Learn Japanese in Tokyo: Teaching

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Hiragana Alphabet

All ability levels are accepted, from complete beginners to very advanced.
However please note we need students to memorize the HIRAGANA alphabet prior to arrival.
It should only take you a couple of days – the college asks that you can read it, not be able to write the letters.

Japanese Teachers

All teachers are fluent in English and, obviously, Japanese.
They are all Japanese nationals, who are professionally qualified to teach Japanese as a foreign language. They are graduates of a rigorous 420-hour Japanese teacher training course at recognized schools. The length and content of this course was originally specified by the Japanese Ministry of Education, but has now become the standard qualification for professional Japanese language school teachers. It is equivalent to a university minor, and the result is a high standard of teaching.

Japanese Students

Students in Tokyo come from all over the world, most are beginner to intermediate level learners, some are advanced. Age wise students can be any age from 16 yrs + (if you’re younger than this the Fukuoka school takes students from 14 yrs of age). Generally speaking students are in their 20’s or early 30’s, but everyone who wants to learn Japanese is welcome.

Group course structure

The core Japanese Language course (the Standard Course) consists of two 50-minute grammar classes and two 50-minute conversation classes each day.
The Standard Course is offered over all ability levels. In general, you will study new grammar each afternoon, do related homework that night, then practice your new skills in the application class the next morning. English explanations will be given where absolutely necessary (and comparisons between the two grammar methods will be made, which is particularly useful at lower ability levels). Practical application of the language is encouraged to aid vocabulary retention and real-life fluency. Topical materials are used; news, TV, movies in class to illustrate a point (and engage student interest) and local shops are used (with their permission!) for planned language activity sessions.

All classes are held on a rolling start basis. This means that you enter an ongoing class, partway through that class’s syllabus.
If your ability level is slightly below the level of that class, we provide free “catch-up classes” to raise you to the appropriate level.
The exception to this is complete beginners, who start from the first Monday of each month only. If you are the only student at your specific level when you arrive, a new class will be created for you.
As students can start any Monday, and you can study for as many weeks as you like, the students in your class can change from week to week.
New students may arrive on a Monday, and old students graduate on a Friday. We have a time-tested system in place to minimize disruption to the class.

Please note:
– If you are the only student at your ability level:
1) If there is a class at a close level, you will have 10 lessons per week with that class, and 5 private lessons focusing on your specific needs.
2) If there is no close level, you will have 10 private lessons per week to focus on just what you want to learn.

– If there are only two students at your ability level:
1) If there is a class at a close level, you will have 10 lessons per week with that class, and 10 semi-private lessons with just the two of you.
2) If there is no close level, the two of you will have 15 semi-private lessons per week.

This policy means you don’t need to worry about whether there will be other students at your ability level when you arrive – even if you’re the only one, we’ll make arrangements to take care of you!
(Note that the only exception to this is complete beginner students. Classes for complete beginners start on the first Monday of every month and the third Mondays in June, July and August. If complete beginner students start outside of these dates, there will not be a class available for you.)

Sample Timetable

Below is a sample schedule for a student taking the Japanese course.
The specific time of lessons may differ depending on class level and season, and your schedule may also differ from week to week.
Please note that it is now common for the school to offer afternoon classes, as well as morning classes.

*Sample schedule only.    Actual schedule may differ.

Class levels and progress structure

 > VIEW CLASS LEVELS AND PROGRESS CHART

Total time from Beginner to Advanced level: Approx 60 weeks!
In reality CESA Languages students chose to attend a course, according to their linguistic goals, personal wishes, and time constraints.