David from the Czech Republic, who has lived in Canada and New Zealand, chooses “serious IELTS” | Meeting friends from around the world and the feeling of finding a “second home” while studying in Cebu

David’s life abroad began in earnest about three years ago, when he moved to Canada. What prompted it was an invitation from a former partner he had met back in high school in the Czech Republic. After 15 years, they met again in Winnipeg, Canada.

After that he traveled around Florida and got a Canadian working holiday visa. Visiting places such as Ottawa and Vancouver, he worked as a Carpenter Helper for about 13 months and built up his life there.

The next 15 months or so he spent on a working holiday in New Zealand. During that time he traveled to many countries, including India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. And the place he finally arrived at was the Philippines.

Having moved from country to country, gaining work and life experience abroad, David found that the Philippines became a new stage for a challenge, a continuation of that journey.

The biggest reason he decided to study English abroad was to get a better job in the future. “I felt that my English ability and my IELTS score were essential for widening my options for my next career,” David recalls.

He chose the Philippines because he likes warm weather and had a good impression of Filipino people. The fact that Filipino friends he met while in New Zealand recommended it, telling him “If you’re going to study English, the Philippines is the place,” was also a big push, he says.

3D ACADEMY was what he found as he researched and compared several schools. He hadn’t made up his mind right away; as he gathered information, he came to feel “this one suits me.”

What decided it was the good reviews online, the location of the school, and the feeling that Cebu Island is a relatively safe place to stay. On top of that, being able to meet people from many different parts of the world during his time abroad was also a big attraction.

“Cost was also one of the important conditions when choosing a school,” says David. He made his decision after weighing the balance between class content and price.

David is taking the General IELTS Course. What impressed him most once he actually started classes was the level of the teachers and the high quality of the lessons.

“I’m getting more solid instruction than I imagined before coming.” Through his daily classes, he says, he can feel the quality of the teachers’ way of teaching and the support they give.

He says he notices his English changing little by little every day. He chose 5 classes a day, a pace he settled on after considering how long he plans to stay and the English level he is aiming for. “I can study enough, and yet I still have plenty of time outside class, so I’m able to balance learning English with my own time.”

After class, David spends his time mostly on sports. He especially enjoys fitness and jogging, and sometimes goes out for a beer with friends.

Going forward, he says he wants to explore not only Cebu Island but other islands as well. He plans to visit a variety of places and sightseeing spots where he can feel the nature that is special to the Philippines, such as mountains, waterfalls and beaches. “Not just studying, but also life and travel here in the local area are an important part of studying abroad, and I want to enjoy them.”

At 3D ACADEMY he met students of truly diverse nationalities, including Japan, China, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan, as well as France, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Peru and the Czech Republic. “Getting to know people from this many nationalities at a single school is very interesting, and I feel it’s an experience you only get when studying abroad.”

David’s next goal is to use the English he has built up at 3D ACADEMY to find the ideal job for himself. He doesn’t mind where in the world he works, but he says he is drawn to living and working in a warm tropical or subtropical country.

“As for the Philippines, too, I feel that in the future it could become a second home, or even a place that matters more than that.”

To anyone thinking about studying abroad, especially those who feel anxious about going overseas, David sends this message: “Don’t be afraid to take the challenge. Going abroad, living there and meeting all kinds of people is truly of great value to you. If you muster the courage and take that step, I think you’ll have a really good experience.”

The course David is taking at 3D ACADEMY is the IELTS Preparation Course.

This course strengthens all four skills, Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, in a balanced way through instruction centered on one-on-one classes and exam-format mock tests. Operated as an official IDP authorized agent, it can be taken for anywhere from 1 week to more than half a year, and the curriculum can be flexibly designed to match your target score and schedule.

As David said in his testimonial, daily instruction from high-quality teachers leads to a firm sense of steady score improvement. The number of classes per day can also be adjusted to your goals and length of stay, so you can build up your ability without strain while balancing study and daily life.

It supports a wide range of levels, from those who need a score for career advancement to those taking IELTS for the first time.

Recommended for those who...

• need an IELTS score to advance their career
• want thorough preparation in one-on-one classes
• want to learn while interacting with students from around the world
• want to check their practical ability with exam-format mock tests
• want to settle in and work on IELTS preparation in Cebu

Why not take a first step toward your target score, like David?