The month of “courage to speak” chosen by Bruce, a recent high school graduate from Taiwan | How group classes widened his circle of friends and the two gains he got from studying in Cebu

“My English grades in Taiwan weren’t very good...”

Bruce is a student who has just graduated from high school in Taiwan. For a long time he had felt that English was not his strong point, and he wanted to study it more.

Because he had just graduated from high school, he began to think he wanted to use this moment, before starting university, to improve his English, even if only a little.

Bruce first heard about 3D ACADEMY from a friend of his father. This person had studied in Cebu before and, based on his own experience, recommended 3D ACADEMY.

Hearing the story of someone who had already been through it helped him get a clear picture of what the school was like. He also felt that he would not only learn English, but would also learn many things by living there and spending time with different kinds of people.

“Since I’m going to study abroad, I want to have lots of experiences in a new environment.” With that idea in mind, Bruce decided to study in Cebu, at 3D ACADEMY.

What Bruce remembers most are the group classes. In them he got to know many classmates, and as they studied and talked together, they became friends naturally.

“What I liked most was that the classes were not only for learning English, but also became a chance to make new friends,” Bruce recalls. He says that being able to learn by using English together with all kinds of different people is exactly what makes group classes special.

What changed most in Bruce through this experience abroad was his “attitude toward speaking.” He says that now, when he talks, he can express what he wants to say in English without thinking about it as much as before.

He feels that, compared with the beginning, it is now easier for him to work up the courage to speak English, and he can do it without worrying too much about making mistakes. “That the desire to try speaking on my own initiative has grown in me is, for me, a very big change.”

Although it is not perfect yet, being able to communicate now with more courage than before has been a truly meaningful step for Bruce.

In the afternoons and on weekends he usually spent his time chatting with friends or going on trips. Of course, it was not all fun: he also made sure to set aside time to study when it was needed. Even when he was with friends, chances to talk in English came up naturally, which let him enjoy his life abroad in a different way from the classes.

At 3D ACADEMY he met students from Japan, China, Hong Kong, Arab countries and many other places. Bruce says that being able to learn at the same school and talk with people of different nationalities and cultures was a unique part of studying abroad.

Once he is at university, Bruce’s next goal is to be able to communicate naturally with international classmates as well. It is not only about being able to speak English, but about learning to get his ideas across more clearly, in a way others can understand.

For future students who come to 3D ACADEMY, Bruce has this message: “Even if there are words you don’t understand, don’t worry too much; first, dare to speak up bravely. I think you don’t need to speak perfectly from the start. Even if you make mistakes, it’s fine as long as you learn from them.”

Speaking a lot and learning from your own mistakes: according to Bruce, that is what truly matters for mastering English. In this month after finishing high school, the circle of friends that grew through group classes and the courage to speak were his two big gains. With them in his heart, Bruce’s challenge goes on.

The course Bruce took at 3D ACADEMY is the Practical ESL Course, the most standard course at our school.

The ESL Course combines 4 one-on-one classes and 3 group classes a day, with the aim of not just “learning English as knowledge,” but of giving priority to actually speaking and using it.

In the one-on-one classes, you practice intensively, focusing mainly on speaking and adapting to each student’s level and weak points. In the group classes, on the other hand, you have chances to use English together with students of different nationalities through discussions, presentations and other activities.

As Bruce said in his testimonial, group classes are not only for learning English, but also become a chance to make new friends. And using English again and again, both in class and in school life, helps you gain the confidence of “it’s okay to make mistakes; what matters is trying to speak.”

This course is designed for a wide range of levels, from those who are just starting with English to those who want to develop more natural and practical communication skills.

Recommended for those who...

• want to lose their fear of speaking English
• want to speak a lot of English in one-on-one classes
• want to make international friends in group classes
• want to gain truly useful English, not just grammar
• are going to study in Cebu for the first time and want to start with a standard course

Why not start, like Bruce, by simply “trying to speak English”?