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Stop Stressing About English! Learn English Enjoyably in Cebu — A Review

#My fear of conversing in English disappeared #Experience of living abroad for an extended period #If you're unsure, I recommend that you go.

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    "Before joining the gap year project, I was extremely afraid of communicating in English. After doing the gap year program, I''m not sure if my English skills improved, but the fear of conversing in English with foreigners has completely disappeared. I even intentionally say a word to a foreigner on the street to start a conversation!"

     

    Don''t let English stress you anymore! Learn English while having fun in Cebu

    Oh Jihoon, gap-year participant (''gapper'') (25, university student) / 4-week gap year

     

     

     

     

     


    # If you''re going on an independent trip for a month, it would be great to travel and study at the same time!

     

     

    Hello! I''m Jihoon Oh, 25 years old, currently attending university.

     

    I had no overseas experience before. Then, in January this year, I traveled to Thailand through a program supported by my school. After that, my second trip abroad was to Cebu, and at first I hesitated a lot. ButNow I have no regrets at all and I mostly feel that it was the right decision to go!

     

     

    I was planning to take a month-long independent trip to any country during the vacation. Then, through a friend''s recommendation, I visited the Gap Year website.While looking through the gap year programs, I thought that if I was going to travel independently for a month, it would be nice to both travel and study, so I applied for a language study program in Cebu, where I could enjoy myself.I applied.

     

     

     

     

    Because I had previously spent over a week in Thailand, I wasn''t worried about staying for a longer period. I knew that overseas places are also where people live, so they''re not very different from Korea. However,What I was most worried about was that the Philippines is considered quite dangerous for Koreans... However, after staying there, I felt that while it''s not as safe as Korea, it''s not such a dangerous place.

     

     

    I didn''t really prepare much before departure. I just packed clothes, lotion, toiletries, a laptop, and other necessary items. If there was anything I specifically prepared, it was printing two copies of my passport? That''s about it. I''m not the type to pack heavily when I travel, so I didn''t prepare much!

     

     

     

     

     

    The goal I wanted to achieve through the gap year wasI wanted to try living abroad for an extended period, which is difficult to do once you get a job.A month isn''t an extremely long time, but I think even this one month is time that you can''t easily take if you''re not a student.

     

    And the second goal wasto improve my English ability even a little.That was it. As a result, although I had been afraid of conversing in English, a big change was that that fear disappeared!






    # Study on weekdays, and do various activities on weekends!


     

    06:40 ~ 08:00 Morning Sparta class (mainly vocabulary)

    08:00 ~ 08:40 Breakfast

    08:40 ~ 10:15 Special class (speaking)

    10:25 ~ 12:00 1:1 class (listening, speaking)

    12:00 ~ 13:00 Lunch

    13:00 ~ 14:35 Special class (business)

    14:45 ~ 16:20 4:1 group discussion class

    16:30 ~ 18:05 1:1 class (reading, writing)

    18:05 ~ 19:00 Dinner

    19:00 ~ 20:35 1:1 class (speaking)

     

     

    I realized that the teachers in Cebu teach with great enthusiasm.Many of the teachers are in difficult situations, but they always greeted us cheerfully with smiles and seemed so happy no matter what they were doing.

     

    And when I left they wrote me a letter and took pictures with me — it was so nice. During my gap year there was also Valentine''s Day, and we exchanged chocolates, which was lovely~








    I met many friends through the gap year project. My roommate Mike from Saudi Arabia, Japanese friend Yusei, Chinese friend Peter, Taiwanese friend Betty, Ash, and so many others. I also met many Korean friends; we went out to eat delicious food together, drank, traveled to the sea — it created truly precious memories.


    During the project it was nice that we studied on weekdays and could do activities like snorkeling and tours on weekends, and it was great to meet various people in the same situation.






    A recommended place to visit is Carbon Market (Cebu''s traditional market): take a taxi from the language school in the gap year program and go shopping!Clothes are really cheap at Colon Market! I bought pants here for 1,000 won and still wear them in Korea.

    And there''s the oldest cinema in Cebu at Colon Market. Watching a movie there would be a meaningful memory! Then take a taxi to go to SM Seaside mall to go skating, and on the park on the third floor of the building, feeling the sea breeze and looking out at the ocean makes you feel like you own the world!





    # If you''re hesitating, just go once! If you go once you will never regret it!


    Before participating in the gap year project I was very afraid of communicating in English. Sometimes at school when a foreign friend started a conversation in English I''d answer briefly and end the conversation, but after doing the gap year program I''m not sure if my English ability has improved, butthe fear of speaking English with foreigners completely disappeared. I even intentionally strike up conversations with foreigners on the street!



    Many people must hesitate before applying to the gap year program. Because of the length and the cost, it''s not cheap, so people worry and are cautious. I read a review when I was hesitating.

    If you''re wondering, just go once! I really want to say this: if you go once you will never regret it! You will make truly precious memories!





    # My gap year tip


    (Pickup)
    They were waiting in front of the airport.


    (Language)
    Don''t be afraid and speak slowly — they''ll listen to you until the end, so confidence is important!
    Also, while conversing, continuously looking up words in the dictionary and learning unfamiliar words is much more helpful!


    (Accommodation)
    The facilities aren''t extremely clean, so it''s better not to have high expectations haha.


    (Meals)
    The food is generally served in Korean style, so there shouldn''t be much inconvenience.


    (Things to bring)
    I didn''t bring a towel because prices were cheap and bought one at the department store, but maybe because it was a department store the towel cost 4,000 won. So I recommend bringing a towel from Korea if possible!






    My gap year is


    Experience★★★★★
    I had never talked with foreigners for such long periods, and I hadn''t used English for an entire month before, so it felt like a truly precious experience. And it was really nice to relax and enjoy the beautiful nature.


    Learning★★★★☆
    I only stayed for one month, so my English didn''t improve noticeably. However, I used to be afraid to converse in English, and now that fear is gone!


    Environment★★★★☆
    I think it''s an environment where you can do well if you put in the effort. However, there were many Koreans, and some people occasionally conversed only in Korean.


    Safety★★★☆☆
    The program and the dormitory itself were fairly safe, but when walking the streets of Cebu you have to watch out for traffic, and Filipino boys sometimes behaved in a threatening way. It was probably just joking, but it was frightening.


    Leisure★★★★★
    There are activities every weekend, so you can have plenty of fun.





Why This Project

What makes this project special

#Expression & Languages#Career & Direction#Rest & Recovery#Learning English While Having Fun#Confidence Boost#Fastest Way to Build English Skills#English Speaking#English Conversation#Having Fun#Overcome English Speaking Anxiety#Study and Travel at the Same Time#Restore Self-Esteem#Includes Accommodation, Meals, and Instruction#Everything Provided#Gain a Positive Mindset#Positive Energy#Easy for Everyone#Expand Myself#Interact with Global Friends

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