Support NeoGAF

[bobafett]

Well,

I'm learning japanese right now with a private teacher. It's been kind of difficult in the beginning, but my passion for the language, the culture and the country will prevail! ;-)

I'm planning to go to Japan to have an immersion soon. I'd like to ask:

1) One month studying japanese intensively (maybe 6 hours a day) helps a lot in a beginner's fluency?

2) What cities do you recommend for studying?

3) Any schools that are worth attending? Any idea of average prices for an intensive course?

Any advices are welcome.

Thanks a lot.

 

[hXc_thugg]

Any advices will be listened carefullly.

Learn English first, maybe! LOLZ AM I RITE?

Unless of course English isn't your first language either.

 

[bobafett]

Very funny. Now I can wait for the serious replies.

 

[kumanoki]

Well,

I'm learning japanese right now with a private teacher. It's been kind of difficult in the beginning, but my passion for the language, the culture and the country will prevail! ;-)

I'm planning to go to Japan to have an immersion soon. I'd like to ask:

1) One month studying japanese intensively (maybe 6 hours a day) helps a lot in a beginner's fluency?

2) What cities do you recommend for studying?

3) Any schools that are worth attending? Any idea of average prices for an intensive course?

Any advices will be listened carefully.

Thanks a lot.

1. Studying six hours a day will definitely help a lot, but don't forget to experience the culture and hospitality while you're here. Half of immersion is using what you study.

2. I would recommend finding a place that's close enough to a major metropolitan area to go shopping/clubbing/sightseeing, yet far enough away that you will use what you learn in everyday life.

3. I really don't know. I know that English classes go for about thirty dollars per class, but I have friends here who study every week for free through a city-sponsored Japanese class.

Good luck!

 

[Oichi]

City-sponsored classes are good,and happen about 4 times a week. They're also free, so hey, you got that going for you. Right now, I'm doing a combination of a private teacher for Japanese, and then city classes immediately after. It works pretty well, although because of my private teacher, I'm contemplating going to another class because my current one is just dreadfully boring (too simple)

 

[bobafett]

City-sponsored classes are good,and happen about 4 times a week. They're also free, so hey, you got that going for you. Right now, I'm doing a combination of a private teacher for Japanese, and then city classes immediately after. It works pretty well, although because of my private teacher, I'm contemplating going to another class because my current one is just dreadfully boring (too simple)

Interesting. What cities do offer sponsored classes and how can I have more information about that?

 

[Manabanana]

How old are you, if you don't mind me asking.

 

[bobafett]

How old are you, if you don't mind me asking.

28. Why?

 

[Manabanana]

Well, if you were still in high school I could have directed you to a really great immersion program here in the US. They do adult courses, but they only run for a weekend, I think.

Here's the program, just in case you're interested.

http://www.cord.edu/dept/clv/

I attended one four-week session of the Japanese program, and it was amazing. I've worked with the program for the past two years as kitchen staff, too.

 

[bobafett]

Well, I think I'm a bit old for that, but thanks anyway.

 

[Oichi]

Most major areas have it. Yokohama, Kawasaki, etc. Hell, even my little ward named Takatsu-ku has two of them. Just go to the ward office for your area and you can pick up a flyer.

The only warning I'll give is that you MUST know katakana and hiragana if you want to progress quickly. I assume you already do know it, but it's just a warning, because there are several students in my Japanese class (it's been going on for almost two months) who still can't read hiragana or katakana properly. :\

 

[Pachinko]

I'd reccomend atleast trying to learn Katakana and Hiragana if you haven't allready started doing so. You really want to know atleast those 2 alphabets. Even if you can't nessecarilyy understand what it is you're reading atleast you can say it and learn how to speak it or something.