guage schools in Japan

[mieth]

So I am currently living in Japan and have been attended a very well known language school that is located in takadanobaba for just under a year and it is my honest advice to others not to bother wasting their time. It is nothing but a waste of time. especially for westerners. The classes are very biased in favor of a learning style that suites korean and chinese students. The teachers don't correct improper grammar or word usage when students speak. After discussing this with the head teacher at the school she said that students would be afraid to speak if they were mistakes were corrected. Isn't this the most fundamental requirements for new language learning? well anyway the outcome is that students make the same mistakes over and over again. There are students in my class that still have conjugation issues and aren't improving. But I am not surprised because I am not improving either. The language schools in Japan highly lean towards writing and reading skills compared to listening comprehension and speaking. So after a year of study at 4 hours a day 5 days a week 7000 dollars for tuition I have the wonderful benefit of turning on the tv and being able to understand approximately 15-20 percent. yay. For those that aren't in Japan I would like to at least advise you to be realistic about your goals before you make the same mistake I did attending a language school thinking that I would become fluent.

someone please send me a chipotle burrito......and a slurrpy...cherry flavor.

[sashimidimsum7250]

I gotta admit I was looking into going to language school in Japan for 1 year in the hopes of becoming very proficient at speaking. Thanks for bringing me back down to earth

Seriously though, what's the name of the school you attended?

I was hoping to someday go to this one:
http://www.yamasa.org/index.html

[JonB]

ochazuke I would say that you would have a different experience there. I don't know the school but the fact that it is not in Tokyo you probably have a much greater chance of learning the language. I have been in Tokyo for over 7 years and hardly speak any Japanese at all - very sad

[sashimidimsum7250]

JonB, I'm sure you are downplaying your abilty, but I think I get what you are saying. I'm assuming your job requires you to speak English, and Japanese work hours being what they are, it leaves you with not much time/energy to learn/practice Japanese. Am I totally off?

I was originally thinking I'd go to Japan to work, and learn Japanese that way. But since my Japanese currently is at a low level, I'd have to get a job that only requires English. If I'm speaking English all day, then when am I going to have time to learn Japanese?

Now I'm thinking, I need to go to one of those schools full time. But that brings its own set of problems. Now I need the time and money to pull it off, while at the same time not giving up everything I currently have in my home country. Just getting my employer to give me a leave of absence for 1 year is going to be a challenge.

I think I better stop here before I go off on a huge tangent!

[Psy]

I gotta admit I was looking into going to language school in Japan for 1 year in the hopes of becoming very proficient at speaking. Thanks for bringing me back down to earth

Seriously though, what's the name of the school you attended?

I was hoping to someday go to this one:
http://www.yamasa.org/index.html

My only trip to Japan thus far included a short-term study program there. They're quite rigorous in their teaching: you're encouraged to speak, and any mistakes you make will be gently corrected. The teachers have this amazing ability to lower their speaking level to within your comprehension without coming off as condescending, so if you need to ask a question, you're welcomed to drop by the teacher's office and ask for someone. The work isn't done until you understand the answer-- one time I and two other students were having a problem with a haiku, and it had to have taken 15 minutes to get the answer over the still-tall language wall.

So indeed, the place gets my recommendation. Plus, the gyuudon at the cafe kitsutsuki is splendid.

[JonB]

Actually after I posted my reply above I looked into the Yamasa link more and I like the look of it. I am going to try and see if I can get a one month sabbatical next summer to do one of their summer courses