I started to enjoy traveling abroad after I began working full-time. Before that, although I was interested in other countries, I had never actually traveled overseas, so it didn’t feel very familiar to me. Once I did, I was able to experience different cultures and meet people from various backgrounds, and I quickly fell in love with traveling abroad.
However, because I couldn’t speak English at all, I had to rely on body language and enthusiasm to get by. I didn’t like that, and it made me want to study English. Still, studying felt overwhelming, and while working every day, I couldn’t find the time to study on my own. That’s why I decided to place myself in an environment where I could truly focus on learning English and ultimately chose to study abroad.
I chose the Philippines, specifically Baguio, as my study-abroad destination because I learned through my research that it is more affordable than other countries and offers a comfortable environment with relatively few Japanese students.
I then chose WALES because it perfectly matched what I was looking for: a strong focus on one-on-one classes, a small number of Japanese students, and clean, well-maintained rooms. While many people decide on a school after consulting with an agent, I personally researched language schools in the Philippines one by one and ultimately chose WALES.
That was something I was really happy about. Another important point for me was being able to maintain a comfortable standard of living. To be honest, compared to Japan, many places overseas can feel less clean. However, I truly felt that the school makes a strong effort to provide a living environment that meets the standards of students from Japan and other countries.
My room was cleaned twice a week, I never had issues with insects, and all three daily meals were delicious—so much so that it almost felt like a waste to eat out. Even my laundry came back cleaner than when I do it myself in Japan. Living in such a comfortable environment honestly made me feel like I didn’t want to go home.
When it comes to my English skills, I started at a level where I could barely handle even junior high school English—partly because I didn’t really study when I was in Japan, to be honest (laughs). At first, I couldn’t understand a single thing my teachers or the people around me were saying.
However, little by little, I began to understand the English spoken by my teachers and other students. I found myself asking people to repeat things less often, and the words I wanted to say started coming to mind more quickly. Even though the progress was gradual, I was able to clearly feel my own improvement.
Outside of school, I enjoyed exploring Baguio. One of the great things about WALES is its location—you can walk to Baguio’s largest park, many of the main restaurants, and a large shopping mall (SM Mall). Because the area is safe, I felt comfortable going out to explore on my own or with friends from school, both during the day and at night.
I believe WALES is the perfect match for people who are looking for a school with many one-on-one classes, a location that isn’t overly urban but is still very convenient, a relaxed learning environment where you can study at your own pace rather than in a strict or intense setting, clean facilities, affordable tuition, a cool climate, and a school with relatively few Japanese students.
Choosing WALES was absolutely the right decision for me. I truly hope that everyone who reads this will have a study-abroad experience they won’t regret!
