Gupta-san India
Completed 150 hours of study Japanese

Blog “Completed 150 Hours of Studying Japanese”

When I started looking for Japanese schools, I noticed most required 150 hours of study. Therefore, I started looking into online schools that accept beginner students completely. My search was mainly based on the fact that I wanted to avoid attending a school or class where there are a lot of students, as that usually leads to poor communication between the teacher and student. Establishing a good connection with the teacher goes a long way, as you can only grasp the experience a teacher can share. After looking around for a while, I decided that Nihongo Online School was the best choice. It offered 1-1 skype calls for classes, was remote, and had no requirements for learning Japanese.

Before registering for the course, the school provides an option for a trial class with the teacher handling the 1-1 studies going further. In my case, it was Yuki せんせい. During the trial class, Yuki せんせい and I discussed my details, the course’s goal, etc. Afterward, we started studying hiragana as well. At the end of the trial class, I was pretty happy with the pace and teaching method. Therefore, I chose to go ahead with the 150 hours study package offered by the school as that was my initial aim.However, it is essential to note that there is an additional first-time registration charge of 25,000 yen and a 10% tax. Nevertheless, I registered and paid the fees via Flywire after discussing the schedule.

Due to my busy work schedule, my study schedule was limited to 2 one-hour classes per week with minimal homework. This is one reason why completing 150 hours of study took me a long time. However, I tried to keep studying as per the schedule because, as they say, little drops make the mighty ocean.

The school focuses more on the conversational aspect while studying, which is good if you want to get better at conversing soon. In our classes, we started with learning the kana characters (hiragana & katakana) and moved to grammar afterward. Each new lesson introduced 10-20 new words and a similar number of sentences to showcase how to use them with appropriate context. せんせい was helpful and cleared a lot of my doubts that included questions such as using another word instead of the given answer in the book and so on. Not limited to just the books, せんせい also shared videos from YouTube and images from Google to provide the context of various words and sentences. While we started communicating in English within the class, we slowly switched to mostly speaking primarily in Japanese as time passed. In case I failed to understand specific words during our lessons, せんせい sent them with an explanation as messages in the chat.

By the end of the course, I could see myself making improvements. I could read hiragana and katakana slowly, chat about daily work and personal life, and, more importantly, understand many words being spoken in videos, animes, and movies I watched in Japanese. While my Kanji vocabulary still needs improvement, it is also slowly improving.

My overall experience of the Nihongo Online School is positive. I am by no means an expert who can rate this experience and compare it with other schools and packages. However, as someone whose native language is not English, I find my learning experience exceptionally good. I have continued my classes at Nihongo Online School and aim to keep learning Japanese by slowly increasing the intensity. While writing this article, I have decided to move for a three days schedule and hopefully four if things go smoothly.

Ben-san The U.S
12 month with 150 lessons course

Q1. motivation for learning Japanese language?

That is a difficult question. My interest in Japan has grown over the past decade or so. I visited Japan, for the first time, three years ago, and I was frustrated with my inability to communicate to the locals that I met.

Q2.What issues do you have on studying Japanese?

Certain aspects of language learning I find I can do by myself. I taught myself hiragana, katakana, and the most basic kanji. However, my speaking and listening ability is not something I feel that I can train adequately, without someone to have conversations with. I also don’t find the explanations of Japanese grammar in textbooks to be satisfactory.

Q3. What made you decide to study with us ?

My current plan is to save money in order to fund a years Japanese study at a language school or university “Bekka” course. A lot of the university courses require at least JLPT N4 level – which is my current aim to reach by the end of my current batch of lessons. My listening ability requires a lot of improvement to not hinder me, at that level. I found the online school on GoGoNihon, and it felt like the right thing at the right time.

Q4. What do you think about studying with us?

I am enjoying the conversational aspect of the lessons a lot. Adachi-sensei is very easy to talk to about a variety of topics, which I don’t think I would find in a traditional classroom environment. It feels more tailored to my own needs, rather than a more generic syllabus for a certain level of Japanese ability.

Q5. Do you have any requests to improve your study with us?

I don’t have much to suggest in the way of improvements. I feel that I can talk to Adachi-sensei, if I require help on a specific issue with my learning, which is the main thing.

Q6. Is the lesson level appropriate?

I felt that the level of the first few lessons was a bit low. However, it is definitely helping me establish a firm foundation of understanding that will help me down the line.

Matt-san U.K
6 month with 50 lessons course

Q1. motivation for learning Japanese language?

I work in an industry which is a rapidly growing market in japan, so knowing Japanese will soon be a Crucial skill for my job, with me eventually looking at living in Japan for work. I’ve also a strong personal interest

Q2.What issues do you have on studying Japanese?

No consistent and reliable ways to be able to check that how I wrote and spoke what I learned was correct and natural-sounding, or how to put together what I’d learnt into complete sentences.

Q3. What made you decide to study with us ?

The staff! They’ve been fantastic every step of the way, from the very first contact I received. The level of service provided has been superb

Q4. What do you think about studying with us?

My tutor is fantastic – she’s patient, able to answer any questions I have, and sets the perfect lessons for my ability – not too easy, and not too difficult

Q5. Do you have any requests to improve your study with us?

Perhaps a little more time to review the day’s lesson at the end, although homework usually covers this anyway.

Q6. Is the lesson level appropriate?

Yes, absolutely. The tutor seems to know my level better than I do!

Students: Sam-san The U.S
6 month with 50 lessons course

Class has been going well. It has been mostly review with the grammar which is needed as I need the practice. Natsumi-sensei has been great!

Q1. motivation for learning Japanese language?

My motivation for learning Japanese is to eventually pass the JLPT1 and become a translator (patents or media). Japanese language was one of my majors at University of Oregon and I concentrated on reading and writing.

Q2.What issues do you have on studying Japanese?

The main issues I have with studying is formal classes for higher levels have start times that conflict with my current work schedule. I am able to take night classes but once the first two years of instruction are finished, all N3 and higher curriculum is during working hours.

Q3. What made you decide to study with us ?

I was looking at doing immersion studying in Japan for at least a year before the Covid-19 pandemic hit. I also wanted my knowledge to be around N3 before I make the commitment of acquiring my student visa. If online school continues to work well for me, it may replace studying in Japan.

Q4. What do you think about studying with us?

The good points are being able to practice my speaking with someone that can help me with my mistakes. I’ve enjoyed all my lessons so far with Natsumi-sensei. I don’t have any requests at this time.The lesson level has been appropriate. The lessons have been going well.

Mishal-san UAE
6 month with 50 lessons course

Q1. motivation for learning Japanese language?

I was motivated to learn the japanese language because i was intrigued by it. I was intrigued, by the “language” and “culture” so I decided that i wanted to go to Japan because to me it seemed like a “dream”. Which is why I decided to apply to japan and learn the language by professional experience.

Q2.What issues do you have on studying Japanese?

I was nervous on the whole experience I didn’t actually think I could actually learn it fluently until i joined japanese classes which I’m glad i did

Q3. What made you decide to study with us ?

I searched up online schools during the pandemic and i finally came across this one.

Q4. What do you think about studying with us?

I love this school and the very high quality of education they provide for their pupils. More importantly, the staff are extremely polite and willingly to help when you’re in need. I would have made a mistake if i hadn’t joined this online japanese school

Q5. Is the lesson level appropriate?

The lesson level is great, I don’t feel pressure or stressed at all as the lessons are very easy and understandable.

Students: Gina-san The U.S
3 month with 25 lessons course

Q1. motivation for learning Japanese language?

My future goal is to go to University in Japan and stay for a long time.

Q2.What issues do you have on studying Japanese?

My parents were against me going to Japan and I did not have the opportunity to properly study Japanese, but they finally gave into my wishes. Also, I have only every self studied until now, so I have never had proper Japanese education.

Q3. What made you decide to study with us ?

I finally got the chance to study in Japan at a Japanese language school, but could not go because of the pandemic. This lead me to find other methods of study and I found this online school.

Q4. What do you think about studying with us?

The pros of this online lesson is that I get to learn from a teacher one on one. All the attention is on me and the lesson flow is able to match my needs and the speed can also match my needs.

Students: Salome-san Switzerland
6 month with 50 lessons course

Q1. motivation for learning Japanese language?

I moved to Japan last year and even though I picked up some of the language throughout my life and the past year, my knowledge is very scattered and not organized. To be able to communicate with Japanese people, be able to work in my field more here, and to be able to make more Japanese friends here and learn more about the culture, it is very important for me to learn the Japanese language properly and seriously.

Q2.What issues do you have on studying Japanese?

I only studied at home by myself before signing up for Nihongo Online School, so my knowledge has been pretty basic, theoretical and pretty random. I needed more structure, boundaries and deadlines through a teacher, and conversation practice to force me to say real sentences with proper grammar.

Q3. What made you decide to study with us ?

I was looking for a man-to-man course, but because of the Coronavirus crisis I decided not to do in-person classes. Then I saw an ad for Nihongo Online School through Gaijinpot and I liked the look of your website, and reviews for the regular language school programs from your school were very good. When I inquired about classes your answers were very quick and professional so I decided to sign up.

Q4. What do you think about studying with us?

I like that it’s very convenient for me, since I can take the classes from home and all communication and homework is online. I really appreciate Adachi Sensei’s way of teaching so far, she recognizes when I have trouble with something and will make me practice that more, while when she sees that I already know something she will not lose time with that. I do like to fit as many lessons into the course as possible.

Q5. Do you have any requests to improve your study with us?

So far I’m very happy and do not have any requests.

Q6. Is the lesson level appropriate?

So far I think so.

Students: Mara-san Mexico
3 month with 25 lessons course

Q1. motivation for learning Japanese language?

What motivated me to learn Japanese was my dream of becoming an animator. I want to have more job opportunities in the animation industry.

Q2.What issues do you have on studying Japanese?

In the past I had the intention on studying the Japanese language but, I couldn’t find any school that would provide me Japanese lessons.

Q3. What made you decide to study with us ?

I saw an opportunity the opportunity to learn online and I just had to take it.

Q4. What do you think about studying with us?

Online classes are excellent for foreign students that want to learn the language and can’t do it. In the USA they don’t provide these classes.

Q5. Do you have any requests to improve your study with us?

I am comfortable the way the online school works at the moment. I’d suggest planning for a student “Syuugaku Ryokou” for those students that want to go visit Japan but have no idea which places to visit, how to behave or that they simply don’t l have anyone to accompany them in their journey of exploring not only the Japanese language but also the culture.

Q6. Is the lesson level appropriate?

Definitely! I’m a complete beginner even though I did study a little Japanese on my own. I constantly exposed myself to the language by either watching anime or listening to Japanese songs. I feel like I’m learning fast. The answer is Yes! I’ve been taking lessons at an appropriate level.

Successfully changed jobs from English teacher to engineer at an IT company.

Course duration: 3 months

Issues before taking this course:
I was not good at interviewing in Japanese
Outcome after taking the course:
Improved communication in Japanese, and was able to change job with desired annual salary.

Annual salary before job change: 3 million yen
Annual salary after changing jobs: 4.5 million yen

Passing the N2 exam increased the number of companies I applied to, and increased my annual salary

Course duration: 6 months

Issues before taking this course:
I was looking for an engineering job in Osaka, but was limited in where I could apply due to my JLPT being N3.
Outcome after taking the course:
Passed N2 and was able to find a job with the salary he was looking for after learning Business Japanese.

Annual salary before job change: NA
Annual salary after changing jobs: 5.1 million yen

Increased interview passing rate due to improved conversation skills, and got a new job with a higher salary

Course duration: 6 months

Issues before taking this course:
I had passed JLPT N2, but was not able to get a job offer because I could not communicate well at the Japanese interview.
Outcome after taking the course:
Improved conversational ability, increased interview pass rate, changed job to an IT company, and increased annual salary.

Annual salary before job change: 4.5 million yen
Annual salary after changing jobs: 5.1 million yen