learning japanese

[demid]

i remember reading somewhere that cambridge is not a good choice.....

something about cambridge advance classes are equal to the basic classes of other schools...

can anyone confirm this?

 

[dimitri_can]

hi all i know i posted here a few mths back and was thinking of learning jap but my plan fell thru cos my buddy kinda pangsehed me...

got a new buddy now so yay.
anyhow, i've got a friend at Aoba but he's just started so he cant exactly gimme insightful comments. anyone learning there? is it good?

heard wonderful reviews of Ikoma but it seems like for beginner you MUST sign up for 2 terms? which is quite ex huh like 500+? and other school's have only 1 term to complete the beginner stage?

and i had another friend studying at Cambridge but she has since dropped out due to her busy schedule. she said its kinda more relaxed cos there's no tests and stuff... but does anyone know which is the better sch?

im looking for fun lessons that go at a leisure pace... not rushing through everything and with friendly teachers that speak understandable english.

will someone be kind enough to advise? thanks

Ask me then correct le..

Aoba->expensive....

Ikoma->i don't think u need to sign 2 terms...

If u can, go for Ikoma, if u need further help, pm me with your MSN, i'll get back to you. =)

 

[dimitri_can]

i remember reading somewhere that cambridge is not a good choice.....

something about cambridge advance classes are equal to the basic classes of other schools...

can anyone confirm this?

Hey, let's not confirm cambridge with other schools.... It's not fair.....unless u really experience b4... =)

 

[demid]

no biggie....

just something i remember reading somewhere...

only experience i have is with ikoma...haha ☆⌒(＞。≪)



*edit

found where i read it... 4th post

http://sgcafe.com/archive/index.php/t-38031.html

 

[milofloat]

where is ikoma and how much are the course fees?

 

[dimitri_can]

Refer to this site.

http://www.ikoma.com.sg/jcourse/index.htm

 

[chunxi]

how to read the ikoma chart ?
let's say, i want to go for jlpt and i'm a newbie

so is it
Basic 1 (t1, t2), Basic 2 (t1, t2), level 4-a, level 4-b, level 4-c
Intermediate 1 (t1, t2), Intermediate 2 (t1, t2), level 3-a, level 3-b
level 2, level 1

correct ??

 

[PingJun]

how to read the ikoma chart ?
let's say, i want to go for jlpt and i'm a newbie

so is it
Basic 1 (t1, t2), Basic 2 (t1, t2), level 4-a, level 4-b, level 4-c
Intermediate 1 (t1, t2), Intermediate 2 (t1, t2), level 3-a, level 3-b
level 2, level 1

correct ??

I believe level 4-a, level 4-b, level 4-c are the same. If you take JLPT 4 Prepartory Course, I believe you will only go for 1 of them.

P.S. If you are still unsure, you can check with Ikoma.

 

[demid]

IKOMA textbooks:

Basic 1 - minna no nihongo 1-1
Basic 2 - minna no nihongo 1-2

Intermediate 1 - minna no nihongo 2-1
Intermediate 2 - minna no nihongo 2-2

Pre-advance 1 - shin nihongo no chuukyuu

What are the textbooks for the rest of the courses? Anyone know?

o(^^o)(o^^)o

 

[dimitri_can]

Hougang:

Nihongo no Kiso (sister publication of Minna no nihongo)
Beginner 1: L1-10
Beginner 2 : L11-20
Intermediate 1: L21-30
Intermediate 2: L31-40
Advanced 1: L41-50

 

[haroharo]

hello everyone! i'm new here and i'm learning japanese too! taking part time Basic 1 lessons at Ikoma under Gotoh Yuko sensei anyone else under her? she's very nice and funny i enjoy my japanese classes very much and i love my school! I would recommend anyone with a desire to learn japanese to go there. considered and reconsidered many times between bunka and ikoma and went for ikoma in the end. ikoma has shorter waiting times to the next level course than bunka, and a better learning environment too! and the class naming is so cute! the batch i'm in is the 'Japanese food series' batch. I was in yakitori (sat 4.40pm) and is transferring to Soba (sun 10.20) for the new term cos i prefer morning lessons. will miss my conversation and activity 'partner' though! lol xD can anyone tell me more about lessons at ikoma? like if they have any activities we can take part in. i read somewhere that they actually recommend you japanese speaking part time jobs to practise your conversation in the upper levels! has anyone tried this? oh and we don't change teachers as we move up the levels right? andand after one term my nice green ikoma file is full already do we need to get our own new file or will they provide every term? what about ikoma's own tests? what are they like?


so sorry for the many questions and the loongg first post.. this thread is so helpful though!

Erm, I can only answer one of your questions.. 2nd term no green file for you.. same forthe rest of the terms. haha.. must go get your own files.

 

[Kage82]

What school do you guys recommend for learning japanese specifically for taking JLPT2?

 

[dimitri_can]

Ikoma... Class has already started. =(
www.ikoma.com.sg

 

[dimitri_can]

Anyone interested? 1st Jun tickets sold out already.

Itinerary

27th May 10.15am depart Singapore
27th May 8.30pm arrive Japan
Transit @ Hong Kong via Cathay Pacific

1st Jun 11am depart Japan
1st Jun 8am arrive Singapore
Transit @ Hong Kong via Cathay Pacific

Quoted price for Tickets ONLY: SGD$688.
It's not including accomodation and insurance. Only price for tickets and airport tax.

Hotel:
Khaosan-Tokyo

http://www.khaosan-tokyo.com/en/

Prices:

Deadline: 23rd April
Payment of tickets: 25th April
E-ticket will be issued instead

Day 1: Reach Changi Airport, head for Tokyo then rest.
Day 2: Visit the Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Dome City
Day 3: Explore Shibuya/Shinjuku (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3007.html)
Day 4: Explore Shinjuku/ temples
Day 5: Self-exploration
Day 6: Pack up and return home.. =)

Refer to more information on the places here.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html

We won't be buying the Japan Railway Pass as it cost quite expensive.

FAQ:
Q: Any tour guide bringing us along?
A:No tour guide, but i'll try my best to get some friends staying over there to bring us around, if possible... =)

Pls pm me providing your MSN for more details

 

[Wands]

A Better Understanding on Japanese Particles part 1

There are 7 particles being use in the Japanese language. Namely (wa)は, (ga)が, (no)の,(ni)に, (de)で, (he)へ and (wo)を. Let’s get into details of each particle.

The (wa)はis use for introducing new information or use for changing topics. The (wa)は particle can even be use to emphasis certain things. But let’s get down to the basic first. Some people might think that (wa)はis the same meaning as “is”. Some might think that way for easier understanding, but です is much closer to “is” than you would have thought.

As for the (ga)が particle, it is use pretty closely with the (wa)は particle. The (ga)が particle is a subject marker. It is use when both the speaker and the listener are together in the same conversation or situation where it is obvious. Here is an example of introducing new information and using が particle to continue on the subject matter.

But before we get into the example. You might want to study a few new words

でかける、出かける means “to go out of the house”

さいふ、財布 means “purse or wallet”

わすれる、忘れる means “to forget”

Aさん is in the living room while Bさん is in his study room.

Aさん：おかあさん　は でかけた。 -> Mother has left the house

Bさん：この　さいふ　は おかあさん　の でしょう？ -> This purse belong to her right?

Aさん：あ！　おかあさん　が わすれた！ -> Oh no! Mother has forgotten about it!

Let’s analyst!

When Aさん says: おかあさん　は でかけた。Aさん is introducing new information to Bさん. Bさん is in his study room, so he is not aware of it until Aさん told him about it. Therefore は should be use. But assume that Bさん is also in the living room with Aさん, Aさん would have use が instead. The reason is because both could felt or see their mother living the house. Both knows about it, so it is obvious.

Now, Bさん says: この　さいふ　は おかあさん　の でしょう？From here we can see that は is being use again. But this time, its for introducing new information. さいふ is the new information. Take note that the topic on おかあさん is still within the conversation. So now there are 2 subjects within the conversation between Aさん and Bさん.

Finally, Aさん says: あ！　おかあさん　が わすれた！The particle (ga)が is being use here because the topic is already known between the 2 speakers, therefore が should be use here to continue on the subject matter, that is their mother, おかあさん.

More learning information on Japanese

 

[aisugirintea]

ikoma very exp~

 

[xiaocas]

read many forums.. found tt there are quite a few school recommended.. however all seems far away from my house..

currently was considering bunka as it seems to have the fastest teaching speed there.. anyone know of anywhere else that have fast teaching speed also? i wish to acquire basic conversational skills and listening skills within this year.. but i could only take part-time courses..

by the way, may i know are there any basic requirements in order to take business jap?

 

[dimitri_can]

Where ru staying? I think Hougang and Ikoma are quite good.. Both uses about the same textbook.
pm me with ur MSN, if u need more help.

 

[FeNgZhEnG]

read many forums.. found tt there are quite a few school recommended.. however all seems far away from my house..

currently was considering bunka as it seems to have the fastest teaching speed there.. anyone know of anywhere else that have fast teaching speed also? i wish to acquire basic conversational skills and listening skills within this year.. but i could only take part-time courses..

by the way, may i know are there any basic requirements in order to take business jap?

if u lack practise u can be stucked at pre-advanced level quite long in bunka.. like me stuck at pre-ad level nearly 1 yr liao coz lacked practise and i seldom revise my jap..

 

[unfinished07]

read many forums.. found tt there are quite a few school recommended.. however all seems far away from my house..

currently was considering bunka as it seems to have the fastest teaching speed there.. anyone know of anywhere else that have fast teaching speed also? i wish to acquire basic conversational skills and listening skills within this year.. but i could only take part-time courses..

by the way, may i know are there any basic requirements in order to take business jap?

u wanna do all that in 1 year? no such good thing lah, its not so easy