Cebu Island Stay: Proof of Growth

Everyone desires growth. And surely, everyone wishes to keep growing. We set clear goals, move straight toward them, and hope to achieve them someday.

That is how I have thought, acted, and lived my life.

Imagine a goal that starts in a state where you are faced with a huge challenge—something so massive that it seems impossible to overcome. You feel a sense of frustration so deep that you don't know where to begin.

What do you do in such a situation?

I am currently staying at an English language school in Cebu, Philippines. The levels of the students who have come to learn English vary widely. Since they are here to learn, there are very few advanced students; most are beginners or intermediate.

Among the beginners, there are even 'super-beginners.' Today, I would like to think about these super-beginners.

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For super-beginners, the wall in front of them is so large that they don't know what to do. Since the English teachers cannot speak Japanese, all lectures are conducted in English.

The English taught to super-beginners is at a super-introductory level. It is all material that anyone who has received English education in Japan and at least graduated from high school could easily answer.

However, the language being used to teach is English. While they understand the grammar as Japanese concepts, there is a very high hurdle when it is taught in English.

Now, how can a super-beginner feel the 'proof of growth' regarding their goals of 'wanting to be able to understand spoken English' and 'wanting to be able to speak English fluently'?

I found an interesting illustration. Please look at the illustration below.

Currently, the super-beginner is in the 'NOW' state. The stone in front of them is so large that they don't even realize it is a stone. Even if they are told to roll it, all they see is a massive castle wall, so they don't know what to do.

Every day, they are exhausted and worn out from being showered in English. Even when the teacher gives them homework, they don't even understand that homework has been assigned. It seems they spend every day in such a state, feeling miserable.

Strangely enough, after a week, they begin to realize that the massive castle wall that was in front of them is actually a stone that can somehow be moved. 'In a Week' expresses this realization.

This change is a very big deal. They have realized that what they thought was a wall—when they couldn't see the big picture at all—is actually just a stone.

They have come to understand that 'maybe, if I try hard enough, it's a size I can move.'

This is the very proof of growth.

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Furthermore, after one month has passed (In a Month)
It actually looked like a small pebble.

It is an insignificant pebble. It is the size of a pinch.

"Huh, a pebble???"

To think that a month ago, a massive castle wall had transformed into a small pebble.

No,

What changed was not the stone, but you.

This is the very proof of growth!

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The massive castle wall refers to the English the teacher is speaking. You will notice that after about a month, that English naturally becomes audible. You can chat for an hour and speak without even realizing that you were speaking English.

The massive castle wall has not changed. That is because the English the teacher is speaking is the same as it was a month ago. It is your change, from a state of not being able to understand to a state of being able to understand.

This change is the very proof of growth!

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I wrote this article using English listening skills as the subject. This applies to all the various tasks I have been dealing with.

My own skill acquisition experiences and success stories can all likely be explained by this illustration.

I am currently learning English as a student, but 10 years ago, I was a super, super, super beginner. I can understand the struggles of my super-beginner friend, whom I wrote about in this subject, as if they were my own. After all, I was the same way.

My English level has not yet reached the pebble stage. Even so, it has become a size that I can hold in both hands.

The timeline can be In a Month, In a Year, or In a few Years. It changes depending on the difficulty of the task.

Perhaps I am in Cebu to confirm the proof of that growth.