hey I am new in learning japanese...so u prefer ikoma or jcs teaching style?...what is the difference...maybe u give all of us an insight about their teaching style?
I've studied at JCS Japanese Language School Intensive Elementary in 2007 and self studied and sit for the test in 2007 and currently studying JCS Japanese Language School Intermediate and IKOMA Language School Basic II.
JCS
- Cheap
- Big class = know more friends
- Focus on written skills sucn as vocab and grammer
- Pretty senseis
There is this Takamatsu sensei from hokkaido. She is pretty, friendly and speak good english so u wont be afraid if u are not good in Japanese. If u speak in Japanese, she will show u power by speaking in her ‘normal’ speed that even students in advance class (JLPT2) has problems listening.
Quite dry from the observation I saw off many faces, the homework answers are discussed in classes and they don mark the homework. So I have to ask the sensei myself after class to see my answers is it suitable, when is it suitable, why is it not suitable, etc…
IKOMA
- Expensive (around $1K per level)
- Small class (8-18)
- Balanced approach on all aspects of Japanese Language (Written, Listening, Conversational)
- Professional senseis and solid notes
The class is fun and interesting. There are roleplay (1 act as PersonA, 1 act as PersonB) to brush up your Japanese conversational skills as well. Great way to know more friends. If ur class are odd no. people class like me, prepared to partner the sensei like me. So quite stress as my japanese conversation skills quite lousy…. And the ppl I come across are very interested learners… (well it cost $1K leh)
The notes prepared are superb, and they take time to mark ur homework. My sensei will write her comments against my answers and advice should my answer differ from the model answers. Very patient and professional and take time to answer ur questions. You can chat with Native Japanese there if u are friendly enough
As recession is coming, if u are not so interested in Japanese Language and wanna see how is it like, I would recommend JCS…
If u are very interested in Japanese Language unlike me who is sponsored by my friend to accompany the course of study. Choose IKOMA…. Their JLPT classes and notes are super solid from what I see….
Regards
their notes are a plenty and very informative. teachers are good and classes are usually oriented for conservations i feel. maybe more so for the first few levels but now that i'm in advance the writing and reading part starts to kick in. i also have a friend who was studying in jcs so i think that between the 2, jcs would be good for people who want to pick up jap for serious usage like business or people who want to live there. ikoma in a sense seems to be very layed back which is good for leisure learners of all levels. their prep course is power, you can go prep course for 4 without doing basic to do jlpt4 and if you get the cert can just do the 3 prep course and so on. but that is if you really study the notes throughly cause its after all a years syllabus into a few weeks for 3 a year for 2 and 10months for 1. i hope that there was an examination process also to progress between levels cause i seriously think even though i'm in advance now, my jap isn't very good but that maybe just me being lazy and i know many people will kill me if there are exams in place. 
