getting help with writing and presentations improved my skills.
Using another language and focusing on each other''s conversation is probably why it becomes so memorable.
I made many friends during this gap year: someone who had been a chef at a famous restaurant for a long time and quit to open their own restaurant; someone who came to prepare for the English test to become a pilot; someone who took a leave from a large company to pursue what they wanted; a couple who came together to learn English; people preparing for English for a working holiday to earn money; a mother who came with her six-year-old son; someone who liked the Philippines and ended up working at the school; young friends who came together during vacation to study English, and so on.It''s surprising that I remember them all; I was able to form deep relationships with them in a short time.
Perhaps it’s memorable because we were using another language instead of speaking casually, so we had to focus on each other’s conversations.The cute little kids who live in front of the school, the friends who would always shout my name and run to me whenever they saw me. The barista friends who worked at the cafe I frequented—everyone was so kind and warm.Maybe the reason I was reluctant to leave the Philippines was because of the friends I made while I was there.
# I even came to think, ''I''m alive.''
When I was in Korea, people used to call me eccentric for always trying to do something, enjoying challenges, and wanting to break out of a fixed routine. But after coming here, I found that everyone was like me,Everyone wanted to upgrade themselves, and there were many people who, even if they couldn''t speak English, endlessly strove to change themselves.Being in the same space with such people made talking enjoyable, and studying and traveling with them—though cheesy to say—really''made me feel like I''m alive.''
I hated being constantly told what to do and being confined to the social schedules of Korea; at my most sensitive I fell into deep self-doubt, wondering if I was living poorly or doing things wrong, but I realized I actually have fairly ordinary values.
I realized that. People say age doesn''t matter when it comes to learning, but when you actually start studying later in life you might feel like you can''t do it and worry about being surrounded by much younger people and whether you can keep up—but those worries were really pointless, and seeing a Japanese grandfather in his 60s who always studied in the library made me realize how foolish I had been.I learned that if it''s something I want to do myself and it doesn''t harm others, it''s right to take on the challenge anytime, and that''s not wrong at all.
# To prospective participants
It''s good to be ambitious and to take on challenges, but your health must support you to make all that possible. If you''re sick you can''t study or have fun. Even if you''ve never had a cold in Korea, when you come to a place with different food, weather, and surroundings, your immune system isn''t always strong.
Always check your body and do light exercise regularly. I actually saw a friend struggle for weeks from poor eating, and another who got injured while out and had to live in a cast.You want to do what you want within a limited time, but it''s so sad if your body doesn''t keep up, right?
# I don''t think I''ll ever forget thinking, ''My confidence could get this high.''
Reflecting on myself, I was able to feel content with my life.Maybe it''s because my self-esteem has risen: my English improved, I now enjoy using it, and when English naturally reaches my ears it''s such a proud feeling. I look up English-language films, try reading along with the lines, and even my perspective has greatly broadened.
I wanted to see the world without prejudice, and I feel I''ve more or less mastered that. Living in another country for a long time rather than traveling has allowed me to study its history and culture, enriching my knowledge. These good memories will fade somewhat over time, but''I don''t think I''ll forget thinking, ''My confidence could get this high.''
# My gap year tips
- Language
Even though you can learn from the very beginning, if you study basic conversation and some basic grammar beforehand you''ll absorb it faster.
If the course is focused on conversation rather than certification, there''s no need to feel pressured—just come here and work hard.
- Accommodation
From late June to early August there are many elementary school-aged or younger students. From my experience staying since April, the dormitory during that time is noisier and less well-maintained than in other months.
- Meals
Brunch is served in the morning, and lunch and dinner are mainly Korean food. As a Korean I ate it without much problem, but foreigners apparently complained a lot. Rice and kimchi are served almost every day, so unless you''re very sensitive to taste or smell, Korean food in the Philippines makes for good meal times.
- What to bring
You can buy almost everything at nearby marts for cheaper prices than in Korea. The quality and design might not be great, but it''s not an inconvenience for daily life.
# My Personal Philippine Destinations
I highly recommend canyoning in Kawasan. It''s an experience of hiking through the canyon and jumping at each diving spot as you go. If you go with friends you''ll have lots of laughs, and because it''s a bit challenging you''ll also feel proud of yourself.
People usually combine Kawasan, Moalboal, and Oslob into a 2-day, 1-night trip; doing them together is less demanding physically and financially. It''s far from Cebu, so you need about a five-hour drive, and friends who went there and back in one day found it too exhausting. If you include a holiday, do activities on the first day and on the second day go to Oslob to see the whale sharks. When a whale shark approaches you it can be terrifying, but the animals glide by gently as if playing, so don''t be too scared and I recommend you try that rare experience.
My gap year
Experience ★★★★★
I studied hard on weekdays and had fun on weekends. I think I did both well, so I give a high rating.
Learning ★★★★★
The curriculum seems appropriate. There are just the right amounts of one-on-one lessons and group classes, so I was able to acquire both the English learned in class and the everyday English learned while spending time with classmates.
Environment ★★★☆☆
There are too many insects. I strongly recommend never eating in your room. If you do eat, eat quickly; otherwise you''ll have to live alongside the insects.
Safety ★★★☆☆
I heard the area where the school is located isn''t very dangerous. That''s true. Guards always check IDs before opening the door, and they patrol the dormitory and gates, so I didn''t feel it was dangerous even late at night. However, on the streets outside the school or at tourist spots we clearly look like foreigners to locals, and there''s always a chance of being a target for crime, so incidents can happen even if you are careful. I think it''s best to go in groups rather than alone.
Leisure ★★★★☆
After classes, once you finish your homework and self-study, the rest is free time. Leisure time is something you allocate yourself, so some people might say they had no leisure time. In my case, I thought learning while hanging out with friends was effective, so unless it was a week with exams I usually spent my leisure time with friends. I was really happy to be able to enjoy the relaxation I used to think of as a luxury when I was in Korea.
Capturing the growth journeys
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