Japanese, anyone?

[mango]

Has anyone attended classes at Goro Language School? They are located opp Mandarin Hotel, at the citibank building. I'm thinking about signing up with them, but the drawback is that their beginner classes are ongoing, you just register + pay up, and join in the already-running classes. I'm just wondering how it works, wouldn't it be hard for newbies to pick up what other are learning since they've already started? And wouldn't the newbies slow down the progress of the class? :huh:

Edit to add: I was told that their style of teaching is not the conventional 'lecture room style' where by everyone listens and learn form one lecturer, but rather, the 'tutorial style' whereby their teacher is professional enough to teach and give lessons according to everyone's individual progress and level. Number of students in a class is usually 10 or less. What do you girls think? Their schedule timings are great, but I'm not sure this work.. :roll: Any comments?

[cherrycoke]

am thinking of taking up jap classes.. any schools to recommend?

i was thinking of either taking it at this jap school in bugis (i can't recall the name) or at community centres.. are the CC courses good though ie: good enough for me to take my JLPT? thanx!

[japonais]

To mango and cherry coke: I’ve been learning Japanese in my polytechnic for the past 2 and half years. Before that, I was taking the basic and intermediate classes at the YMCA at Douby Ghaut. I liked the teaching style there and they had native teachers too. The YMCA is good for people just wanting to learn conversational Japanese for everyday use.
The Japanese Cultural Association at Bugis is also a good place to start. Their courses will ensure that you are prepared for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test [JLPT] exams.
Don’t go to GORO. My sister went there and the teaching method was not very good. Basically, you just go into the classroom and listen to language tapes with headphones. The pace you advance depends on how fast you listen to the tapes. The teachers there don’t exactly teach.

I maintain my skills by listening to Japanese songs and watching Japanese dramas and movies. HTH.

[mango]

Thanks alot for the tip japonais, very helpful indeed.

[teiko]

japonais->Do you know when JCS will have their intake?? Intending to switch

[jemay]

hey hey, i wanna take up basic japanese course too!! Whoever going, please count me in!!!!!!!

[visee]

Originally posted by teiko
japonais->Do you know when JCS will have their intake?? Intending to switch

Teiko, are you already learning Japanese? If you've got a JLPT cert, I think you can join the class mid term. The new term just started, but they might let you switch if there are vacancies in the class.

For beginners classes, JCS only holds one intake a year, usually end Dec. It's always really crowded that day, with people queuing all the way from outside the building.

One thing abt JCS is that the class size is quite big, usually over 30 people so there isn't all that much individual attention. But the teachers are usually native Japanese, and are quite good. Pace of learning is a little slow compared to some other Japanese school, but I find it ok cos I hardly have any time to revise anyway.

[teiko]

Thank visee I already have level 4 cert and now I am waiting for my level 3 results (dont think I can pass anyway) . Do you know how much is the fees like and how the class is conducted?? Like, is there much revision in class, tests, worksheets, oral practice, listening practice etc?? Thanks!

[Pauline]

Originally posted by japonais
I maintain my skills by listening to Japanese songs and watching Japanese dramas and movies. HTH.

Hey Su!!! you're finally here!!! Welcome

And girls, trust this girl on her japanese advice..she's really crazy abt the language and country

[visee]

Originally posted by teiko
Thank visee I already have level 4 cert and now I am waiting for my level 3 results (dont think I can pass anyway) . Do you know how much is the fees like and how the class is conducted?? Like, is there much revision in class, tests, worksheets, oral practice, listening practice etc?? Thanks!

Hey, I think we're the same level Have got my JLPT4 cert too, but I didn't take the level 3 exam last year cos I didn't think I'd pass. Am taking Advance I classes now and probably will take JLPT 3 at the end of this yr.

The fees are quite reasonable, around $400+ per year. Can't remember the exact amount cos we pay by semester.

We basically follow a textbook in classes. This year, our textbook is entirely short folktales/stories. As we go through the story, our sensei will explain the new words or word structures/grammar. For each chapter there will be a worksheet, vocab list and listening to the cassette tape. But mostly it's our sensei who will explain to us or ask us qns so it's impt to get a good one. Last year I was pretty much in a blur cos our sensei couldn't really explain to us in English, but our sensei this year seems pretty good. As for tests, there's always one at the end of each semester, followed by a final exam (oral, listening, compo and written papers) at the year end. There might be some small revision tests (e.g. on kanji )during classes as well.

Which school are you at now? Let me know if you're joining JCS okie?

[littlemiss]

I also took my elementary japanese class at JCS during the japanese craze, many years back!

[teiko]

Visee-> I think I am also around Pre Advance/Advance I. Do you think they still have slot? The syllabus sounds pretty interesting

I was following a particular teacher for about 5yrs?? And I probably wont quit if not for the fact that the progress of the class is pretty slow(or maybe I am slow cos you seem to be able to translate better than me) and the class is getting too large for the lodgings it is held in :roll:

BTW, the test site for level 3 at Singapore Chamber of Commerce was terrible. The organisers should be . Almost 100% of the time I cant hear what the listening part is cos of the echoes in the hall.

[visee]

Hi Teiko, :wave:

Wow! You've been studying for 5 years? It's my 3rd year studying and my Japanese is so-so only... Listening and understanding simple stuff is quite ok, but speaking is a definate problem. Next time we meet, must practise with me okie?

JCS might have vacancies for the less popular time slots (like weekday nights). My class on Sat afternoon is quite packed (45 pple!) so the weekend slots might be full. Will check with them this Sat abt the vacancies and pre-requsites. Or you could wait till the end of Semester 1 (Mar/Apr), thats usually when we can switch classes and some pple might drop out.

My JLPT 4 exam was at JCS itself so it wasn't too bad. But some friends had their exams at the Japanese primary school and they said the sound system wasn't very good either. :roll:

[teiko]

5 years and I am only at Pre Advance/Advance I level is how slow I am . You are not the only one. I have problems speaking, understanding and listening

I dont mind jamming in mid Semester. But does JCS make you take any test to gauge your level?? I may flunk

My Level 4 was at Japanese Primary School. Echo was there but definately better than Singapore Chinese Chambers! Anyone complained about that site from your school?

Pls do LMK if there will be any vacancies I dont mind taking Weekdays nights

[visee]

I had enquired last year for a friend, and JLPT 4 was the pre-requisite for non-JCS students who want to join the Intermediate class (which is quite absurd cos we didn't learn enough in the elementary class to take JLPT4). Will check if you need JLPT 3 for the Advanced classes. They might make you take a test if you don't have the necesary certs.

Anyway, will update again on Sat!