Jack's Diary

[jack6251]

Hello Miki

Yes I've been living in Saitama since January but my Japanese is getting worse because I don't have a lot of time to study because I'm very busy. I'm an English teacher and not permitted to speak Japanese at work and sadly I don't have any Japanese people to talk to in conversation. Your lessons helped me a little but japanesepod101.com doesn't prepare you for actually living in Japan. Your lessons are great for visiting Japan but you don't have lessons for daily living in Japan so a lot of study time has been useless really, some of it has helped but overall, you guys just don't have lessons that help people to live in Japan because there are so many things I have encountered since being here that should have been included in Absolute Beginner and Beginner lessons. You teach many useful phrases but little for people coming to Japan to live. There are many language challenges in Japan when arranging an apartment, registering at City Hall, buying items for your apartment and arranging delivery, arranging to make appointments for the gas man, bank accounts and many questions employees will ask you in supermarkets, post offices, banks and daily life you guys don't cover. Also, things such as buying a car or motorcycle and the complexities with that, japanesepod doesn't seem to cover. Also when traveling on trains and buses, nobody speaks so you can't even listen to real Japanese people for practice.

I'll probably use japanesepod a while longer until I can find a class to attend in Saitama.

However, thank you for your help so far.

[community.japanese]

Hi Jack,

Thank you very much for your comment. I'm sorry that you feel JapanesePod101.com lessons didn't prepare you for a "real life" in Japan.
All those topics you listed are great feedback. The list will be helpful if we ever plan to create lessons focusing on learners living in Japan.

Thank you and good luck to your Japanese learning and living in Japan.

Regards,
Miki H
Team JapanesePod101.com