How Much English Do You Need for a Working Holiday? Can You Reach It by Studying in Cebu?

A working holiday is a valuable program that lets you work and enjoy life abroad, but to actually hold a part-time job and handle daily life there, you need a certain level of English. If you travel with no English at all, it is not unusual to run into major hurdles when looking for work or taking care of everyday procedures.

On the other hand, many people worry, “Is my English really good enough?” This is why a growing number of people are boosting their English before departure with a short study stay in Cebu, Philippines. Cebu in particular centers on one-on-one lessons that intensively train speaking, which has made it a popular way to prepare for a working holiday.

This article outlines the level of English generally needed for a working holiday and explains in detail whether you can reach that level by studying in Cebu.

The English you need for a working holiday varies depending on the lifestyle you are aiming for and the kind of work you want to do. Here is a rough guide.

• **Daily life level** This is the level at which you can handle the conversations essential for daily life, such as shopping at a supermarket, ordering at a cafe, and using public transportation. → Guideline: Eiken Grade 2, around 500-600 on the TOEIC.
• **Part-time job level** This centers on customer-service English for roles such as restaurant and cafe service, hotel front desk, and retail. Beyond scripted English, you are expected to handle unexpected questions as well. → Guideline: 600-700 on the TOEIC, with the ability to handle simple phone calls and customer service.
• **Office work / professional level** This is the level at which you can apply for jobs and interview in English with a resume, and communicate in internal meetings and by email. Few people reach this stage on a working holiday, but it is essential if you are aiming for career advancement. → Guideline: 800 or higher on the TOEIC, IELTS 6.0 or above.

In short, if you have at least enough English to manage both daily life and part-time work, you can start your working holiday.