learning japanese

[dimitri_can]

I have pm u my MSN. You can chat with me via MSN. =)

 

[dimitri_can]

I suggest u go for Ikoma though... Bunka is also quite ok... Depends on individual la... For Ikoma, the teachers over there, they have to pass a very hard exam in Japan. 420 hours courses to become a qualified Japanese teacher.

In the exam, the school teaches the teachers how to use the books to teach the students.

 

[ilovepiano]

I have no experience with Inoue but I am currently study at both Bunka and Ikoma.

Bunka has its own textbook and teaches grammar really efficiently and effectively. If I remember correctly, I learnt almost all verb conjugations for JLPT 4 within Elementary 1. You can ask the counter at Bunka for a look at the textbook to see what I mean. If you do go to Bunka, see if you can get either Takatsuka sensei or Ando sensei. I find them very clear in their explanations. Most importantly, lessons are fun and relaxed so motivation to study is high.

If you are considering Bunka, why not also take Ikoma into consideration? The fees are comparable IMO. Ikoma is also very good but more textbook-based. Bunka rarely has more than one page of homework per lesson but Ikoma has about 7 pages per week. I don't really think the difference in workload mattered. I started at Bunka and switched to Ikoma due to work timing problems. I was able to keep up with my classmates who started off at Ikoma without any problems.

Anyway, just my 2 cents. Hope it helps.

 

[dimitri_can]

Another good thing about Ikoma..

If you are unable to make it on 1 day, you can come on another day... Very flexible schedule

 

[azumangadaioh]

You can't compare like this, because each school teach the syllabus differently. Also you need to factor in the breaks that you get (15 mins or 30 mins break?)

I ever went to a school that gave 30 mins break. The lesson was 3 hours... So in the end, you are paying "more" for a 2.5 hours lesson.

Bunka breaks are 10mins for 3hour classes. Value for money..

 

[dimitri_can]

hahaha... here comes promoter for bunka... LOL

 

[dimitri_can]

Break the topic.

吹きあれる風が 髪をすり抜けていく
その瞳に 映る現実(しんきろう)

光と闇の狭間 生まれた 魂(いのち)
今再び 立ち向かう時と

時代を映す鏡さえ ひび割れ砕けて
それでも生きてる 求めてやまない 愛を叫んでる

断ち切れない 理想(おもい)抱いて 人はさ迷い続ける
立ちはだかる壁見上げるより
打ち崩す術はあると 幻を打ち払って
いつだって 今ここがはじまり

くり返す日々に 置き忘れた願い
目を伏せても本当は知ってる

強さと弱さ 優しさと傷跡
ゆらぐ心 打ち消したくって

彩られたこの街並み さみしさ隠せず
それでも生きてる
明日(あす)を乗り越える力 求めてる

強がってる その脆さも ひっくるめて 愛したい
涙の跡消せない痛みも
受け止めて 忘れないで そして未来(あした)が変わるよ
呼び起こせ 眠ってる 根性(ちから)を

断ち切れない 理想(おもい)抱いて 人はさ迷い続ける
立ちはだかる壁見上げるより
打ち崩す術はあると 幻を打ち払って
いつだって 今ここがはじまり

 

[maryamisme]

I just had my first elementary 1 lesson in Bunka last weekend... So I thought I would share what it's like.

I think the pace is very fast, but systematic. I like the way the lesson is structured. First we learnt the letters in the hiragana and some words using the hiragana that we just learned (for vocab). Then there were phrases to learn, where the grammar part is incorporated. And we learnt two particles! I don't know why I'm excited to learn particles, but I just am. There's also conversation and we practised talking to each other. And last of all, the teacher recap the whole lesson in a very short and simple summary.

So in short, I enjoyed the lesson because it suits my pace perfectly fine. I just have to work hard, and not slack. But then again, it's only the first lesson... ^_^; Still, I'm looking forward to the second lesson!

 

[dimitri_can]

mary, do update us as every lesson go along... =)

 

[maryamisme]

mary, do update us as every lesson go along... =)

hai hai~ ganbarimasu!

 

[CoolRock]

If my main purpose is to converse rather than writing in japanese, which sch would be better for me?

 

[sweet_vanilla]

If my main purpose is to converse rather than writing in japanese, which sch would be better for me?

ikoma bah.
i prefer ikoma. xD

 

[ilovepiano]

Hello to you too, ikoma promoter... =)
Lol... not promoting la. Just sharing what worked for me. Focus on Bunka since poster requested. My bad if I sounded like a Bunka promoter. Actually prefer my teacher at ikoma but I have more friends at Bunka so I look forward to classes there a little more.

 

[dimitri_can]

Hello to you too, ikoma promoter... =)
Lol... not promoting la. Just sharing what worked for me. Focus on Bunka since poster requested. My bad if I sounded like a Bunka promoter. Actually prefer my teacher at ikoma but I have more friends at Bunka so I look forward to classes there a little more.

Not referring to you... LOL...

I think overall most importantly is You!

Let me quote what a friend said...

"The school we choose for learning no doubt is important but we ourselves also need to play an important role to study it diligently with passion and interest.

For instance when we were in our Primary or Secondary school days. Some of us are in neighbourhood school but does this mean we would not be able to make to University? Wrong, i have former classmate with average "o" level result in Sec 5, choose to go to Polytechnic and the wonderful thing is his result in Poly is excellent and end up in University.

So what does this imply? Mean so long as you have the interest in doing something and focus and have the believe in you can do it. Whatever school you are at you still the best!"

 

[CoolRock]

can we like request to attend a trial lesson and sit in to see which sch is more suitable?

 

[azumangadaioh]

If my main purpose is to converse rather than writing in japanese, which sch would be better for me?

If the sensei at Bunka follows the teaching schedule strictly, you should get well balanced skills in speaking and writing, since everyone will have a chance to read a line from a passage to the class, practised dialogue using BOTH passage and ANY topic decided by the sensei [ 4 to 5 questions with a randomly assigned partner ] . Writing wise, you will be able to finish the homework since obviously you have to write. There is a homework section catered to practising hiragana / katakana / kanji on ALL levels, and sensei will go through all of them so that bad writing habits will be prevented early on. All these are for regular GROUP classes..

Assuming the person does revision regularly, otherwise there should be no problem [ unfortunately I am sometimes guilty of not doing so ].

If you want ONLY speaking, then you have to take up a customized course [ INDIVIDUAL class ] with a sensei for 1 to 1 class, you decide what you want and they will adjust accordingly to your needs.

So if you are going aboard for a short posting for maybe a month, your customized course will be mostly on listening, speaking, some knowledge of katakana and other things related to going to Japan.

 

[dimitri_can]

azumangadaioh, 質問をさせていただきます. Forms (　「て-形」とか　「ない-形」）, どうやって勉強しますか。

困っていますか

 

[azumangadaioh]

can we like request to attend a trial lesson and sit in to see which sch is more suitable?

I think Linguaphone does have free trial lesson.. Or wait till I open my school, everyone here can have 3 free trial lessons ha ha...

 

[Ah_keong]

If my main purpose is to converse rather than writing in japanese, which sch would be better for me?

i would recommend IKOMA...

 

[sweet_vanilla]

Hello to you too, ikoma promoter... =)
Lol... not promoting la. Just sharing what worked for me. Focus on Bunka since poster requested. My bad if I sounded like a Bunka promoter. Actually prefer my teacher at ikoma but I have more friends at Bunka so I look forward to classes there a little more.

i'm not really a ikoma promoter lah........
i was from JCS and then transferred over to ikoma. seriously, ikoma would be much better. classes are smaller and you do get to engage in conversations.
=.=