learning japanese

[LOVExDESTINY]

Hello I'm planning to join Inoue's classes. Does anyone studied there before? Isit good?

 

[dimitri_can]

Hi, i recommend you go to Hougang or Ikoma... Hougang-cheap, and good. Ikoma-accessible and good, but expensive...

Alternatively, i recommend u do self studying...

http://japanese.meetup.com/7/messages/boards/view/viewthread?thread=3886441

Hougang's website: http://japaneselanguage.client.jp/

Ikoma's website: http://www.ikoma.com.sg/jcourse/class.htm

Anything dunno can MSN me for help. =)

 

[the_gryffindor]

Hi guys,

I know much has been made about it's patented teaching system. However, I still have doubts about it because of its short lessons.

Ikoma has about 60hours of lesson for Beginner 1 or 2
but Bunka has only 24 hours. The difference is more than 50%. I am contemplating between the two.

I heard that Bunka churns out students who are really proficient in Jap cos of their focus on the different verb conjugations while other schools like Ikoma, many students still couldn't converse properly with a Jap after finishing the course.

I hope someone who's studied with Bunka can answer me.

 

[dimitri_can]

Hi guys,

I know much has been made about it's patented teaching system. However, I still have doubts about it because of its short lessons.

Ikoma has about 60hours of lesson for Beginner 1 or 2
but Bunka has only 24 hours. The difference is more than 50%. I am contemplating between the two.

I heard that Bunka churns out students who are really proficient in Jap cos of their focus on the different verb conjugations while other schools like Ikoma, many students still couldn't converse properly with a Jap after finishing the course.

I hope someone who's studied with Bunka can answer me.

Hi,
If you go to this website of Bunka: http://www.bunkalang.com/evaluation.shtml

and http://www.bunkalang.com/courses_details.shtml

You would see that in Elementary 1, what they study, i believe is less than Ikoma's Beginner 1. Also, the time needed to move on to JLPT 3, is longer... i guess. It's best you check it out with the schools to find out what they are learning.

 

[LOVExDESTINY]

hmm . then which schools have classes which are small sized?
I think small sized classes are better as the teacher can pay more attention to each student .

 

[dimitri_can]

Depends... Small sized classes doesn't mean it's better... It depends on the teacher..

 

[skizzi]

I still cant decide which one i should go to. bunka/inoue/ikoma. the rest too far or too long like the JCS or hougang one...

 

[kitsura]

I still cant decide which one i should go to. bunka/inoue/ikoma. the rest too far or too long like the JCS or hougang one...

If it's just beginner or intermediate level go to Hougang. It's the cheapest and no school can do what others can't at those levels.

 

[dimitri_can]

Hi, from an JLPT 2 guy.
My replies in blue..

For those of you out there who are more experience, can you guys tell me if JCS is the correct choice for me? My criteria for the school that I want to study in is :-

->Depends how you see it. Different schools have different focus. I myself felt that JCS Beginner is not so good because they kinda jump topics, you see.. =(
You might want to check this thread in this Japanese meetup site.. =)

http://japanese.meetup.com/7/messages/boards/view/viewthread?thread=3950129


(A) Not too far from the west
(B) Not too expensive
(C) Covers extensive foundations
(D) Has good teachers who are proficient in english/chinese and are willing to spend more time outside the class to help the students
(E) Able to get to JLPT 1 within 3 years if I work hard enough

Let me say something. IMHO, JLPT 1 is not something that you can achieve in 3 years.. Ultimately, if you just wanna get the cert, but not be able to speak well, that can be achievable... So decide what u want... Cert? Speak well?

I went to the JLPT website and saw that they have the intensive course for beginners which is like half the time needed to complete in comparison to the normal ones. I am quite deterred by the fact that the whole course for JCS is 5 years. I have not check with the other schools on their total course duration to get to JLPT 1.

->JCS is 5 yrs because JLPT 2 course is 2 yrs.. Trust me, JLPT 2 is killing enough.

Just some info on myself. I'm currently serving NS and I'm able to take a part-time course in the evening, but the school must be near the west side to facilitate my commute. Also since I'm serving the NS, my pay's not that great, (I'm still a PTE, but hell yea my life in the camp is shiok, blow aircon and sleep all day!) thus the fees should'nt be too exorbitant. I really want to make use of my time during my NS years and do not want to continue another 3 years after NS to get JLPT 1. I still want to continue my pursue of audio engineering or graphic design after my NS and go to Japan one day. If by then I'm like in my 30ish, that would be too long.

->I would suggest you take JLPT 3 and 4 during your 2 years, get a good foundation(trust me, it's very important to get a new foundation) once you are ready, move on to JLPT 2 studies and when u come out, go take the cert for JLPT 2.

Edit: I'm heading down to JCS tomorrow to check things out, and see if I can get a spot at the intensive course for beginners.

Contact me via MSN if you need help yea? =)
Good luck!

 

[dimitri_can]

Hi, if u study in Japan, it's possible... Because the whole environment is talking Japanese... Don't get me wrong, i didn't say JCS does not have a good foundation in basics... I said they jump topics... Let me clarify myself.

E.g: Adjectives is taught in Lesson 8 in Ikoma and Hougang, but in JCS, they teach it in Lesson 1 or 2... So it depends how u see it...

Actually, if u want cheap and good, i recommend Hougang. =)

I've pm u my MSN. =)

Do check out Hougang's syllabus for more info.


http://japaneselanguage.client.jp/
http://japaneselanguage.client.jp/hougang_d_lesson.html

Disclaimer: I am not a promoter for Hougang... I just stating what i know.

 

[dimitri_can]

Hihi, how about the Alexander branch of Hougang Japanese Language Sch? It's at Queensway

 

[unfinished07]

Hi, from an JLPT 2 guy.
My replies in blue..



Contact me via MSN if you need help yea? =)
Good luck!

not really....

i took up japanese course in Ikoma, and took the JLPT 1 exam after 2 years of studying, but full time. although i failed in my 1st try, by just a few marks, it is definitely possible to get JLPT 1 in 3 years, with an ability to handle conversations well in japanese. i have some friends who got their JLPT 2, and JLPT 1 in 2 years, both at their 1st tries.

so if u have the time, it is possible to get it in 3 years.

For aionang, as he is in NS now, maybe he can take part time courses now, and after NS chiong his JLPT full time courses while taking part time jobs. i did the same.

as for the ability to write and speak well, other than the cert alone, its up to oneself to practise. it really helps alot to have japanese friends where u can practise with them. in this way, u can improve very fast.

 

[dimitri_can]

not really....

i took up japanese course in Ikoma, and took the JLPT 1 exam after 2 years of studying, but full time. although i failed in my 1st try, by just a few marks, it is definitely possible to get JLPT 1 in 3 years, with an ability to handle conversations well in japanese. i have some friends who got their JLPT 2, and JLPT 1 in 2 years, both at their 1st tries.

so if u have the time, it is possible to get it in 3 years.

For aionang, as he is in NS now, maybe he can take part time courses now, and after NS chiong his JLPT full time courses while taking part time jobs. i did the same.

as for the ability to write and speak well, other than the cert alone, its up to oneself to practise. it really helps alot to have japanese friends where u can practise with them. in this way, u can improve very fast.

I think it varies for different ppl loh... For me, earning that cert, is not just earning that cert alone, is the ability to be able to explain the use of the grammer to fellow JLPT takers. 自分の意見だけ、But seriously speaking, given a JLPT 1/2 grammer, will you be able to explain the use, when to use it,differentiating b/w other similar ones?

I gave this question to my fellow members in my Japanese club, got different answers, but not many can give me the best answers,i think not even a Japanese teacher can give me a good answer, unless those senior ones..... 失礼します。

自動詞と他動詞は
１）どう違いますか
２）一番簡単な見分ける方法を教えてくれてお願いします

1級卒者の能力をみせてくれてお願いします。

 

[terraj]

I might be missing something but I'm not so sure whats so difficult about this question?
自動詞=intransitive verb -- a verb that requires a subject but does not require an object.
Another way of looking at it is that it refers to an action that does not require initiation from an agent. The subject is the recipient of the action.
他動詞=transitive verb -- a verb that requires both a subject and an object. Requires an agent to initiate the action. The object is the recipient of the action.

I gave this question to my fellow members in my Japanese club, got different answers, but not many can give me the best answers,i think not even a Japanese teacher can give me a good answer, unless those senior ones..... 失礼します。

自動詞と他動詞は
１）どう違いますか
２）一番簡単な見分ける方法を教えてくれてお願いします

1級卒者の能力をみせてくれてお願いします。

 

[dimitri_can]

I might be missing something but I'm not so sure whats so difficult about this question?
自動詞=intransitive verb -- a verb that requires a subject but does not require an object.
Another way of looking at it is that it refers to an action that does not require initiation from an agent. The subject is the recipient of the action.
他動詞=transitive verb -- a verb that requires both a subject and an object. Requires an agent to initiate the action. The object is the recipient of the action.

Since you say that 自動詞 requires a subject but does not require an object, can you tell me why 歩く is a 自動詞 when you can use 道を歩く。

 

[terraj]

Because in this context the を particle means "through". (Alternatively you can think of the motion verb 歩く acting on the street 道, which is the object. But in this manner of interpretation would be awkward to English speakers.) Remember that grammar in English and Japanese has differences, not everything can be translated directly. For instance you can use passive verbs in Japanese in much more ways that you can't in English.

Since you say that 自動詞 requires a subject but does not require an object, can you tell me why 歩く is a 自動詞 when you can use 道を歩く。

 

[dimitri_can]

Because in this context the を particle means "through". (Alternatively you can think of the motion verb 歩く acting on the street 道, which is the object. But in this manner of interpretation would be awkward to English speakers.) Remember that grammar in English and Japanese has differences, not everything can be translated directly. For instance you can use passive verbs in Japanese in much more ways that you can't in English.

Great try! .

Someone gave a better answer though. =)

 

[terraj]

What's the better answer? Curious to know

 

[dimitri_can]

What's the better answer? Curious to know

You sure? The other party is a master of japanese linguistics, you might not get what's she saying...

 

[nyawne]

(E) Able to get to JLPT 1 within 3 years if I work hard enough

Let me say something. IMHO, JLPT 1 is not something that you can achieve in 3 years.. Ultimately, if you just wanna get the cert, but not be able to speak well, that can be achievable... So decide what u want... Cert? Speak well?

Hmm.. I personally know of someone who started learning japanese in his NS days (clerk in jurong west camp.. haha..) Think his vocation allowed him more time than other NSFs to study, so even though I've never seen him study seriously, he got his JLPT3 within the first year (last year), and just passed JLPT2 this year. And he's going for JLPT1 next year and he has even more time to study now because he ORD-ed and is awaiting university entrance.

So JLPT1 in 3 years is actually quite possible.

Oh he doesn't even take classes, because as a poor NSF, he said it's too expensive. And since he's gotten to JLPT2 level by himself, he doesn't think there's a need to start taking classes now either. He just mainly watches lots and lots of anime and drama, finds some japanese friends to talk to, and reads up on one or two grammar books and does some past year papers.

Guess it depends on your individual style and language aptitude.. Do make full use of your NS time. Good luck!