The decision of a language university student | The 4-week study challenge in Cebu chosen to become “the person who speaks English”

“Since you study at a foreign languages university, I’m sure you speak English perfectly, right?”

Contrary to those expectations of the people around me, I had a strong complex about my English level. It is true that there were writing and debate classes, but most subjects were taught in Japanese. Many of my classmates also felt resistance to speaking English, so I myself almost never had the chance to speak it with confidence.

Even so, the label of “foreign languages student = speaks English” followed me everywhere. I didn’t want to lie to myself. Repeating inside myself “I want to get to the point of speaking it,” I felt strongly that I had to do something about it.

That was when I came across 3D ACADEMY, a language school located on Cebu Island in the Philippines.

At first, what I had in mind was to study in Canada through a program at my university. I thought that, to improve my writing and speaking ability, the best thing was to actually live in a native English-speaking country. In addition, using the university’s system made the paperwork easier, and above all I felt that, as a foreign languages student, having an experience abroad was absolutely necessary.

However, reality was not so simple.

The financial obstacle turned out to be bigger than I expected: adding up the plane ticket, living expenses and insurance, I realized that neither my part-time job pay nor my parents’ support would be enough. So, much to my regret, I had to put the trip to Canada on hold… But I wasn’t willing to give up completely. “I want to move forward, even if only a little, within what I can do right now.” That feeling led me to my next choice.

While researching different options, I found the possibility of studying languages on Cebu Island in the Philippines. In fact, I had already heard about this option before from a friend who had studied at another school in Cebu, who told me that “the one-on-one classes were really good” and that “even in a short time her speaking level had improved enormously,” so deep down it had already caught my attention.

Among all the options, the three main reasons 3D ACADEMY appealed to me were these:

Most of the classes are one-on-one, which allows you to speak far more An affordable price even for a single month, and a study plan that is relatively easy to commit to Good reviews from other students, and a sense of reassurance about the facilities and the location

Even if Canada wasn’t possible, I decided to “take on the biggest challenge I could take on at that moment.” The result was my decision to study for four weeks on Cebu Island.

“Only four weeks,” some will think. But for me, those four weeks were a very valuable time in which I overcame my fear of speaking and discovered, for the first time, the pleasure of expressing myself in my own words.

At 3D ACADEMY I chose the “6 one-on-one classes course,” a specialized program in which all six daily classes are one-on-one. Each class lasts 50 minutes, with a schedule that runs from morning to afternoon, practically immersed in English alone with the teacher. Group classes also caught my eye, but for someone like me, who above all wanted to speak and improve my speaking ability, there was no course that fit better.

In fact, I had taken group classes before, and on that occasion I felt the frustration of those with a higher English level taking the spotlight while I could hardly speak. That is why this time I was looking for an environment where I could speak at my own pace, without having to hold back for anyone.

The content of the one-on-one classes varies a little depending on the teacher, but in my case it was mainly as follows:

Grammar: I wrote a diary every day and handed it in for the teacher to correct. The teacher pointed out small mistakes I hadn’t noticed, as well as errors that had become habits, and in that way I naturally picked up correct expressions. Vocabulary: it wasn’t just about memorizing words, but about creating example sentences and bringing them into real conversations, which was quite practical. I also learned alternative expressions and slang, which broadened my vocabulary considerably. Free conversation: the moment I looked forward to most! We talked with complete freedom, from everyday topics to social problems. I especially remember the classes with teacher Mark, in which we even debated topics such as human rights, which was a new challenge: talking about difficult topics in English.

Of course, not everything went well from the start. There were times when the English words wouldn’t come, my grammar was a mess or I fell silent halfway through a sentence… But none of the teachers ever laughed at me or criticized me; on the contrary, they guided me kindly, saying things like “it’s OK” or “try again, slowly.”

Even if you make mistakes, you can try again as many times as needed. I think that is the greatest appeal of one-on-one classes. You can ask right away about what you don’t understand and move up a level with confidence, at your own pace. Six hours a day may seem like a lot, but when I was concentrating, time flew by.

And at the end of the four weeks, the English conversations that had made me so nervous at the beginning were something I could hold naturally. I gained the confidence to get by without problems in everyday conversations, and the greatest achievement of all was starting to enjoy the simple act of speaking.

At 3D ACADEMY, “learning time” continued even after classes ended. This is because the way I spent my afternoons and weekends was a valuable opportunity to “put into practice” what I had learned in class.

On weekdays, after classes, I usually ate with my “batchmates” (classmates who had arrived on the same enrollment day) or took walks around the school. At 3D ACADEMY there were many university students who, like me, were taking advantage of summer vacation, so, being of similar ages and interests, we quickly became good friends. Having met classmates from all over the country, something that would hardly happen in Japan, was also a great treasure for me.

What I remember most is going to the nearby supermarket after class. Even if it was only a brief moment to buy snacks, I tried to talk with local people whenever I could. With simple questions like “what flavor is this?” or “which do you recommend?”, the simple fact of having a real conversation made me feel the joy of seeing that my English was understood.

At first I got nervous. But the success experience of “having managed to speak once” pushed me to take the next step. Before I knew it, I was already daring to speak confidently in the convenience store or the neighborhood shopping mall too. I think it was precisely in those everyday, unimportant moments that the great opportunities to improve my speaking were hidden.

On weekends I also went on excursions with my batchmates to see Cebu Island: Oslob, famous for its whale sharks, or the beaches of Mactan, with their beautiful sea. On one occasion we played in the water with local children, sharing the floats and water guns we had brought. In the end we gave them to the children, and the moment they said “thank you!” with a smile was truly moving.

Going to the cinema to watch movies with English subtitles was also a good experience. When I recognized words I already knew, or heard expressions I had learned in the dialogue, I was happy and truly felt that my English level was improving.

As you can see, life at 3D ACADEMY was not limited to classes alone. Rather, I think the key to a short study abroad program being a success lies in how many opportunities you manage to create, on your own initiative, to use English during the afternoons and weekends.

“Since I came all this way to study abroad, I want to live my day-to-day life in English as much as possible.” I think it was precisely because I acted in that spirit that, even in just four weeks, I achieved tangible results.

The four weeks on Cebu Island went by in the blink of an eye. But during that time, I not only learned English, I also discovered things about my own way of learning and of facing challenges. For those thinking about studying in the Philippines, I want to share, based on my own experience, “what I was glad I brought” and “what I was glad I did,” in the hope that it will be useful to you.

1. Bring a reference book or a vocabulary list in Japanese

The first thing I recommend is to bring a vocabulary list or a grammar book written in Japanese. Of course, English materials are also used there, but having “material that lets you review quickly in Japanese” for free moments or for self-study after class makes a big difference in understanding.

I brought the grammar book I had used in high school and a vocabulary list for entrance exam preparation. You don’t need to use all of its content, but having “a base you can immediately come back to when something isn’t understood” also gives you peace of mind.

2. Think of everything outside the classroom as “a place to practice English”

I think the way you spend your time outside class changes the results of your stay enormously. I tried to speak actively everywhere I could use English: with the staff at the supermarket, the shopping mall or the neighborhood cafe.

At first it takes courage, but even if you make grammar mistakes, there is nothing to worry about, because local people treat you kindly. I realized that the most important thing is the attitude of trying to communicate and trying to speak.

3. A mask and throat lozenges are more necessary than you imagine

It may seem a bit surprising, but a mask and throat lozenges were items I was really glad I had brought. In some areas of Cebu City, vehicle fumes and dust can be bothersome. Also, talking so much in class tires the throat, so the lozenges were a great help.

Although you can also buy them there, if you are worried about the taste or quality, I recommend bringing your favorites from your home country.

What I want to convey is that you don’t need to look for perfection. It’s fine if you make mistakes. And if the words don’t come, I don’t want you to get discouraged. Studying abroad is an accumulation of small daily challenges. Every small step surely becomes a strength of your own.

And above all, don’t forget to enjoy the process. My experience in Cebu taught me that learning English is, in fact, something truly exciting.

When my study stay on Cebu Island ended, something changed deeply in me. Although it was only four weeks, the certainty of having managed to speak English in my own words and communicate with another person by myself became a great source of confidence when thinking about my future.

And now I am thinking about my next step.

First of all, I want to try a long-term study program in an English-speaking country again. The trip to Canada that I had to give up at the time is still one of those dreams I don’t want to leave behind. This time, through my university, I would like to go to a native English-speaking country such as Canada or the United States, and keep improving my English level while living there.

In addition, I plan to go to Malta during the next spring vacation, a destination that had interested me for a long time. Malta, although it is in Europe, has English as an official language, and both the sea and the city are very beautiful, which makes it a destination where you can combine learning with sightseeing. I am thrilled by the idea of immersing myself in an environment different from Cebu, in contact with other cultures and a multinational setting.

After my stay in Cebu, my personal purpose for learning English became much clearer. It is not simply about improving my TOEIC score, but about “using English to connect with someone and achieve something.”

My goal is to work in something related to English in the future. For now, I am interested in options such as travel agencies, tour guiding, or foreign trade and sales positions that involve a lot of contact with other countries. Whatever path I take, knowing English will be a great tool. With that conviction, I want to keep studying.

Of course, learning English has no end. As I also felt in Cebu, if you settle for having reached the point of speaking a little, growth stops. That is why, with the awareness that “this experience taught me how to learn,” I want to keep making an effort continuously.

Even so, what I gained through this experience abroad was not only an English level.

The ability to enjoy contact with different countries and cultures, meeting other people and changes of environment. The importance of living each day to the fullest. And the courage to face new challenges without fear of failing. All of this has become an irreplaceable treasure for me for life.

Looking back and remembering my stay on Cebu Island, what I felt most strongly was that you don’t need to be perfect; what matters, first of all, is to try to speak.

Before my trip, I was also full of worries, such as “how embarrassing if I get the grammar wrong” or “maybe they’ll laugh at me if my pronunciation sounds strange.” Because I carried the title of foreign languages student, I also felt the pressure of it being taken for granted that I should know how to speak. But by living the experience abroad, I learned firsthand that making a mistake is not in itself something bad.

The teachers, even when I spoke clumsy English, never criticized me or laughed. They encouraged me by saying things like “Good try!” or “That's a good point!”, and gave me the chance to try again and again. Thanks to that, I was able to dare to express myself without fear, and with that constant repetition I gained confidence.

Rather, I think there are as many opportunities to improve as there are mistakes made.

English is not learned only by studying at a desk. You have to really use it and, if you are not understood, say it again in a different way. Learning from the teachers and the local people, getting closer little by little to the correct expression: I think that process is fundamental.

This attitude may apply not only to language but to the rest of life as well. It is not about “becoming perfect before trying,” but about “growing little by little through trying.” These four weeks were a valuable time for adopting that way of thinking.

What I want to tell those who are about to study abroad is that it is a real shame to stay silent for reasons like “I won’t be able to speak anyway” or “others do it better than me.” However little you say, if you have the intention to communicate, the other person will always welcome you. And that first step will always lead toward the future.

There is no “shortcut” to getting to the point of speaking English. But there is a “sure path.”

That path is: trying to express yourself in English in your own words a little every day. And, without fear of making mistakes, actively jumping into every opportunity to learn.

I myself am still halfway there. But my experience in Cebu gave me the chance to feel that speaking English is fun. That is why, from now on, I want to keep moving forward without fear, with a positive attitude and at my own pace.

I sincerely hope that the study abroad experience of each of you becomes a wonderful moment of growth.