Yamasa blog, Okazaki Japan

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A month as passed since I am a student at the Yamasa Institute. This week I had my first exam. Ouch, it is hard. I thank myself mentally for studying my weaknesses the day before, because that’s exactly what I have been tested on. My grade on the writing exam is 73%, which is a high score for me as I remember jumping in the sky when I had a 65% back in college. But the passing note at the school here is at 70% so I am not that proud. My listening test went a little better; at 76% it is the best I could do. We had a speaking test, but the grades are not in yet.

So my first impressions of the first 3 weeks of teaching at the Yamasa Institute, speaking as a student with no background studies in Japanese in the beginner class are: The pace of the classes are really fast. If you don’t want to be there, or think that it will be vacation, please don’t come. I am saying this, because while some people have genuine difficulties with learning in class, some do not study at all. It affects all students because when we do speaking practice, those people are not able to interact at all. Mind you, after 3 weeks you should be able to read hiragana with not that much trouble. My concern is, what the faculty is doing about it? This Friday they took the students with problems apart after the regular class and I think they have received additional help from the tannin-sensei. I strongly recommend that if you intend of joining Yamasa and expect being in a beginner class to sign for private lessons. At the moment there is a waiting list for private lessons so don’t wait. If you miss something in class, the teachers won’t go back. What they say is true, you really need to prepare for the next lesson before you go to class. I find it very hard, and I am always wondering if the pace is good. So for the moment, I would say I am not sure I would recommend the school if you are a complete beginner.