An Environment Where English Comes Naturally
Hi, I’m Saori. It’s been three and a half years since our family moved to Penang, Malaysia, for education. Since my eldest daughter Hikari (born 2018) and son Zen (born 2020) started at an international school, I’ve been amazed every day by how their English has changed.
Back in Japan, I used to send them to an English class once a week, but I was never sure if they were even enjoying it. Here in Penang, English has become a natural part of daily life—it just seeps in.
Practical English Learned Through Play
At Hikari’s school, English is spoken not only during lessons but also at break time. In the first few months, she couldn’t understand the teacher’s instructions and sometimes came home in tears.
But kids are incredibly resilient. Through playing with friends, she naturally picked up phrases like “Can I play?” and “My turn!”
The other day, Hikari brought home a craft she made at school and proudly showed it to me, saying, “Look, Mommy! I made this by myself!” It was a complete English sentence with no Japanese mixed in.
Zen is no slouch either. Born in 2020, he’s adapted to English even faster than Hikari. Seeing him cheerfully greet his teacher every morning with “Good morning, teacher!” really drives home how powerful the environment is.
English Support at Home
Honestly, I feel uneasy just leaving everything to the school. At home, we make a conscious effort to create opportunities for English exposure.
Using Picture Books and Videos
After dinner, we set aside time to read English picture books. Hikari loves the Oxford Reading Tree series, and she gains confidence with every level she moves up.
We also choose English content for tablet videos. Watching “Peppa Pig” and “Blippi” in English on YouTube Kids has helped phrases naturally roll off their tongues.
Learning Together as Parents
I myself restarted studying English after moving to Malaysia. All the school notices and parent meeting information are in English. At first, I was glued to a dictionary.
Now, I can communicate with the teachers in English. Growing alongside my children—that’s one of the greatest joys of education migration.
The Golden Age for Language Acquisition
It’s said there’s a “critical period” for language learning. Especially between ages 3 and 12, children can absorb a new language like their mother tongue.
Hikari is now 7—right in the middle of this golden age. A bilingual environment has naturally formed: she uses English at school and Japanese at home.
Keeping Japanese Alive
That said, maintaining Japanese is also an important challenge. At home, we basically speak Japanese. On weekends, we watch Japanese anime together or practice hiragana.
Hikari has learned to switch between “English at school, Japanese at home.” This ability to code-switch will surely serve her well in the future.
Cost of Improving English Skills
When considering education migration, cost is a big concern. The current exchange rate is 1 MYR = 39.77 JPY (as of June 9, 2026).
Annual tuition at international schools in Penang ranges from about 400,000 to 800,000 JPY (roughly $2,700 to $5,400 USD), depending on the school. That’s less than half the cost of an international school in Japan.
Plus, expenses for home English learning materials and online conversation lessons are much lower than in Japan.
Summary: The Environment Transforms Children
When we decided on education migration, my biggest worry was, “Will my child adjust to the new environment?” But once we actually arrived in Penang, I realized that children’s adaptability far exceeds what adults imagine.
The improvement in English isn’t due to any special teaching method. It’s because using English has become a normal part of everyday life.
Our youngest daughter Yukari is only 1.5 years old. By the time she starts speaking, she’ll be in an environment where both English and Japanese come naturally. I’m really looking forward to watching her grow.
If you’re interested in education migration, I encourage you to visit Penang. I’m sure you’ll experience the moment when your child’s potential opens up.
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