To fulfill her future dream of a vintage clothing cafe | Natsu, a university student, tells us about her English study experience on Cebu Island

“In the future, I want to open a shop that combines my passion for coffee and vintage clothing.” What she felt she needed to make that dream come true was the ability to speak English.

Natsu is currently a second-year student of Anglo-American Literature at a university in the Kansai region. She comes into daily contact with academic English: in class she reads literary works in English and writes critiques of them in English as well. Even so, she felt that classroom study was not enough. “Thinking about buying clothes abroad in the future, or serving customers from other countries, I felt I needed English that was more focused on speaking.”

Her interest in English goes back to a school trip in her second year of high school. During a five-day, three-night stay in Singapore and Malaysia, she had the chance not only to go sightseeing but also to interact with local students. That experience of communicating in English with people from another culture left a very strong impression on Natsu.

“It was the first time I truly felt that ‘it would be so much more fun if I could speak English.’ When the language flows, people’s culture and personalities feel much closer. After I got back to Japan, I started taking my English classes with a much more positive attitude.”

At university she also joined a fashion club, where she took street-style “snap” photos and made brochures that reflected her own style. Over time, her wish to turn “what she loves” into her work grew stronger.

“I want to work surrounded by the things I love. So I thought: I’ll have my own shop. And for that, I need the ability to connect with the world outside Japan, which means English.”

With that in mind, Natsu decided to save money by working part-time and to use a long break to take the plunge and study English abroad. That first “decisive step” of investing in her own future was her language-study trip to Cebu Island.

She wanted to improve her English in pursuit of her dream, but for a university student the biggest obstacle is often cost. For Natsu, having an option that was “financially realistic” was also an important condition when choosing where to study.

The first thing she did was visit her university’s international exchange center. There she could look through files of testimonials from former students who had studied abroad, and many of them featured “classic” English-speaking destinations such as the United States or Australia. What caught her eye, however, was that in some cases the cost of a single month was over one million yen.

“I heard that a senior at my university who went to the United States paid around 1.5 million yen for one month, including accommodation. Since I wanted to save up from my own part-time job, I felt that wasn’t realistic for me.”

That was when she turned her attention to studying in the Philippines. It is also an English-speaking country, the cost was one third to one half, and she was also drawn to the quality of the learning environment, where one-on-one classes are the foundation.

Around that time, a friend introduced her to 3D ACADEMY. It turned out that an older schoolmate of that friend was a 3D ACADEMY graduate. When she heard real comments from that person, such as “the location is good and it’s comfortable to live there” and “the value for money is really good,” her interest grew right away.

In the end, these were the three main reasons Natsu chose 3D ACADEMY.

1. Good value that is within reach even when paying with her own savings

She could take classes centered on the one-on-one format for a fraction of the cost of the United States or Canada. She liked that the structure allowed her to feel results even during a short one-month stay.

2. A support system and living environment that reassure even beginners

Natsu did not consider herself especially good at English, so it was important for her to know whether this would be an environment she could adapt to as well. Thanks also to advice from the graduate, when she heard that “the teachers are kind and attentive” and that “you can feel at ease in daily life too,” her worries eased.

3. Very comfortable daily life and a good location

The fact that “there is a supermarket right below the school” was a big comfort for her first long stay abroad. Once she was actually there, she felt that “daily life ran very smoothly and I didn’t need any special preparation.”

“To get to the point of speaking English, I need a place to practice speaking. But in Japan it’s hard to find that kind of environment. That’s why I wanted to go somewhere I could immerse myself completely in English, even if only for a short time.”

So, out of all the options, Natsu looked again at the balance between her dream and reality, and decided to study at 3D ACADEMY, which combined the three points of cost, learning environment and peace of mind.

Natsu chose the ESL course. This course, which lets you learn general English in a well-rounded way, covers a wide range of levels from beginner to intermediate, and it is perfect for people who want to get to the point of speaking English.

Her stay was four weeks. It is a relatively short period for a first language-study trip, but for Natsu it was an intense time, full of learning and discoveries.

“Honestly, one month wasn’t enough.”

This was the first thing Natsu said at the start of the interview. “It really flew by. Just when I felt I was finally getting used to English, the day to go home was getting close. If I could have, I would have stayed two or three months.”

Even so, she says she noticed clear results in those four weeks.

From English that “won’t come out” to English that “does come out”

Natsu was relatively used to academic writing at university, but she had practically no experience speaking. In Japan she had no chances to speak English, and when she tried to speak, words she knew she knew often would not even come out.

“In my first class, I was shocked that I couldn’t say even simple words like ‘apple’ or ‘play.’ But through the classes, I think I gradually got used to putting things into words. Now I can speak naturally in simple conversations and express my own ideas.”

The core of the classes is “speaking”

In the ESL course, up to four one-on-one classes a day are combined with two or three group classes.

Since Natsu’s main goal was to improve her ability to speak, she devoted most of her one-on-one classes to exactly that. She also chose vocabulary and idiom classes, putting emphasis on widening her range of expressions as well.

She also took movie, pronunciation and beginner-level classes

In group classes, in addition to the “English for beginners class” that suited her level, she was encouraged to try a wide range of other areas that interested her, such as the “pronunciation correction class” and the “movie-based class.”

“In the movie class, I naturally picked up the rhythm of English and expressions native speakers use. The pronunciation correction also helped me become more aware of it in my everyday conversations.”

“Even in four weeks, I felt a clear change in myself.”

Being able to train her speaking ability intensively, even in a limited time, was a key point in Natsu’s growth.

“Getting good at speaking takes time. But being able to adopt the mindset that ‘it’s OK to speak’ and ‘it’s OK to make mistakes’ was huge. You can’t get that by just staying in Japan.”

That month in Cebu was not simply about studying English, but about living the experience of existing through English.

“English is not something you learn only inside the classroom.”

That is what Natsu says. In fact, her style of studying abroad was to turn not only the classes but life itself into an “English practice field.”

“Chances to speak” are something you create yourself

It was summer vacation season, so there were many Japanese students at the school, and it was easy for conversations in Japanese to increase. Even so, Natsu made a conscious effort to create time to speak English.

“Even during breaks between classes, I tried to talk with the teachers as much as possible. Using the expressions I learned in class right away, even in small talk, helps them stick in your memory.”

After class, too, she made an effort to use English when she went out. Ordering at a restaurant, interacting with staff at a shopping mall, asking a local for directions… each small action became a chance to practice.

“At first I made mistakes all the time and felt a bit embarrassed. But after trying so many times, the joy of being understood started to beat the embarrassment. Once you manage to get understood even one time, you think, ‘Let’s try again.’”

From “learning” to “using.” The moment English becomes a living language

This daily habit of active output became an excellent training opportunity, letting her immediately test in practice what she had learned in her one-on-one classes.

For example, when she used a phrase she had learned in class in a real conversation the same day, she felt that it was “starting to come out naturally, as if they were her own words.”

“I felt that in English there is a huge wall between ‘knowing it’ and ‘being able to use it.’ But when you have a place to ‘put it into practice,’ that wall gets lower and lower. It was an experience that is hard to get by yourself in Japan.”

Even with many Japanese students around, with a little ingenuity you can create an English environment

Some people feel that “even though they came abroad, they have no chances to speak English,” but Natsu looked at that point calmly as well.

“In the end, it all depends on you. You can choose who you talk to and in what language. Even with Japanese friends, if you set up an ‘English-only day,’ that is also very valid English practice.”

To maximize your English level even in a short period, the cycle of “learn in class → use it outside → confirm it again in class the next day” is effective. Keeping that cycle going consciously for four weeks is what raised Natsu’s English to a truly usable level.

Perhaps the greatest value of studying abroad is not simply vocabulary or grammar, but the experience of having been able to share with someone, in English, what you truly think.

Natsu says that what she remembers most are the classes with two teachers in particular. They were valuable moments that not only improved her English but also influenced the way she thinks and her courage to speak.

The discussion with teacher May | The challenge of talking about social issues in English

“I had never had the experience of giving my opinion in English while in Japan.”

With those words, Natsu describes how, nervous at first, she took on her one-on-one class with teacher May. In those classes she not only learned English expressions but also practiced putting her own ideas into words, in English, through discussions on social issues.

“At first it took me a long time to organize my thoughts and the words wouldn’t come, but the teacher waited patiently and supported me, so little by little I became able to speak.”

“Having the teacher always say ‘I want to hear your opinion’ encouraged me so much, and after a month I could explain my position in English too.”

Through this experience, she says an awareness began to grow in her that English is not just a language but a tool for conveying your own ideas.

The group class with teacher Jim | The habit of thinking built with “Why?”

Another teacher who left a strong impression was Jim. He was in charge of the group class for English beginners. The content consisted mainly of exchanging opinions in English about everyday topics.

“During class, every time I gave an answer I had worked hard to think of, teacher Jim always responded with ‘Why?’ ‘Why do you think that?’”

At first it baffled her, but after hearing “Why?” over and over, she naturally developed the habit of justifying her own ideas.

“The process of giving an opinion → thinking of the reason → explaining it again trained not only my English but also my logical thinking. I think it’s an ability that will be useful in the future, beyond English.”

A month in which she became “someone who can give her opinion in English”

The accumulation of these exchanges with her teachers turned into Natsu’s confidence. Rather than saying “I became able to speak English,” the phrase that describes it best is “I stopped hesitating when expressing myself in English.”

“I’m very grateful to the teachers who helped me understand that what matters is not speaking English perfectly, but trying to convey what you feel.”

This joy of being able to get her message across was precisely one of the major factors that made Natsu’s study trip even more fruitful.

“Will I, who can’t speak English, really be able to keep up with the classes?” Natsu also had that worry before leaving.

Now, however, having finished her four weeks of study abroad, she says the following with confidence.

“Even if you’re a beginner in English, there’s nothing to worry about!”

More important than English level is “the desire to try speaking”

At 3D ACADEMY there are many students who are beginners in English, just like Natsu. Classes are divided by level, and since you can start with content that matches your own level, she says she rarely felt she couldn’t keep up.

“Even if there’s something I don’t understand, the teacher immediately explains it in a different way, and often uses gestures too to help me understand. I think the most important thing is having the courage to say ‘I don’t understand.’”

That attitude of not being afraid of making mistakes directly affects the speed of your own growth. That is something she herself felt strongly during her stay.

The atmosphere of confidence to speak that kind teachers create

One of the attractions of 3D ACADEMY is the friendly, warm atmosphere of its teachers.

“Every day the teachers greeted me with a smile, saying ‘Good morning!’, so I felt at ease right away. The nerves of the first day dissolved as if they had never existed.”

In one-on-one classes there is plenty of time for the teacher to listen calmly to the student, which makes it possible to learn at your own pace. “Even if I ran out of words, there was no need to hurry. All the teachers knew how to take that with patience.”

A vocabulary flashcard app she made herself was very useful for review!

To move forward efficiently in her English learning, Natsu used a vocabulary flashcard app that she created herself. She jotted down the words and expressions that came up in class on the spot and immediately recorded them in the app. Then, in free moments, such as on the way to school or before and after meals, she reviewed them to fix them in her memory.

“Since you can easily check it from your phone, the habit of reviewing formed naturally. Having it saved in the app is like having a ‘personal dictionary,’ very handy.”

If you have doubts, “just jump in first”

Finally, Natsu offers this advice for those thinking about studying abroad.

“Even if you don’t have confidence in your English, if you truly want to get to the point of speaking it, it is definitely worth taking the plunge and coming. Once you’re there, the environment makes you ‘do it no matter what,’ and you grow even more than you expected.”

Gaining, beyond language ability itself, the feeling that “I can do it too”: perhaps that is the true value of the experience of studying abroad.

After her four weeks of study on Cebu Island, a new wish arose in Natsu: to learn for a longer period and more deeply.

And her next goal is to study in Canada. As necessary preparation for that, she has already started studying seriously to improve her TOEIC score.

The “next stage” that became visible after the study trip

“Honestly, at first my attitude was more like ‘I want to improve my English a little.’ But after coming to Cebu and discovering the pleasure of being able to convey my own ideas in English, I started to want to learn more deeply.”

The experience in Cebu let her see clearly both the real challenges and the possibilities of her own English level. And beyond that came the challenge of an even more demanding environment: studying languages in Canada.

A high TOEIC score as the key to studying in Canada

Natsu’s university has a scholarship system for studying abroad that depends on TOEIC scores. For that reason, even after returning to Japan, she keeps studying hard for the exam.

“The study trip improved my speaking ability quite a lot, so now I’m specifically training my listening, reading and exercise-solving skills. I want to make English my weapon and expand my opportunities that way.”

The dream is to connect with the world: “a space with coffee and vintage clothing”

Natsu’s reason for learning English is not simply wanting to get to the point of speaking it. At the core there is a purpose that has never changed: making her dream come true.

That dream is to create a unique space that combines her passion for coffee and vintage clothing. She loves coffee so much that on her days off she drives long distances just to enjoy it. As for vintage clothing, she cares a great deal about style and wants to buy the garments herself, directly abroad.

“If I master English, I’ll be able to travel around the world choosing ‘really good clothes’ with my own eyes and put them in my shop. It would be wonderful to be able to make someone’s day a little more special in a space like that.”

What she gained from studying abroad was, more than “language ability,” “the ability to act”

Learning English is no more than a means to achieve her dream. But these four weeks in which she seriously honed that “means” became a major turning point in Natsu’s life.

“By daring to go abroad, I gained the feeling that ‘if I set my mind to it, I can do it.’ And that now turns into the confidence to take my next step.”

Natsu finished her short but intense four weeks of study on Cebu Island. Throughout the interview she repeated, again and again, phrases full of positive energy such as “I want to keep learning” and “I want to keep speaking.”

And at the root of all that is not learning English itself, but a firm purpose: English as a means of making a dream come true.

When there is a goal, actions take on meaning

At 3D ACADEMY there are many students who, like Natsu, come to study abroad with a clear goal. And something many of these students have in common is that this goal makes their study abroad even more fruitful.

“I want to open a shop with coffee and vintage clothing.” That dream, which at first glance seems more fashion-oriented, can become, when combined with the ability to speak English and an international outlook, an achievable vision of “a business connected to the world.”

When there is a goal, one hour of class becomes “preparation for the future,” and even memorizing a single word becomes “a step toward the dream.” That is why, during study abroad, the quality of learning deepens and the speed of growth also accelerates naturally.

Studying abroad is not a “goal” but a “starting point”

What Natsu’s story aims to convey is that studying English abroad can become a starting point for making a dream come true.

Of course, you don’t need to define a perfect goal before leaving. But stopping for a moment to think “why do I want to learn English?” or “what do I want to do using English?” will surely make your future learning much more meaningful.

Bring “someday” closer to “now” with concrete actions

Not feeling confident in your English, thinking it might not be possible for you: Natsu also carried those worries, and now she is moving toward an even bigger challenge, saying “next time, I’ll go to Canada.”

What matters is the courage to take the first step.

As in Natsu’s case, a small step can change the future enormously. That place full of possibilities exists here, at 3D ACADEMY.