Sample Reflective Essay

"I want other Japanese to have the best opportunities to learn English so they can improve their skills and life."

- Natsuko Hiraoka

My name is Natsuko Hiraoka. I am a mother, and I live in Cebu City in the Philippines with my son, Seiya. I used to be a reporter in Japan, but now I own a preschool in Okayama. Let me tell you a little about Cebu Kids Paradise.

A Short History

After I finished my university education in Japan, I lived and worked in America. While living there, I had great difficulty communicating because my English skills were very poor. Even if I studied how to read and write in English for 6 years in middle school and high school back in Japan, my ability to speak the language was very limited. But as I stayed longer in the U.S., I had to use English to communicate everyday, so my skills improved over time.

However, this made me realize that

Through them, I learned about the beautiful island of Cebu and I observed that they could talk very well in English. I decided to travel to Cebu with my son.

During our trip to Cebu, we learned that the city is well developed and living here is pleasantly affordable. It is a modern city, but it is also surrounded by plenty of beautiful beaches and other natural wonders that are truly like paradise. Plus, Cebuanos are friendly and can speak English well. Most importantly, there are so many good schools for Japanese to learn English in Cebu.

Eventually, we moved to Cebu and I found a great school here for my son. Since then, Seiya’s English skills have greatly improved and he has made a lot of good friends. He is really enjoying his classes and is even learning Tagalog and Cebuano! I am very happy and satisfied with his progress. We have also met other Japanese who are living and studying in Cebu, and they have also shared how helpful the experience has been for them to improve their English.

Mission and