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I initially chose Baguio as my study destination because of its pleasant climate, which makes it easy to focus on studying, its lower cost compared to other areas, and the availability of one-on-one lessons.

I chose WALES in particular because it caters to working adults. I stayed from October to December, and there were relatively few younger students. Most were professionals, so the atmosphere was always calm, which suited me very well. Additionally, the school is located in the city area, making it easy to go out for shopping or meals on foot, which matched my lifestyle perfectly.

Regarding meals at the cafeteria, the menu was always healthy and nutritionally balanced, and I could eat fresh raw vegetables every morning. The rice was delicious, and it was very convenient that drinking water was always available during the day. The staff were also very attentive, and the dining area was always kept clean. On the other hand, on some days, salad dressing was missing, or the soup felt lukewarm.

For accommodation, I stayed in a private single room. Cleaning was done twice a week, keeping the room consistently clean. Insects were not much of a concern—only occasional small flies appeared. When light bulbs burned out or other issues occurred, the administration responded very quickly, so I felt safe living there. While some signs of wear and tear were noticeable, the rooms were still well-maintained. In some rooms, bedbugs were an issue, and I had to change rooms once, after which there were no problems. Some inconveniences I experienced included power outages and water interruptions caused by typhoons or heavy rain, and the cleaning fee of 180 pesos felt slightly expensive, which could be improved.

I took five classes per day, and I was fortunate to have excellent teachers. I enjoyed and focused on my lessons until the very last day. The teachers were very accommodating to my requests, which allowed me to study effectively. All of them taught carefully and kindly, and tailored their instruction to each student’s level.

Studying English at WALES has helped me improve both my everyday conversation skills and my confidence in speaking. Because you are always asked to explain the meaning of what you say, you gradually develop the ability to give more precise explanations and construct sentences effectively. Additionally, any unknown vocabulary is always clarified, so you rarely move forward without understanding.

In group classes, the teachers make sure that all students have an equal chance to speak. However, if you are placed with classmates who are very assertive, it becomes even more important to actively participate on your own.

I believe WALES is especially suited for those who want to study English in a calm environment, prioritize convenience for shopping and dining out, and want thorough, attentive lessons. If these match your priorities, it is a safe and reliable choice. Even as a beginner, I found the lessons very satisfying. Not only the teachers but also the administrative staff and cafeteria staff were all kind and supportive, which allowed me to focus on my daily English lessons with confidence. Overall, I think WALES is an outstanding language school.

Finally, I sincerely thank everyone at WALES for all their support. I wish all of you continued health and happiness.

As part of my preparation for a working holiday in Denmark, I decided to do a two-country study abroad program in the Philippines based on a recommendation from my agent. When I considered the minimum English skills necessary to live in Denmark, I realized that since I could only work for six months during my working holiday there and costs would be high, choosing the Philippines allowed me to study abroad while keeping travel and tuition expenses relatively affordable.

The biggest reason I chose Baguio among places in the Philippines was the climate. Since I would be going to a cold region right after studying in the Philippines, it was very appealing to stay in an area with minimal temperature differences. Additionally, Baguio’s relatively good safety and the fact that people who choose Baguio tend to be more focused on studying rather than just vacationing were also important factors for me.

I chose WALES because it was highly recommended by my agent, and their reasons matched what I was looking for. The key deciding factor for me was the school’s strong sense of psychological safety. When I actually arrived, there was no gap between expectation and reality. Having Japanese staff on-site gave me a great sense of security, and since the total number of students is relatively small, the staff really know each student well and genuinely care about them. Both teachers and students also tend to know one another, creating an environment where you can always pass by someone with a smile and a greeting, which I thought was wonderful.
The student body tends to be a bit older, with many independent adults who chose their study abroad destination on their own. This created a respectful and supportive environment where everyone helps each other both in their studies and daily life. Additionally, I had heard that the number of Japanese students would be low, and for most of my stay, that was true. Being in an environment where I had no choice but to speak English was a huge factor in improving my language skills.

After actually spending time there, I found WALES’ location to be a major advantage. About a 15-minute walk away, there’s a large mall and a public market. The mall feels similar to a big Aeon mall in Japan—not exactly cheap, but a place where you can shop with confidence. You can find most daily necessities there, so although I brought many things with me, I realized I could have gotten a lot of what I needed right there.

Regarding the school meals, they tend to have a strong influence from Korean and Japanese cuisine. Many students around me brought miso soup or tea because they missed Japanese food and drinks. However, miso soup was served fairly regularly, and the tea provided—Bori-cha—is similar to barley tea and quite drinkable, so many ended up not needing their own and just left it behind when they left.
While there might be some personal preferences and dislikes, overall the meals were clean and tasty enough that I didn’t have any issues with daily life. On weekends, meal tickets are required separately, which I think is a great initiative to reduce food waste. However, because there is a deadline to submit the ticket requests, some people who overslept or went out during the day missed the deadline. I wish there was an online survey or questionnaire format where we could easily indicate whether we wanted meals or not.

Although the building itself wasn’t new, with housekeeping twice a week, the rooms were thoroughly cleaned from corner to corner, allowing me to live in a clean environment. I was also happy that my laundry always came back fluffy and neatly folded. Being free from worries about basic daily needs like food, laundry, and living conditions allowed me to fully focus on my studies.
I stayed in a six-person condominium-style unit with a two-person bedroom. Thanks to my wonderful roommates, I had plenty of opportunities to speak English even at home. We often went out together, explored various places, and had a lot of fun. It was fascinating to experience cultural differences by living with friends from different countries. When my roommates and classmates left, I even cried more than I expected—I had made truly important friends! I’m really glad I chose a shared room.

The teachers were kind and created a relaxed environment where it was okay to make mistakes, so I could study without feeling awkward or pressured. Because of that, I really improved my ability to speak English. What I liked most was that there were many one-on-one lessons. Not only could I focus on studying without worrying about others, but I also had daily 45-minute sessions with the same teacher throughout the program. They helped break the ice each day, which gave me a chance to practice building relationships in English. This was a big help in improving my speaking and communication skills.

Finally, I think the love in this message comes through clearly, but for anyone who wants to learn English at their own pace in a psychologically safe environment, I highly recommend WALES in Baguio! Of course, the studying is great, but the climate is wonderful too. Being in the mountains means there’s lots of nature around, and there are many warm, cheerful, and kind people there. The fruits are cheap and delicious, and there are plenty of places to explore. I believe everyone can enjoy a study abroad experience that perfectly fits their own goals.

It’s an environment where you can try anything without hesitation, so I hope you’ll give it your all and enjoy everything to the fullest!!

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!

I think WALES is the perfect school for people who want to learn English at their own pace.

My initial lesson schedule consisted of four classes in the morning and one in the afternoon. However, after taking four consecutive morning lessons, I found it hard to keep up mentally, so from the next day, I asked to move one lesson to the afternoon. I was very grateful that the school could adjust my schedule flexibly according to my condition.
All the teachers were friendly and conducted lessons tailored to my English level. Moreover, when I shared specific areas I wanted to improve, they provided training that focused on those points. After two months, I became comfortable speaking and listening in English. Learning the structure of English—such as intonation and speaking more fluently—and being able to put it into practice was a valuable outcome of studying locally, and I felt it brought about a big change within me.
In terms of daily life, I stayed during the dry season, so the weather was stable and very comfortable. There was a large shopping mall within walking distance, which made daily life very convenient. I also enjoyed going to nearby massage and Pilates studios, and during long weekends, I took bus trips to explore tourist spots a little farther away. My time outside of studying was just as fulfilling.
Additionally, having Japanese staff on-site meant I could ask questions and confirm school rules in Japanese, which made my stay very reassuring. I highly recommend WALES to anyone who wants to enjoy both learning English and living abroad in a relaxed and balanced way.

My name is Kurumi.
I am 20 years old and from Japan.
I am currently enrolled in the ESL program.

I first learned about Baguio through an agent’s recommendation. However, as I did my own research, I discovered that it offers a good balance of nature and urban convenience, such as having a large mall nearby. That’s why I decided to come to Baguio.

I chose WALES because I was attracted to the quality of the program. I also heard that the number of Japanese students is limited, which I thought would give me more opportunities to speak English.

My favorite facility is my room. I live in a two-person shared room, and it has two desks, making it very convenient. I also enjoy relaxing on the sofa from time to time. It’s a very comfortable space to live in.

Constantly speaking in English has helped me overcome my fear of speaking. Also, listening to English every day has significantly improved my listening skills.

Speaking English is very challenging, but I believe it’s important to keep going at a pace that doesn’t make you hate it. Consistency is key.