Genki Japanese and Culture School

My adventure with Genki started in 2023 when I did a 2 week study vacation. I chose them because they were accredited by the German government (state of Berlin) to provide Bildungsurlaub. I learned a great amount during those two weeks and made at least two new good friends with whom Im still in contact. Academically I found them really strong, they have a system where they alternate teachers every two hours so you get different perspectives and explanations while following a consistent program focused on useful grammar. I liked the school and the teaching system so much that I decided to continue online for a year. My online teacher has been fantastic and she took over exactly where I had left. One year later I decided to take more time off and come back for a month. This time was also great, I was in a more advanced smaller group, so we were able to make very fast progress. There was a public holiday during my time the school took us to see the Kabuki for free which was a fantastic plus. In summary: - location (Tokyo): unbeatable in the heart of Shinjuku - teaching staff: super kind, patient and competent. I was particularly impressed by Mamiko-sensei who really motivated us to talk and improve. - support staff: also very good and competent. We got a useful first day briefing and my questions and doubts were always promptly answered. - academic quality: its focus is on grammar and conversation there is a bit of Kanji every week, but you will probably need to study Kanji on your own. The method is good with some tests every few units to track progress. -cultural activities: they are optional but very very interesting combining food, culture, entertainment and creativity. They do repeat the more popular ones or seasonally appropriate ones sometimes. Definitely 5*+ and already hoping to go back again. More than the

Great for anyone who wants to learn Japanese and also have enough time to visit the surroundings. Teachers and staff are the best I have seen in my life, and to be honest I don't really think that I will be able to go back to my school after this amazing experience. Everybody is so lively and exciting, like really lively and sometimes funny. Lessons are always understandable, and the books they gave contains so much information that even if you don't have enough courage to ask the teachers books will always come in help. With the 4 hour class every weekday, you can always go to surrounding cities like Nara, Ōtsu and Osaka if you have mourning classes. Overall, such a great experience to have in life

GenkiJACS one-month Japanese course provided a foundational understanding of the language. The course covered essential aspects such as grammar, vocabulary, listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Pros: 1) Small Class Sizes GenkiJACS maintains small class sizes, allowing for more personalized attention from instructors. This facilitates a conducive learning environment where students can actively engage and receive feedback. 2) Immersive Environment Being located in Fukuoka, Japan, GenkiJACS provides an immersive language learning experience. Students have opportunities to practice Japanese outside the classroom, enhancing their language learning in real-life interactions. 3) Varied Teaching Methods and Teachers GenkiJACS employs diverse teaching methods, including interactive exercises, role-playing, listening and comprehension activities, ensuring a dynamic learning experience catering to different learning styles. 4) Teachers The teachers were patient and friendly. 5) Resources Excellent and useful after the course. Cons: 1) Intensive Pace The one-month duration was challenging, especially those new to the language. The fast-paced nature of the course was sometimes overwhelming. 2) Limited Proficiency Gain Due to the short duration, I feel I only achieved a very basic level of proficiency by the end of the course. I needed a lot more time to gain deeper ability. 3) Resources Sometimes the Furigana over Kanji in photocopies was so small that it was hard to read. Overall, GenkiJACS' one-month Japanese course offered a solid foundation in Japanese. It provided a structured curriculum, immersive environment, and excellent resources which can be used after the course. The teachers were friendly and the school felt like a community. I really enjoyed my time there and have definitely improved my understanding, reading and writing of Japanese, although my ability to formulate spoken answers is still quite slow, but that's more me than the school.