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Thinking about Paying for Lessons

Hayash1

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Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 8:35 pm

So, this summer I'm thinking about attending lessons but I'm not sure who or where I should go for the lessons. I've looked around and there seem to be centers for learning ($450 for 35 hours, group class pretty much immersion). I've also seen teachers on sites posting ads and I'm not sure of how they will teach or their prices for that matter.

I'm also going into University next year but I've heard that the Japanese that is offered at that level will probably not help my learning as it will probably be memorization and regourgitation for marks. And since I'm paying for the classes I rather learn than memorize and forget.

Can any give me their insight, experiences, etc. about how to find , and choose in terms of classes. And if any of you are currently enrolled in a college or university course in Japanese, how is it? Any comments are appreciated.

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 6:57 am

My college Japanese classes were a lot better than that. We were expected to gain enough proficiency to actually carry on conversations in Japanese with the professor in her office, for a grade.

When it comes down to it, though, how much you gain from a class is entirely up to you. Even a memorization-and-regurgitation class will be beneficial to you if you actually WANT to learn.

Coda Highland
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Weiss Kitsune

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Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 12:33 pm

I'm currently taking japanese at a community college. I definitely would say I'm learning and not just memorizing. I'm taking the 200 level of the class and at my college any 200 level of a language class is self support and therefore not tuition so I think I'm paying $450 for each 10 week quarter. I have really enjoyed the class and gotten a lot out of it, but I'm not saying eveyone will have the same experience. I love learning it and I have a great teacher. But there are bad experiences too. The first quarter I had a different teacher and I felt like I learned nothing from her, I had to do it all on my own. It really comes down to just taking the risk.

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:56 pm

Hmm, how is the course like in college? In terms of what you do for work?

Just a little information to help you better understand my situation:

I'm probably going to be paying for lessons out of my own wallet. I'm going into University this fall but my options are:
1) Take a course at a college.
2) Take a course at my University but it will not count towards my degree as I'm probably going to head into a science field. And Japanese doesn't seem to be an elective.
3) Hire a teacher from a classified or something. Which I'm quite skeptical about this one as I don't know how this process works. If anyone has any information about this, I would like to know.
4) Head to this place during the summer: http://www.aitas.ca/ which is around $500.00 for 17.5 hours of actual class and I would have to pay for my own books. I'm pretty sure some of you guys are using "minna no nihongo".

And again thank you for the replies.
ありがとうございます。

Hayash1

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Coda Highland
Crew

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Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:45 pm

Most universities require some foreign language credit just as gen-ed. You might also consider a Japanese minor if you're really serious about it. And taking college classes that you don't strictly need for your major is perfectly acceptable.

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:22 pm

Well, I want to be able to converse and understand Japanese media without subtitles (whether it be music, anime, drama, movies or otherwise). And even make a few friends in Japan or here in Canada that are Japanese as I plan to head there many times for vacation in the future.

I'm still unsure of the University degree stuff yet so I can't comment on it. All I know is I'm either going into a Kinesiology program or a science (Biology, Chemistry) program. For a B.Sc

Hayash1

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