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Great Value! Learn English Safely in Malta (Mediterranean Europe) — Review

#Lessened shyness; Discovered sociability #Made friends with foreigners; Gained a new understanding of myself #Moved, Joy, Self-discovery

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    What I realized while doing a gap year in Malta is... I''m not as shy as I thought and I''m actually a fairly sociable person. Although I had to adapt after being dropped into an unfamiliar place, I was someone who could take the initiative to approach others! I approached first and made friends.

    Best value! Learn English safely in Malta in the European Mediterranean!

    Yang Hee-jin, gap year participant (24, university student) / 4-week gap year

     

     

     

     

     

     

    # Europe, Malta — study English at prices similar to Southeast Asia!

     

     


     

     

     

    Hello, I''m Yang Hee-jin, 24 years old and about to graduate.

     

    While doing an internship in my final semester at 24, I was looking for ways to boost my resume and accidentally learned about the gap year program.I was attracted by the fact that I could study English at a cost similar to Southeast Asia,At the time I was under mental stress and had some bad things happening, so wanting to escape, I impulsively chose the Malta gap year project.

     

     

    Above all, I had a strong desire to heal my body and mind in a hot summer country. For pre-departure preparation, I thought ''Malta is an island so I''ll definitely be swimming a lot!'' and took swimming lessons for a month. I also went to a TOEIC Speaking academy and took conversation classes, preparing little by little.

     

     

    Regarding staying abroad for an extended period, a year earlier I had spent a month in a Southeast Asian country. That month actually felt very long and tiring and I don''t have many fun memories from it, so I was a bit worried about life in Malta. Above all, because I thought I wasn''t a very energetic person, I worried a lot about how I would make friends.

     

     

     

    Nevertheless,My top goal when leaving for the gap year was to find what I want to do and what I like, and the second was to make foreign friends. I wanted to fix my shy nature.

     

     

    * For Yang Hee-jin, whose goal was to have time for herself and to overcome her shyness,daily missions were provided — missions to improve English by socializing with foreign friends and customized 1:1 personal missions for self-reflection, and a Gap Year Notebook to reflect on herself and make planswas provided.


     

     

     

     

     

    # Life in Malta: I discovered a side of myself I didn''t even know!

     

     

     

     

     

    My daily routine in Malta was: I would wake up around 7:30 and leave for the academy around 8:20 or 8:30. Luckily, the accommodation I stayed in was in Valletta and close to the academy, so mornings were relatively relaxed. I only took the basic classes, so classes finished at 12. ThenI would have lunch with friends and have a lot of free time, so we''d go to pubs for cocktails or take short trips to nearby areas.



    Although it was a short period of one month, the best thing — and what I still think about — is that I made good friendsIt was. I met a German friend in the same class on the first day and we spent almost every day together for a month. We had many disagreements and fought a lot, but we also reconciled, and through the process of making up I realized we were really compatible friends and came to understand our cultural and mindset differences.

     

     

     

    With this friend I went to the sea, traveled to other areas, and looked for good restaurants... Actually, all I really remember is drinking together every day, but my English improved a lot and it was a really great time. Memories of drinking all night near my friend''s house, sleeping over at their place, and taking the first train home in the morning are so fun and precious.

      

     

     

     

     

    Secondly,meeting Korean friends who were younger than me but mature and had a lot to teach meIt is. Korean friends you meet abroad are much more welcome than those you meet in Korea. Although they were younger than me, they had firm ideas about themselves and there were many things I could learn from them.

     

     

     

    The third friends I remember arethe Spanish friends who helped me and approached me without any prejudice, and my flatmate — the prettiest Brazilian in MaltaThey are. My flatmate greeted me warmly on my first day and made scrambled eggs and sweet potato for breakfast... I''m still so moved when I think about it. Afterwards she went to the market with me and even bought me gelato as a welcome ice cream.

     

    Thanks to that friend I was able to fasten the first button right and adapt well. I remember filming videos and dancing together for the ''in my feeling'' challenge, learning Brazilian dance from that friend, and realizing through many conversations that we had similar wounds. Although our nationalities were different, I felt that people''s lives are basically the same. It was an opportunity to feel that.





    What I realized while doing a gap year in Malta is... I''m not as shy as I thought and I''m actually a fairly sociable person.Although there were conditions where I had to adapt being away from home, I was someone who knew how to approach others first! I reached out first and made friends. Sometimes I felt stressed among many people, but I learned a lot about myself. And one thing''s for sure: life is the same everywhere.





    # Another dream that came after the gap year project: Working Holiday



    After the gap year project... I decided to go on a working holiday to Australia. I''m currently doing two jobs and saving money hard..First, I got to know myself well, and it became clear that I really want to go abroad.


    If anyone else participates in the project afterward, bring sunscreen~!! Sunglasses are essential—the Mediterranean sun is extremely hot.. I came back like a roasted chicken.. AndDefinitely! Make friends. With foreigners.




    # My gap year tips



    (How to get there)
    The first people from the language school I met were at the airport~ I remember the driver picking us up even at around 2 or 3 AM despite the very late hour.


    (Language)
    Before going on my gap year I attended a TOSS academy and it helped more than I expected! And as soon as I arrived I met friends of similar level... I didn''t particularly have difficulties because of my English ability, but since my listening was a bit weak I found it a little hard to understand the British accent in class. However...After about two weeks you''ll be able to hear it well~


    (Accommodation)
    The accommodations assigned by the gap year program in Malta are all fine. I visited several friends'' homes who came through the gap year and none were bad.They''re divided into Valletta and Sliema areas. Valletta is close to the school but not very suitable for going out. Many school friends live in Sliema and it has lots of pubs and restaurants, so if you like going out I recommend Sliema~However, if you stay in Sliema you have to take a bus or ferry to get to the school..!


    I lived in Valletta so mornings were relaxed, but because I always went out in Sliema or Paceville at night, I''d stay up all night and take the first bus/ferry... I briefly regretted not just booking accommodation in Sliema where I could have walked. There are pros and cons~





    (Meals)
    Maybe because I''m used to native tastes, but the relatively tasty things in Malta were lasagna, sushi, Korean food, and rabbit pasta? It''s not just me—other Korean friends and my close German friend also said Maltese food wasn''t very tasty! Oh, kebab is delicious~~!

    If you''re staying in Malta for a long time, I recommend cooking your own meals.I recommend it~



    (What to bring)
    If you go in summer you hardly need long sleeves.. I only stayed one summer month, so... but since you might sleep with the air conditioner on in your room, of course you should bring a hoodie or something!

    Sunglasses, sunscreen, sun oil.. I don''t recommend sun-sticks. You''ll tan according to the shape. Buy sunscreen.


    (Travel)
    Sliema has a lot of stone beaches!Bring a big towel, sun oil, sunglasses, and flip-flops. Enjoy a suntan and swim in the sea.. it''s pure happiness.

    Go to Mdina and visit the viewpoint; you might get a once-in-a-lifetime photo~
    And even if it''s a bit far, go to the sandy beach recommended by your teacher or friends. Eating with the sea in front of you tastes amazing.





    My gap year is


    Experience★★★★★
    You can meet friends from countries like Spain, Germany, Japan, France, and hear their thoughts.


    Learning★★★☆☆
    My English improves a lot from hanging out with friends, but classes at the academy are often grammar-focused, so that''s a bummer. ㅠㅠ


    Environment★★★★☆
    Malta has a very beautiful environment, but the streets are much dirtier than I expected.


    Safety★★★★☆
    It''s quite as safe as Korea... I even took a bus home alone at 2 AM... Of course you should still be careful!


    Leisure★★★★★
    No need to say—the place has many stone beaches and a few sandy ones. If you prefer sand you''ll have to go quite far out, but if you don''t mind stones you can sunbathe and lie down anywhere and then go into the sea. With a beer, it''s perfect...

     

     

     

     

     

     

Why This Project

What makes this project special

#Expression & Languages#Freedom & Happiness#Rest & Recovery#Best value for money#Beautiful trip to Europe#Trip to Europe#Improve English skills#Study in the morning, travel in the afternoon#Communicate with locals#Language study abroad#Live like a local#Live true to myself#Regain confidence#Regain self-esteem#Discover a new me#Step out of your comfort zone#Develop communication skills#European resorts#Beautiful Mediterranean Sea

Take just one brave step.
GapYear will take care of the rest.