[Study abroad testimonial] Back at 3D, and “serious English” | A university student tells us about her 3 months of growth

Hello! We are the 3D ACADEMY team.

This time we introduce Anne, who studies European Studies at university and also had a short stay in Germany.

Through her second stay at 3D, she spent a period dedicated to “facing English seriously.”

The goal of her study abroad was to raise her TOEIC score and develop a level of English that would also help her in her future job hunting.

We share the real testimonial of Anne, who chose Cebu Island for its excellent value for the price and faced English with total seriousness.

The reason Anne began to strongly wish to “be able to speak English” was a short stay in Germany that she attended in her first year of university.

At that time, although she was excited to live abroad, what she found there was the frustration of “not being able to express well in English what she wanted to say.”

“During the lunch break, seeing students from all over the world chatting happily in English was a huge shock for me. I couldn’t join the conversation; I could only listen.”

Faced with the language barrier, she understood for the first time that “English is not just a school subject, but a tool for connecting with the world.”

Afterward, when she returned to Japan, the wish to “want to speak English even better” grew stronger day by day, and she started with what she could do, such as self-study and English conversation classes.

“At first I just wanted to be able to talk more deeply in English with my foreign friends. But as I went on with my studies, I began to feel that ‘if I master English, my world will expand even more.’”

With this background, in her second year of university she had her first experience of studying in the Philippines at 3D ACADEMY. This testimonial is the record of her second stay there.

Among the great variety of options for studying in the Philippines, Anne had clear reasons for choosing 3D ACADEMY again for her second stay.

“My first stay at 3D was really good. The teachers were friendly and easy to talk to, and the quality of the classes was high. Also, the Wi-Fi in the dorm was fast, which kept stress away too.”

She also says she was very attracted by the volunteer activities (with children from the community) held once a month.

“I think the experience of really interacting with other people using English has a value you can’t get in the classroom. Last time, the time I spent with the children at the orphanage left a very strong impression on me, and I wanted to take part again.”

Another reason Anne trusted 3D was being able to “feel the results.”

“After my first stay, a foreign friend told me ‘your pronunciation has improved so much,’ and it really made me happy. I myself felt that I was being asked to repeat what I said less often.”

Those positive experiences led her to feel “I want to work hard here again.”

Of course, cost was also an important factor to consider. Since it was a trip paid for with her own resources, she told us that the excellent value for the price was also one of the attractions of 3D.

“Even on a limited budget, you can get quality classes and the dorm is comfortable. I think it’s not easy to find a school you truly want to go back to.”

The concrete goal Anne set for this stay was to get 600 points on the TOEIC. She says that, with job hunting getting closer, she began to keep in mind the English score requirements that companies demand.

“When I thought about how to show that I ‘know’ English, I concluded that the TOEIC score was the clearest way. In fact, many companies use ‘600 points or more’ as a criterion, so I decided to aim for that first.”

Her classes are organized mainly around one-on-one TOEIC preparation, strengthening all the sections in a balanced way: grammar, vocabulary, listening and reading. In particular, “the weekly mock tests and reviewing them” are the backbone of her learning.

“When I do the mock tests, I can clearly see my weak points, so the following week I can review them with more emphasis. The teachers also give me advice like ‘strengthen this a little more,’ so it’s very efficient.”

In addition, Anne consciously incorporates a style centered on “active production” of the language.

“The TOEIC focuses on reading and listening, but I think that to master English you can truly use, you also need ‘the ability to speak.’ That’s why I try to take speaking classes every day as well.”

Acquiring grammar and vocabulary, practicing reading aloud and listening, and daily speaking: by building all this up little by little each day, Anne steadily aims to raise her score and improve her real level.

Cebu Island as an environment for learning English: within it, 3D ACADEMY also enjoys a good reputation for its “ease of living.” For Anne, being able to go about her daily life without problems also seems to contribute to her concentration on studying.

A “just right” flavor that suits Japanese tastes

“The food is seasoned in the Japanese style and is truly delicious. Honestly, I didn’t expect much, but I was pleasantly surprised (laughs).”

The dorm offers three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu combines Japanese, Western, Korean and Filipino food in a balanced way, taking care that it doesn’t become monotonous. In addition, the Japanese staff periodically check the flavor, so you can feel at ease even on a long stay.

Good access to the area around the school

“When I want to go out, it’s great to be able to do it right away with my friends. There are shopping malls and cafes nearby, which is perfect for clearing my head after class.”

3D ACADEMY is conveniently located in the city center. Cebu’s popular shopping malls, “IT Park” and “Ayala Mall,” are only 10-15 minutes away by taxi. It is an easy environment for going out and creating memories together with classmates.

What to be careful about: “temptations”

However, precisely because it is such a comfortable place to live, Cebu is also characterized by having many temptations to go out and have fun.

“At 3D the rules are fairly flexible, so you can live freely, but at the same time I felt it was important to have ‘the ability to discipline myself.’”

Anne tries to use her free time after class in a planned way, and although she enjoys outings from time to time, she takes care not to lose her study rhythm.

“Classes, self-study and fun: I think being able to enjoy all of it in a balanced way is the great appeal of 3D.”

At a language school, the class content and the study plan are certainly important, but for Anne what left the biggest impression was “the connection with people.”

The peace of mind of having friendly teachers

“The 3D teachers are really friendly, and I was able to enjoy the classes every day. I was also happy to be able to meet again a teacher I had become friends with during my first stay.”

When learning English, having “an environment where you can make mistakes calmly” is very important. Anne recalls that, precisely because there was a relationship in which she could ask even the smallest question without any problem, she was able to practice speaking actively and without holding back.

“Even when they corrected my pronunciation, they never did it in a negative way, but kindly, so I was able to keep going with a positive attitude without losing my confidence.”

Making “English companions” from all over the world

“I’m still in touch on social media with the foreign friends I made during my first stay, and we write to each other in English. This time I made new friends from other countries!”

Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia and many other countries: at 3D ACADEMY, students of very diverse nationalities come together, and that environment where “English is the common language” has become a valuable place to practice for Anne.

Even outside class, there are plenty of chances to use English in the cafeteria, the dorm and the weekend activities, and she says she experienced the place changing from “a place to study English” into “a place to live in English.”

Learning “a diversity of values” from foreign friends

“It was interesting to see that, although we all shared the same goal of ‘wanting to learn English,’ the way of thinking changed completely depending on the country and culture.”

For example, a friend from a certain country was the type who states his opinion firmly in a debate. In contrast, a friend from another country impressed her with his attitude of calmly listening to other people’s opinions.

“I think the real charm of studying a language abroad is being able to go beyond what you consider ‘normal’ and come into contact with many different values.”

This stay of Anne’s had a clear goal: to get 600 points on the TOEIC.

“In job hunting after graduating from university, there are many situations where the TOEIC score is requested. I thought that being able to speak English wasn’t enough, and that I also needed ‘the ability to prove it with a number.’”

Why I aim for 600 points on the TOEIC

In fact, many companies set 600 TOEIC points as a hiring criterion, and in some cases this becomes an elimination filter in the selection process.

“For me, I feel it’s ‘the first door I have to go through to pursue my dreams with English.’ If I manage to get through it, my career options will expand and I’ll be able to face challenges with more confidence.”

At 3D ACADEMY you can take one-on-one classes specialized in TOEIC preparation, which allows learning directly focused on the goal. The style of analyzing weak points together with the teacher and tackling them one by one seems to have suited Anne very well.

I want to make use of the experience of this stay in my job hunting as well

“Besides improving my English level, I feel that through life in Cebu, the volunteer activities and meeting other people, I have gained ‘the ability to adapt to any environment.’”

In real job interviews, it is common to be asked “what experience did you have abroad and what did you learn?” Anne says that, at that moment, she will be able to confidently convey what she learned and the initiative she developed at 3D.

“I don’t want to be someone who only says ‘I studied English,’ but someone who can tell ‘what I did using English.’”

Studying abroad is not an end, but a beginning

From now on, besides getting results on the TOEIC, she wants to keep polishing “the ability to communicate in English in daily life.”

“I want to develop English as ‘a truly usable skill’ and be able to work abroad in the future. I will keep up with English to reach that dream.”

In Anne’s words you could sense the confidence and initiative she cultivated through this stay abroad.

This is Anne’s second stay at 3D ACADEMY. In each of her words, the feeling of “I love this school” could be clearly sensed.

“The teachers are friendly and talk to me with a smile every day” “There is an environment where you can make friends quickly” “You can enjoy not only studying English, but also volunteering and living together with classmates from other countries”

For Anne, we believe that 3D ACADEMY was both “a place to learn English” and “a space where she could be herself.”

And now, with the TOEIC goal ahead, she moves step by step toward the future. Her stride is firm and reliable and, at the same time, she looks like she is enjoying the journey.

Anne, thank you so much for choosing 3D ACADEMY again for your study stay!

It made a great impression on us to see you even more relaxed and at ease than last time. You devoted yourself seriously to both classes and self-study, and you made the most of the volunteering and living together with your friends; we think it was a wonderful and very well-balanced stay.

We are sure you will reach your goal of 600 points on the TOEIC. And beyond that, your dreams, Anne, will surely grow even bigger.

If you ever feel like coming back to 3D, you will always be welcome! The whole team and teachers look forward to the day we can see each other again with a smile.