NC86 wrote:
> declan_murphy@hotmail.com wrote:
> > NC86 wrote:
> >
> >>I have almost finished third year university Japanese and next year will
> >>do fourth year. However, since I have started to find it difficult, I
> >>want to study Japanese in Tokyo for about one month during the
> >>Dec-Nov-Jan holidays.
> >>
> >>Does anyone know of any good language schools where I could do this?
> >
> > If it has to be Tokyo, have a look at Naganuma, Kai & ALA. Those 3 have
> > reasonably good reputations. If you don't mind being outside Tokyo (at
> > least when studying - you can easily visit Tokyo during the breaks),
> > the Nov/Dec/Jan programs I work for are at
> > http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/english/programs/winter.html
>
> Kai has a 45 hour, 3-week course in summer for a good price. Do you know
> if they have a winter one? They mention a it but there's no information
> there.

As far as I'm aware they don't, but the last time I met Kai's director
was about 2002 or so. Drop them a line or give them a call. My guess is
they would probably be able to put you into a class appropriate to your
current proficiency level, but only from January, and it would be a
class of shugaku visa holders - the latter could be a problem if your
main objective is to improve your speaking & listening skills.

The reason I suggested Naganuma, Kai or ALA is basically because they
have reasonably good reputations amongst the Japanese teaching
fraternity. I don't hear many unrealistic complaints, & they have never
needed "special" auditing by the authorities etc. I don't know the
staff at Kudan very well so can't say, and while there are a couple of
schools I'd suggest avoiding it probably wouldn't be wise to write them
here.

If Kai etc don't have courses appropriate to your level, schedule or
budget, another option you may want to consider is private lessons.
Fewer classes per day, but possibly more appropriate ones, and you
could then use Tokyo or whichever city you ended up in as your
classroom. I assume with 3 years of uni Japanese under your belt that
you are past level 3, but an experienced private instructor would be
able to structure a curriculum that plugs gaps and develops your skills
even with one 2 formal classes a day.

> I'm leaning towards Tokyo because I really want to experience life
> there. If I ever live in Japan longer term it is likely to be Tokyo, so
> I want to feel what it is like to be there on a daily basis.

A month should be enough to get the feel for a place. The first
impression thing usually only lasts a week or so. Studying and working
are pretty different things though, and to a large extent it depends on
commuting distance & time, and whether you can find a reasonable place
to live. If you are Australian then you are going to spend at least 2
of the first 5 years after graduation living somewhere abroad. When I
came back to Japan  permanently I lived and worked in Iidabashi. I
don't regret doing so, but I don't miss it either.

Tokyo is an interesting place, it offers you something new to see & do
every day. There is some incredible nightlife (and some incredible
boredom when the trains shut down). Anyone visiting Japan should see
it. I still spend at least a few nights a month up there and usually
look forward to it.

> Also there are gaijin houses there. What accomodation is available
> near/at Yamasa for around 63,000 a month?

http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/english/about_accommodation.html
If you don't mind sharing an apartment with one other person, then
about 42000 yen a month including broadband. All within walking
distance so commutes or fares. For full privacy, up to 70,000 month.

There are plenty of gaigin houses in the other large urban areas
(kansai, chubu, sapporo, fukuoka), so I wouldn't limit your search to
Tokyo purely for accommodation reasons. Go to Tokyo because you want
to, not because you feel you have no alternative.