Short-term Japanese Course & Cultural Activity in Hokkaido

A very productive and fun way to spend time in Japan. Every teacher I've met had been very professional and passionate, making the most out of the curriculum. Every week is packed with different events and activities, especially Summer/Winter/Autumn/Spring Courses, and pretty much every one of them is worth doing. The location and school facilities are very convenient. Staff is amazing too. Nothing negative to say, really. Highly recomemnded.

I was in a bad place mentally before I decided to abruptly get on a plane to Sapporo. JALS was exactly what I needed at the time to once again find direction and meaning in my life. The community and staff are amazing and. It's my second family.

This was my first time abroad, and it was a very smooth and memorable experience. I was already excited to be in Japan and meet people, but I wasn’t expecting how quickly I made good friends with people from all sorts of different places. The activities were so fun and the lounge became the best place to spend time. Everyone at Jals, students, teachers and staff have all become my second family. I will never forget it.

I love the vibe Jals classes offer. Kind, caring & Hard-working teachers & staff deliver a quality language program in a beautiful campus setting. Each day is a challenge and the rigour is very effective in improving language skills.

The activities arranged by thre school are all super cool. I had a lot of fun and learnt a lot about japanese culture. We learnt the material a little fast for me but it was managable. My Japanese has improved a lot with he classes. I've gone from basically zero japanese to being able to understand a lot of basic sentences.

This program is amazing for people of any level who want to learn Japanese and emerge themselves in Japanese culture. The process of being admitted into the school and expenses that need to be covered for accommodation and events and such were super easy due to the fast and detailed responses from the staff at JaLS. The school itself is amazing and the atmosphere is awesome and when you add amazing staff and people who want to be your friend and help you it makes for one amazing experience. I have had the time of my life here made new friends and had a great time learning and enjoying Japanese cultural activities alongside my classmates and amazing supervisors. For anyone who is looking for a great way to experience the culture, make new friends, and learn a Japanese whall having fun this is the place for you.

I did the winter course at JaLS, which runs for 6 weeks and includes several cultural activities. It was my first time in Japan, and it has been incredible. I even ended up extending my stay in Sapporo for another 4 weeks. What I really enjoyed about my time at JaLS is that I got to meet amazing people from all over the world, also plenty of Japanese people. In a short time, I got to form strong bonds, and it has elevated the whole experience. The Japanese classes are great - my Japanese level increased a lot. The activities are fun and engaging, and I really enjoyed living in a share house where I could go be by myself when I wanted to but also hang out with friends anytime.

I’m 4 weeks into my time at JALS, it’s been really fun. There are lots of fun activities and the classes are also really great for learning Japanese. I’ve had lots of opportunities to make many new friends during my time here. It’s a great combination of fun, cultural immersion and learning.

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I spent one month studying at JaLS in November-December 2019 (I chose the standard course + I could choose and pay for the activities I wanted to take part in) and I am really really happy with the choice. The school is incredible, teachers are skilled and friendly. The staff are so kind and helpful, too and the location is very convenient (just 5 minutes on foot from Sapporo Station). I also chose to stay in the sharehouse provided from the school and I found it excellent. I had everything I needed and met many wonderful people so I had the chance to practice Japanese at home, too. I hope to visit Hokkaido and study at JaLS again. I will never forget this amazing experience.

At first I went to here, just because I heard that their have less Chinese people and Taiwanese people(I wanted to force myself to speak Japanese), but JaLS gave me more than I expected. My Japanese speaking-skill got better very much in this two months, even some times I said some strange words, no one made fun of me, it gave me brave to keep trying. Teachers and some Japanese friends helped me to learned how to get a job in Japan, it was actually none of their business, but they are very kind to help. Not only Japanese people, I also made many friends from many countries. If anyone want to learn Japanese, this is a best choice.

I attended this school for the month of November 2019. I enrolled in conversation classes in the mornings and the JLPT prep course in the afternoons. Both admin and teaching staff of the school were always kind and encouraging, always helpful and easy to work with. I really enjoyed spending break times in the common area, drinking delicious coffee, chatting with students and staff, and watching the beautiful snow. The study was challenging, with lots of texts and study materials provided, and nightly homework tasks. So I would recommend this school to anyone wanting to push themselves with their language study...although it is also possible to do classes in the morning only and cultural activities in the afternoons, a good option for beginners. The airport pickup and accommodation arrangements were perfectly suited to my needs. The school is in a great location near Sapporo Station. On the weekends I was able to explore other parts of Hokkaido, which is so beautiful and easy to do. For me it was great to be away from the big cities on Honshu. There is a different calmer vibe in Hokkaido, people living close to nature, indigenous culture, the finest seafood and agricultural produce, not as chaotic as Honshu, and it is such an amazing place to practise your Japanese.

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When I first arrived, I couldn’t speak Japanese at all. Now I can order things, ask people how their day was, and even read some Kanji! Great school, great staff, and great senseis! Also the location in Sapporo is beautiful! The school is located near the main station, where most of the stores and restaurants are, and there are just too many near and beautiful places you can go from Sapporo!

JaLS was a great introduction to Japanese study. Although it moved much quicker than I would like, the instruction was excellent. Wonderful staff, very friendly. Nae really took care of me from the very beginning. The cultural tours were ok, but if you do not speak Japanese, you will find it difficult to blend into the group tours. Overall a good experience.

The best 1 month of my life. I haven’t had fun for a very long time. Besides the academic part, the activities are really fun and interesting. My Senseis were great and the staff are friendly. I also met new friends along the way. Jals and Sapporo will always be my 2nd home.

I studied Japanese language for 3 months at Jals school in Sapporo. It was a really super nice experience, I learned a lot of Japanese and made a lot of friends. In a matter of 3 months, my Japanese level increased high and I look forward to come back. The main positive points about Jals according to me: - Skilled teachers who are teaching Japanese in a efficient way, with a structured curriculum. - Small classes allowing interactivity and Japanese practice. - Lounge accessible during long times, even during weekends to study more (and discounts on coffees). - Super friendly staff, can help beyond the limits of school (daily life help for example). - Friendly environment to meet other students / Japanese locals. - Good return on value / money invested.

I was happy to attend school. the lessons are fun and productive. the teachers are very kind and interesting in their presentation. staff is always ready to help if you have questions. I will be glad to return to school again. Thank you very much for everything !!

Japanese was always on the top of the list of language I wanted to be acquainted with. Last winter, a chance came to me to do so in Sapporo and with an amazing staffs in jals’s guidance I made a decision to finally dive into learning a new language. And that game me incredible depth and knowledge of Japanese that I thought I could never acquire before. Teachers was opted to Handle various backgrounds of students and had a incredible work ethics during the cold winter season. I never felt that I was forced to learn. I was naturally motivated and nurtured by staffs and students from abroad. Every week, there were new students coming in, accordingly activities were given for students to choose from. I went for fishing, snowboarding, sake tasting and tea ceremony. After 6 months, I could read Kanji and Japan news from TV. I also, took private lessons to enhance the speed of learning process and it was worth it. I don’t know how they create environment in a way that is never bored or mundane.

As always, excellent. I came for the third time and appreciated the kind and attentive teachers and staff. The learning curve was very high and the lessons adapted to my actual level. The activities provided were interesting and allowed to gain further knowledge of the Japanese culture and daily life. For first time visitors who know very little about the use of public transport or where to buy food, there was always great support from staff and teachers. Classes start at 9:30, so public transport is easy to use and the trains are not overcrowded. Really a plus! I think it is wonderful that there are various age groups and nationalities which makes the experience more interesting. Many lasting friendships have been built. Sapporo has many things to offer. I came twice in winter, because I like to ski. The areas are very close and even night skiing is possible. Now in Spring/Summer hiking, flower viewing, visiting Onsen (thermal bath) is great. There are stunning National Parks and the temperature, even in Summer is very agreable.

Hello everybody, I’m Marina and I had a pleasure of attending the short term Japanese language courses in JAL’s over the period of April-May. And I would really like to tell you about the amazing experience that I’ve had there. First of all the location, I chose Hokkaido because I really like cold and snow, although I wasn’t really expecting to see any in the end of April. Sapporo is a pretty big city that’s got everything you might ever need and at the same time not too big for you to get tired of it. Secondly, the school, I’ve done some research before choosing a school, since it was a Golden week and a lot of school were closed for this period. But not JAL’s. I’m pretty sure this is the only school that was open anywhere in Japan (or at least of all the schools that I’ve contacted). My emails were answered at the speed of light and the guys were always there to help me with any documents that I needed for my visa. And last, but not least, the school itself. I was pretty nervous being “back to school” again, but all my worries have disappeared once I got to know the guys. Everybody is so cheerful and helpful and just full of light. There was a welcome lunch held when new students (myself included) arrived. We got to introduce ourselves and to know the rest of the students, teachers and the staff. It instantly brakes the ice. The program is not just about the Japanese grammar, we really got to practice our Japanese speaking skills. Everyday teachers or staff would try to speak Japanese with you, and even if you know absolutely nothing, somehow, you realize that you understand the questions you’re asked and you don’t really notice how you start to reply in Japanese. I really found it so helpful! The whole studying process was never about memorizing the kanjis (because let’s face it, you don’t really need a teacher for that). It was about making you comfortable to be in Japan, to apply your knowledge in real situation, speaking with real Japanese people. It was priceless! Plus all the cultural activities provided. From the chopsticks making to a group izakaya event. Loved every second of it! I got to stay at the shared house - and I’m pretty sure it was the best decision I could have made. We all became like a small family. We were helping each other studying, having dinner together, bringing sweets for each other, watching Netflix together. Honestly, the experience that I’ve had no amount of money can buy. It was pretty tough coming back to “real” life after having so much fun! If anybody is ever in doubt - please don’t be! I highly recommend JALS! I’ve been there and I honestly had the time of my life! ♥️

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I was looking for a language school, that was not only providing Japanese Lessons, but also had interesting activities and i wasn't disappointed. The staff is helpful and friendly, the teachers are patient and competent. I liked it and I'm looking forward to join them again.