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What are your options for studying Japanese in Japan?

This year, I will study Japanese very hard. Also, cat videos do not count as studying, even if they are Japanese cat videos.

By 5 min read 11

If you have made a new year’s resolution to start studying Japanese and you are getting a little tired of spouting “sumimasen” whenever it seems appropriate, or would like to go to experience a confusion-free trip to the supermarket, now is the time to get to grips with the language.

With somewhere between 2000 to 3000 kanji in common use and many with several different readings, Japanese is undoubtedly daunting. It can be hard to know where to start or even how to go about it. The answer, of course, depends on your situation – available time and funds – and your personality including how you learn, why you’re learning and what motivates you.

So let’s get acquainted with the options.

Studying Japanese at a Language School

A Japanese language school is probably the first thing you think of when considering learning a language. This isn’t a cheap option with fees in Tokyo ranging from ¥65,000 to upwards of ¥300,000 a month, not including living costs. If you have the time and funds, however, attending regular classes are a way to ensure your learning stays on track.

There are vast differences between and within the schools that are out there, with classes geared at becoming conversational, gaining fast-track business level or passing the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).

As someone who has trained in teaching English as a foreign language, I cannot stress enough the importance of teaching style. First and foremost, make sure that your class is a language immersion class for learning the language as intuitively as possible. Secondly, if possible, try to sit on classes from a couple of schools to see what the teaching style is like. The pace and process of teaching, as well as the workload, varies greatly, and you need to select a learning environment that fits your learning style.

Where?

Japanese Private Tutors

If you don’t have the time or funds for a language school, private tutors may be a good choice to keep your studies on track, with fees starting from just ¥2000 per hour. One-to-one lessons naturally entail a lot fewer hours of contact time but are more concentrated in their focus, allowing you to hone in on specific material. They often suit those who like to ask questions and sometimes find a classroom environment too restrictive.

The one thing that many current and former Japanese language students stress is the importance of the teacher. This doesn’t just include liking them as a person but entails thinking critically about how far their teaching methods are actually advancing your learning.

Where?

  • Student-teacher introduction websites
  • International cultural exchange centers – check any noticeboards for adverts
  • Japanese teacher training schools – this is a cheap option as trainee teachers are keen to practice

Conversation Classes/Language Exchange Partners

Conversation classes, which are often run free of charge by volunteers, are a great way to ensure that you tackle topics that you might not otherwise in your daily interactions. However, make sure the structure of the class enables you to speak with different conversation partners in order to experience a variety of levels and ensure maximum exposure to new topics, vocabulary and grammatical structures.

Language exchange partners are very popular as a way to make friends as well as practice a language in a more informal environment. Pay close attention to the level of your speaking partner and the balance of English (or your native language) to Japanese. If your partner speaks better English than you do Japanese, the conversation will naturally be weighted towards the former. Reflect regularly on whether the balance of languages is approaching 50:50!

Where?

  • Language exchange introduction websites
  • Meet-up sites – these also include a variety of interests and hobbies (eg. CouchSurfing and Meetup).
  • Ward offices – many run activities and classes for foreign residents

Teach Yourself Japanese with Self Study

All of the above study methods are underpinned by one inescapable fact: you have to sit on a chair and patiently tackle Japanese every day. And yes, your butt will probably get a little numb. It’s essential that you have a reason for studying that you can keep reminding yourself of – it’ll be your focus for staying motivated and on track.

One great thing about studying whilst living in Japan is that you are constantly surrounded by the language. So maybe, just maybe, you can count those Japanese cat videos or video games as listening practice. And hanging out in bars could definitely be classed as essential conversation practice.

Here at GaijinPot we have a ton of resources related to studying Japanese in Japan. Check out our Learn page for related articles, as well as the Study Japanese tag. Over at GaijinPot Study, we’ve got original study materials created by learners just like you!

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  • sachin says:

    Looking for Weekend Japanese school. Can you please assist.

  • maulinator says:

    best way is to find yourself a Japanese significant other….
    make sure he/she does not speak English or other foreign languages.
    stop going to places with foreigners, like Roppongi at night…..
    or go deep into the country, Okayama or some other backwater.
    or pick a fight with a cop, make sure you get arrested and go to jail!
    the best way to learn Japanese is to immerse yourself in sitautions where you are forced to rely on it or receive bodily harm……!

  • Fintasys says:

    I’ve been 6 months in Tokyo, before I came here I couldn’t speak japanese, I knew some grammar and some vocabulary only. So I studied everyday in train vocabulary and gramma and l live in a share house with many japanese people. It was laike a bootcamp and meanwhile I can say the most things in japanese. After 4 months my head get used to the language and I started to recognize the words when japanese people speaking. I have to go back to Germany now, but I will continue learning japanese to be better when I come back to Japan!

  • Auralynn Nguyen says:

    I will be on my way to Tokyo for a few months and plan on taking one-on-one classes to improve my Japanese. Are there any options for a long-term visitor (like myself) to teach someone English one-on-one in Japan?

    • LinguaJunkie.com says:

      What’s the visa? Working holiday? As long as you can get a work permit, you can definitely each one-on-one English at many places. A tourist visa might not be so attractive eikaiwas to hire you. There’s also craigslist!

  • Andrzej Dzirba says:

    hi, would you be able to recommend a school which would help with accommodation, or even have a dorm or a student house?

  • William Schmid says:

    Im currently a student at a university in ogaki. Before getting enrolled as a actual student I enrolled into our schools special japanese language learning program. During my one year of nonstop japanese study our class went through almost the whole Minna no nihongo series. I recommend this not just because its my favorite but its easy to understand and great for rote studying. Good luck to those planning on studying abroad its been almost 2years now and its still a jet coaster of surprises.

  • ^_^ says:

    Do you mind sharing any japanese textbooks you used while learning?

    • Mike B says:

      Minna no Nihongo. Genki 1 and 2, Tae Kim’s Grammar Guide (free), and にほんごチャレンジN4[文法と読む練習](explicitly for JLPT N4).

  • Valerie J Brown (Cheers) says:

    Learning is a lifetime process and thanks for this interesting blog Phoebe Amoroso!

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