Period: September 14 – October 11, 2025
School: TARGET Global English Academy (Cebu, Philippines)
📍 Google Maps
★ Why I Chose the Philippines #
I chose to study in the Philippines because the cost-performance ratio for learning English here is incredibly high. You can take multiple one-on-one lessons each day at a reasonable price, which would be unthinkable in most other countries.
★ Why I Chose Target Academy #
Target is a Japanese-managed language school, which was exactly what I wanted. Since I also plan to work in Japan in the future, I thought it would be a great opportunity to make Japanese friends, learn more about their culture, and improve both my English and cross-cultural communication skills at the same time.
★ My Daily Class Schedule #
From Monday to Thursday, my day started at 8:30 a.m. with a vocabulary test, followed by seven lessons. On Friday, there was no test — just regular classes starting from 9:00 a.m.
| Time | Class / Teacher | Room | Contents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 - 9:00 (Mon–Thu) | Vocabulary Test | Daily words review | |
| 9:00 - 9:45 | Power Speaking (Group) | G-07 | Group discussion & presentation |
| 9:55 - 10:40 | Kyla | B-07 | Talk Talk Talk 1 |
| 10:50 - 11:35 | Stella | B-11 | Speak Your Mind 1 & 2 |
| 11:45 - 12:30 | — | — | Free time (break / lunch / review) |
| 13:30 - 14:15 | Ricca | B-15 | Listening practice |
| 14:25 - 15:10 | Mae | D-33 | Reading Advantage 1 |
| 15:20 - 16:05 | Maris | B-09 | Engoo Daily News discussion |
| 16:15 - 17:00 | Pronunciation (Group) | G-09 | Mastering the American Accent |
★ Impressive Teachers #
Each teacher had their own unique charm:
- Kyla – Very cheerful and talkative; her class felt like chatting with a friend.
- Stella – Her lessons were fast-paced and always challenging, pushing me to improve quickly.
- Ricca – Gentle and patient, she carefully corrected my pronunciation and grammar mistakes.
- Mae – More like a friend than a teacher, I could talk with her about anything.
- Maris – Friendly but strict when needed. Her Engoo News class helped me build confidence in expressing opinions.
- Group classes (Power Speaking & Pronunciation) – Great for meeting new students and practicing public speaking.
★ Memorable Weekends #
◇First Weekend (Sep 19–21) #
On Friday, after finishing my classes, I joined my Japanese friend’s graduation ceremony. We took photos, had dinner, and planned to go shopping, but heavy rain ruined our plan. Instead, we played billiards until he left for Japan around 10 p.m.—I felt really sad. Later, another friend invited me for drinks. We played some drinking games, and it turned out to be a really fun night.
On Saturday, I woke up late because I was drunk the night before. After lunch, I tried studying but couldn’t focus. In the afternoon, my roommate and I visited a Christian church, though the traffic was terrible. At night, I had dinner with friends, sang karaoke at PINK CEBU, and went clubbing(CEBU ICON) until 1 a.m.—such a crazy night.
On Sunday, I woke up late again, had lunch, and studied in the self-study room. In the evening, I did some laundry and continued studying quietly. It was a simple but peaceful end to the weekend.
◇Second Weekend (Sep 27–28) #
I misunderstood a Japanese classmate, Mana — I thought there was something more between us, but actually, we were just friends. Still, that experience taught me an important lesson: sometimes you have to be proactive and take the first step, even if things don’t go as expected.
◇Third Weekend (Oct 3–5) #
On Friday night, I went to a bar with Jack (China), Zoom (China), A-Fei (Taiwan), and Winnie (Taiwan). On the way to get a massage, Winnie and I talked about what happened between me and Mana last weekend. She was like a love advisor, and her words made me realize I had misunderstood Mana.
When we arrived, the massage shop was fully booked, so Winnie made a reservation for 2 p.m. the next day. The next afternoon, we went together, and it was incredibly relaxing — a full-body massage for only 400 pesos!
After returning to school, I was playing billiards with A-Fei when Mana invited us to dinner(Maroo Korean Restaurant). During dinner, I apologized to her for my misunderstanding. Back at the dorm, I prepared for my Japanese Nursing Care Skills exams scheduled for Sunday.
On Sunday, I went alone to Centro Maximo Bldg., Room 308, to take the two exams. I passed the first one (Nursing Care Skills Evaluation Test in Chinese) but failed the second (Japanese Language Evaluation Test in Japanese). After the exams, I went shopping at H&M Home in Ayala Center Cebu, bought a pair of gray jeans, and studied again after returning to school. It was a perfect way to end the weekend.
★ Reflection #
After a month of studying abroad, I realized that my English had improved, but the real growth went far beyond language. I learned how to connect with people from different cultures, how to express myself, and how to face my own shortcomings honestly.
Life at Target was like a small society — studying, misunderstanding, communicating, apologizing, and then moving forward. It wasn’t always easy, but every moment helped me grow.
When I left Cebu, I quietly told myself:
“Next time I set out, it won’t just be to learn a language — it will be to become a more complete person.”
