In 2012, the Korean-owned language school \u201cMTM JY Campus\u201d was transferred to Japanese ownership and rebranded as \u201c3D ACADEMY.\u201d Since then, over a decade has passed, and amidst the global rise in demand for English education, our school has grown to become one of the leading English academies in Cebu. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all our students who have chosen us, and to the many partners who have supported us along the way.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the pandemic starting in 2020 had a tremendous impact on the language school industry. 3D ACADEMY was forced to temporarily close in March 2020 and remained shut for 2 years and 4 months until reopening in July 2022. Having left a major financial institution in my early 30s to start a business, I had experienced steady growth\u2014but the pandemic brought the greatest hardship I had ever faced.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, I am deeply grateful to the teachers and staff who stood by us through those difficult times, the business partners who supported us even during the closure, and the study abroad agencies who quickly resumed sending students once we reopened.<\/p>\n
Looking back, my first encounter with a language school in Cebu was when I was around 40 years old, preparing for my MBA and trying to improve my IELTS speaking score. I enrolled in MTM UV Campus, the predecessor to 3D ACADEMY. It was between 2011 and 2012 when I was staying long-term in Cebu and planning to move to Singapore that I was unexpectedly offered the chance to acquire MTM JY Campus. I still believe it was fate.<\/p>\n
Although I studied abroad in New Zealand for three months during university, I was essentially a domestic Japanese speaker. Through my MBA experience, I personally realized how challenging it is to learn English as an adult. That\u2019s why I firmly believe in learning English as early as possible. My two daughters studied abroad in high schools in the UK and Australia, and seeing them now thrive in English-speaking careers confirms that we made the right decision.<\/p>\n
One of the most significant changes before and after the pandemic is undoubtedly the rise of AI. We\u2019ve witnessed the spread of the internet, then smartphones, and now we are in the era of artificial intelligence. Machine translation has improved dramatically, and numerous AI-powered English learning apps and platforms have emerged. Online English lessons have also evolved, offering more advanced and customized learning experiences.<\/p>\n
In this new era, the ability to “use English + something extra” will be key, and mastering AI will be a critical skill. I believe this is the perfect time for 3D ACADEMY to evolve as well.<\/p>\n
We consider 2025 to be the \u201cAI First Year\u201d for our school. We plan to harness AI not only for marketing and content creation, but also to enhance our curriculum, streamline operations, and reduce costs across the board.<\/p>\n
That said, one of our greatest strengths remains our warm, personalized support system. While we continue to innovate with AI, we will also preserve and improve our human-centered approach. Our team remains committed to supporting our students’ English learning and new possibilities with sincerity and care.<\/p>\n