Parent's Relearning x Child's Growth | Our Family's Parent-Child Study Abroad Challenge in Cebu

We started parent-and-child study abroad in Cebu thinking, I want my child to learn English. But once we actually took the challenge, it was not only my child who was learning.

At first, I was nervous about being in a classroom for the first time in a long while. Seeing my child in the next classroom trying so hard to speak English, I thought to myself, I can't let myself fall behind.

Every day, parent and child studied in our own classes, and in the evening we reviewed and did homework together. On weekends we relaxed at the beach or the zoo. Studying and playing alike all became our family's time for learning.

Before I knew it, I had gained confidence in speaking English myself, and my child was chatting and smiling with foreign teachers without my even noticing. This study abroad was a time when we felt **our family bond and growth**, not just English.

At language schools in Cebu, parent and child can attend classes suited to their own levels in the same school building. For us too, classes started at 9 a.m. I practiced conversation in one-on-one lessons, while my child was exposed to English through songs and games in the kids class.

What surprised me was that, in our conversations after class, my child was naturally using new words. Some days I was even taught things like, Mom, that's not an apple, it's a mango! It felt as if the roles of parent and child had reversed a little, and I felt proud.

At lunch we ate together in the school cafeteria and shared stories about our classes. Every time I saw my child's happy smile as they said, Today the teacher told a joke!, I truly felt glad that we had chosen this time.

Studying as parent and child means sharing growth in the same space. I feel that this is the greatest appeal unique to parent-and-child study abroad in Cebu.

Returning to a life at a desk after so long was a series of confusions at first. There were days when I could not find the words even when a teacher asked me a question, and I felt down, thinking, Wasn't I able to speak better than this...?

But as I built up a little each day, the phrases I could catch grew in number at unexpected moments, and I became able to say what I wanted to say in my own words. The feeling of moving from I can't to I got through! was more joyful than I had imagined.

And what impressed me most was that my child was watching me closely. When they said, Mom is studying too, my heart warmed. By showing a parent who is learning again, I could convey the joy of learning to my child. I think that was the biggest lesson I gained from this parent-and-child study abroad.

For my child too, this study abroad was truly an encounter with a new world. At first, whenever someone spoke to them in English, they hid behind me, but after the second week they were laughing and playing games with the teachers and making friends with Korean and Vietnamese children of the same age. Each time their words got through a little more, my child's expression grew brighter.

One day after class, when my child happily reported, Mom, (the teacher's name) said Good job! to me today, I felt that this small confidence was leading to great growth.

Through interactions with foreign teachers and with children from many nationalities, children naturally develop the flexibility to accept differences and the courage to express their own opinions. I felt that the great value of parent-and-child study abroad lies in broadening not only English ability but a person's perspective.

A day in Cebu was like a little family study-abroad drama. In the morning we went to school together and then to our own classrooms. At lunch we met again to eat. After finishing afternoon classes, the whole family would do homework at a cafe or go shopping at a nearby mall.

On days off, we went island hopping and enjoyed beach barbecues with friends' families from the school. My child played on the sand humming English songs, while I chatted with the local teachers in English. Spending each day in a natural English environment with no line between studying and playing was very comfortable.

Without doing anything special, just sharing time and learning together, that accumulation made our family bond stronger. Even now that we are back in Japan, whenever my child says, We want to go to Cebu again, I remember those days of learning under the tropical blue sky.

One month of parent-and-child life abroad was a series of days in which English blended into daily life itself, more than I had expected. The following is the flow of a day that our family actually spent.

**Morning (8:00 to 12:00)** The parent does one-on-one speaking and pronunciation practice. The child does phonics (the basics of pronunciation) and English games in the kids room. My child, who was nervous at first, smiled more and more as they sang songs with the teacher.

**Lunch (12:00 to 13:00)** We had lunch together in the cafeteria. Conversations arose naturally with other parent-and-child students too, and sometimes someone would ask me in English, How old is your son? It was a valuable time to share stories about each other's cultures and school life.

**Afternoon (13:00 to 16:00)** The parent studies listening and business English conversation, and the child has activity-centered classes. With art projects and presentations, there were more and more moments when my child used English with confidence.

**After 16:00** After class, our family would stop by the mall for dinner or take a walk in a nearby park. On weekends we joined island tours and zoo visits hosted by the school, and fully enjoyed holidays spent in English.

Over this one month, I feel that both parent and child changed from studying English to living in English.

For a one-month (4-week) stay for a family of two (parent + child), in our case it cost **about JPY 400,000 to 600,000** (including tuition, accommodation, meals, and airport transfers).

Costs vary depending on the course and type of accommodation you choose. Since I took a full-lesson course as a parent, the amount was a bit on the high side, but considering the quality of the lessons, the support system, and the experience gained as a family, we feel it was well worth it.

**Example breakdown:**

• Tuition (parent + child): about JPY 200,000 to 250,000
• Accommodation + meals: JPY 150,000 to 250,000
• Airport transfers, materials, registration fee, etc.: JPY 20,000 to 30,000

**Separate costs:**

• Flights (round trip): about JPY 80,000 to 120,000 (varies by season)
• SSP (about PHP 12,000 to 13,000 per person)
• Visa extension fees, utilities, etc.

If the parent only accompanies the child and does not take classes, it is possible even in the low JPY 400,000 range, but if the parent also actively studies, a guideline is around JPY 500,000 to 600,000.

What I felt from the actual experience is that **it is important to choose a course to match your family's goals**. We were the type where the parent studies seriously too, but looking at other families, there were various styles.

**1. Parent studies together (recommended)** What I took was speaking-focused one-on-one lessons. There was some tension in using English again after so long, but I could feel myself improving a little each day. Studying at the same time as my child meant English naturally crept into our conversations at home, and the feeling of growing together was very pleasant.

**2. Child-centered, education-focused** Among the surrounding families, many had children aiming for Eiken or TOEFL Junior, with parents accompanying in a supporting role. They seemed to be creative with home study too, reviewing together after class and watching movies in English on weekends.

**3. Family-memories-focused (relaxed stay)** Among families on short stays, a popular way to spend time is taking classes only in the morning and sightseeing in the afternoon. In cases where a parent wants to watch over their child's first overseas experience, the value seemed to lie more in time spent exposed to English than in studying.

What was common to every style was that **time spent together as a family is the greatest learning of all**.

Now that I have returned to Japan after parent-and-child study abroad in Cebu, looking back I truly feel that I am really glad I went. Our English ability improved, of course, but even bigger was **the change in awareness of the whole family**.

By showing my own learning as a parent, my child realized that adults take on challenges too, and I was encouraged by seeing my child work hard. A positive cycle was born. I think this time of striving together, which we rarely have in daily life, brought our family together as one.

Study abroad is by no means a cheap purchase. But this one month of taking the challenge as a family was **an investment in life that money cannot buy**. Relearning changes the relationships in a family and your own values greatly.

To anyone now considering parent-and-child study abroad, I hope you will find the courage to take that step. I am sure the joy of growing together awaits your family too.

The guideline is **about JPY 400,000 to 600,000** (including tuition, accommodation, meals, and airport transfers). It goes up or down depending on whether the parent takes full classes, the type of accommodation (school dorm or condominium), and whether meals are included. Flights, SSP (about PHP 12,000 to 13,000 per person), visa extension, and utilities are separate.

**Often included**: tuition, part of the enrollment procedures, accommodation, meals (for school dorms), airport transfers. **Often not included**: round-trip flights, SSP, visa extension, utilities, additional materials, insurance, weekend tours, eating out.

The SSP is a permit for studying in the Philippines and is required to take classes while staying on a tourist visa. The cost is a guideline of **about PHP 12,000 to 13,000 per person**. A tourist visa is the status for entry and stay, while the SSP is the permission to study.

Yes, it is possible. With accompaniment only, the total cost goes down and can even stay **in the low JPY 400,000 range**. However, when the parent also studies, English use at home tends to increase, and learning results and satisfaction tend to be higher.

It differs by school, but there is a wide range, from kids classes for young children (ages 3 to 6) to academic and exam-preparation courses for elementary, junior high, and high school students. Preschool children may need a guardian to accompany them.

Example: In the morning, the parent does speaking and the child does phonics or conversation. We have lunch together. In the afternoon, the parent does business English or pronunciation, and the child has activity-based classes. In the evening, the family reviews or goes out. On weekends, we go to the beach, island hopping, and so on.

**School dorm**: no commute, with 3 meals included for an easy life. The cost is slightly higher. **Condominium**: more freedom to cook or eat out, and easier to match your family's rhythm. A commute or transfers are needed.

The main areas and the surroundings of schools are relatively calm, but avoid going out alone at night and places with few people, and be thorough with basic precautions such as managing valuables, using ride-hailing apps, and following the school's safety instructions.

School dorms often take Japanese tastes into consideration for meals. Allergies and religious restrictions can sometimes be accommodated with **advance notice**. If you stay in a condominium, it is easy to adjust by cooking yourself.

Lessons are mainly one-on-one and organized by level, so even beginners are fine. When a parent shows themselves learning, children also find it easier to approach their studies positively.

Make home rules (for example, 30 minutes of English time after dinner), share a vocabulary notebook as parent and child, give a short English presentation on weekends, record 5 minutes of reading aloud every day, and so on. Make **English at home too** a habit.

The beach, island hopping, the zoo, shopping malls, studying at cafes, and so on. Trying to make reservations and hold conversations in English builds practical ability.

• Passport, insurance certificate, local currency / credit card
• Regular medications, sun protection, insect repellent
• A light cover-up (classrooms are strongly air-conditioned)
• Study supplies (notebooks, electronic dictionary or apps, tablet)
• Your child's favorite materials and picture books

Wi-Fi is generally available at schools, dorms, and condominiums alike. If you will do many online meetings or video lessons, using a local SIM or pocket Wi-Fi as well gives peace of mind.

This differs by school. Be sure to **check before applying** whether the application deposit is refundable, the conditions for counting from the start date, and the cancellation fees for accommodation. It is also worth considering cancellation coverage in travel insurance.

In peak seasons (summer and spring breaks), places fill up early, so **2 to 3 months or more in advance** is a guideline. Securing flights and accommodation at the same time makes it easier to optimize cost and travel routes.

Maintain the chain of learning by continuing online English conversation, setting aside English time as parent and child, setting small goals such as Eiken or speeches, and booking follow-up lessons with teachers from your study abroad.