【Summer in Hokkaido】 Study, Feel Culture, Make Friends

JALS Hokkaido is a wonderful study environment to be in if it’s your first time studying Japanese abroad. You are treated very well by the staff and the lounge area is perfect for both socialising and studying.

Going to a foreign country by yourself is daunting, but JALS made it an ideal experience. The staff is very friendly and helpful, the building is inviting and cozy (also located very closely to odori park), and the school provides a plethora of programs that invites you to immerse yourself in the culture. I have studied Japanese on my own for a while, and became frustrated at a point because I saw less progress. JALS is the perfect place to go, because they not only perfectly accommodated to my level and pushed me, but also offers a very flexible schedule so I did not have to commit to a longer stay than I wanted. Accommodation is also fantastic. The program offers many options to choose from, and each one is guaranteed quality. I personally did a home stay, and I will always remember the kindness of my home stay family. Could not recommend more for anyone who is visiting Japan for the first time/starting to learn Japanese.

On my first day I thought I was in way over my head but with the help of the staff I was able to fit in, and enjoy every bit of my experience there, to the point of making me want to go back again in the future. I met so many wonderful people and made a lot of friends. Jals is definitely a place I would recommend to anyone who wants to learn Japanese and experience a beautiful part of Japan.

The JALS language program is a very open program that helps students of many different backgrounds to connect and be part of the community. One of the greatest experience I had been in this language school is the opportunity to hang out with different people with similar interest throughout the town. Aside from the class, the cultural activity helps me broaden the learning aspect within the class. One of the greatest activities in the course when Interns throughout the course help set up activity between students from the local area and students who speak English. Interchanging culture and trying to connect with people that come from different backgrounds is a rare opportunity that not many people traveling get to enjoy. Overall, I would recommend the Jals program for anyone willing to experience Japanese culture and learn the language. It is very easy to enjoy your time and improve your language skill if you open your heart to people.

My time at Hokkaido Japanese Language School in Sapporo was one of my personal highlights during my stay in Japan. Though i was supposed to "just get familiarized with the Japanese language" i learned so much more! The school, staff, teachers and the students made my time there not just about studying and learning japanese but experiencing and understanding the Japanese culture. My time in Sapporo was truly an amazing experience; everything from the Japanese lessons, to the arranged school trips, to eating out with friends and living in a share-house - which i highly recommend to anyone intending to study in Sapporo.

really grateful for the chance to study here, the teachers are very great, the staffs are really nice, the school provided many facilities. also we can make new friends here. the accomodation was also really clean and nice. thankyou jals!

It's a wonderful three months in Hokkaido . I was so glad to chose Jals . All the teachers and staffs are very nice and friendly . In class you can have a lot of chance to practice your Japanese . If you want to improve your Japanese skills , especially speaking . Jals it's a good choice !!!

I truly had a great time living and experiencing all the great culture of Japan. The teachers were all very nice and very helpful with all the different course materials they provided. I would recommend this course for beginners or even those for advanced. As one of the longer students who stayed and I'm glad I got to go through this great experience with them. It would be so great to be able to go again.

I went to Sapporo Jals last year during one month. I don't know how to explain how incredible this experience was. As a real Swiss person, I am not afraid of the cold but I didn't expect to see that much snow in Sapporo. It was totally magical, with these snowy streets. Sapporo is a recent and cold city but the inhabitants are so warm and nice. They will not hesitate to help you if they can. About Sapporo Jals, I would like to say that it was love at first sight. The staff is lovely and amazing, very kind and helpful. Teachers are really cool and competent and you will learn Japanese in small classes, which is better to improve faster. Do not hesitate to ask them if you need something. Moreover, the school proposes so many different cultural activities. You will have the opportunity to speak Japanese with local Japanese people and visit this fascinating city. You will be immerged in a different Japan. So, even more than one year after, I still remember this month as if it was yesterday. I met friends for life. Now the only thing I want is to come back. See you soon everyone, and one more time, thank you for everything!

I particularly enjoyed my time studying Japanese at JALS in Sapporo. Not only did I have great teachers, I also made lots of friends from around the world through the program. The three hours of class for five days a week were perfect for a student like myself who wished to properly learn the language but also wanted time outside the classroom to explore and practice. Furthermore, the smaller class size of just a few students per teacher allowed me and my peers to get more chances to practice with teachers who in turn also got to know us better. With the program, I was also able to experience different aspects of Japanese culture through activities like kendo, flower arrangement, or sweets making. Depending on your budget and your interests, you can pick and choose the activities you want to do. The wintertime makes this program especially appealing as the city is blanketed in beautiful snow and ice festivals occur all throughout Hokkaido including the world renoun Sapporo Snow Festival. Overall, this program is a must not just because of the picturesque locale of wintertime Hokkaido but even more so because of the kind hospitality of the folks at the school, a trait shared by so many of wonderful people of Japan.

I couldn't have had a better way of spending two weeks in Japan. The staff at Hokkaido Japanese Language School is so friendly, helpful, and caring. The school is located in the heart of Hokkaido. Every day there was a new cultural experience awaiting for me. I left with many life-long relationships, much improved Japanese language skills, and deep connection to the city of Hokkaido.

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The course at JaLS exceeded my expectations! Right from the beginning when I emailed some inquiries to JaLS, I could sense the staff's sincerity in replying me and answering any doubts I had. While I was at school, the staff were also very helpful in entertaining any queries I had, such as recommendations on food and travel. The language teachers were also very professional and patient (and fun at the same time). They used many examples to illustrate new grammar to us so that we could understand what was being taught. They also gave us sufficient time to practise the new grammar/vocabulary during class. I enjoyed the cultural activities very much too. I was blessed with nice classmates/schoolmates and we shared many fun times together! Really enjoyed every bit of my time in Japan! =)

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I went to study at Hokkaido Jals on 6 June 2016 until 29 august 2016. I was joining that school for holiday purpose, and it turned out to be the best summer ever!! Actually the learning method was so fun that made me finally willing to study. I went there with no japanese skill at all and after i finished 3 months course i'm able to speak basic japanese and it is more than i expected, i can talk about my life and things i like to do with japanese people, they understand me! The program was amazing because they had so many cultural and fun activities to offer from making sushi to rock climbing. This school is a great place to build international relationship because the school attended with students from all over the world, from indonesia to russia, even iceland. It was like a little united nations! As a conclusion, if you want to study japanese while making friends and having fun, Hokkaido JALS is a right place for you, just go online and apply now!

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I was so happy that I chose Jals,because all of the staff in there are so nice and the teachers are so kind,interesting.I got a lot progress in this school and met a lot of friends who are from different country.It was a unforgettable and the best experience!

One of the best decisions I’ve made was studying at the Hokkaido Japanese Language School (JALS) for 8 weeks. Looking back, my experiences in Hokkaido all feel like a really good dream that I didn’t want to end. If you want to learn real Japanese, there is no better way to do it than here. I have seen students who spoke zero Japanese come to class each day, and by the end of their summer session, were able to write, read, and speak easily! My personal progress has been no less amazing, but even more, I left Sapporo with the drive to keep studying Japanese, to keep pushing myself forward in life, and to work towards my goals each day. Learning Japanese is just one small part of the experience though. After morning classes, the day belongs to the students. JALS always has an activity lined up after lunch for those who are interested, and if not, there is always something to see and do in Sapporo! This brings me to the most memorable and important part of my journey—my friends. I made so many friends during my time in Sapporo between the students of JALS and the Japanese residents of the share house that JALS arranged for my stay. These people that I call my friends made Sapporo feel like a second home. We shared food, drinks, stories, embarrassing karaoke performances, and so much more. And no matter what background anybody was from, we were all equal and in this adventure together. Each weekend JALS had a new weekend excursion lined up for the students and it was these outings that were my most memorable. I had the chance to see the expansive lavender fields of Furano, Biei lake—a lake that echoes that beautiful teal color of Caribbean shorelines, Rusutsu Resort—an amusement park and ski resort in the mountains with breathtaking views and rollercoasters, Otaru—a well-known seaside town with a scenic canal reminiscent of Venice, and much more! If you’re thinking about visiting or vacationing in Japan next summer, consider the Hokkaido Japanese Language School! You’ll do more, see more, and make many unforgettable friends along the way. And don’t forget to bring your camera!

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Hello, my name is Elísabet and I'm a seventeen year old girl from Iceland. I am now reporting for duty by writing my review of Hokkaido Japanese Language School. The following letter you will read has been written in all honesty, sugarcoating no truth whatsoever. You may now proceed to the review. I had a fantastic time while I stayed at JaLS. The staff were always friendly and ready to assist you whenever you needed anything, whether it was outside of school or not. In my class we were all from different countries and varied in ages, I was very surprised when I found out I was the youngest one there (17years old). The activity's the school offered were always fun and I never felt lonely since they seemed to make sure you were always with someone from your class. The teachers changed depending on what day it was, which I liked since their teaching methods were different. I was too young to stay at a share house, which I was a little bummed out about. But the school placed me in such a wonderful host family that I wouldn't have wished for anything else. Sapporo was such a wonderful place to stay at, I think almost all of us were surprised by how clean Hokkaido is! I made a lot of new friends there, and seeing pictures of them make me miss them a lot (which is what I'm doing right now thanks to Peta ಠ_ಠ). The two months I spent in Japan will always be stuck in my memory, I already feel nostalgic when I think about it. The people I met during that short time had created a tiny space in my heart marked as 'The weird people from JaLS, summer 2016'. And the 'summer 2016' part is important to note since I will be coming back. And I will be broke again lol(the price is very reasonable though! I just have no money :-)). But I know it will all be worth it because this summer left me in a M.E.S.S once I got home because I miss the people and the location so much. If this review wasn't enough to convince you to sign up for JaLS I hope the following photos will. But apparently I'm only allowed to post 3 photos, which does not give the experience it's justice. Elísabet tuning out.

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At first, it was my friend who recommended this school to me. But I did do some research on my own, and through comparison, I realized that JALS has an awesome location, teaches in small classes, and offers diverse activities. With little knowledge of Japanese, I joined a class that had already started for a month. I knew that would happen beforehand but didn't prepare for it. However, I gradually caught up with the class because the teachers patiently gave me extra help and the staffs would assist me in studying after class at the school. All the activities are fascinating. And I highly recommend the FIREWORK festival in late July. The school knows a good spot to watch the firework. We went early, saved the sport, and then grabbed some foods together to wait for an amazing night. In all, I don't have any complaint about this experience. I made friends with people from all over the world. It was the best summer ever, and I would definitely go back again.

Hokkaido JLS is a great language school where you can learn a lot about Japan and its culture as well as make a lot of international friends. The teachers and staff are very friendly and are always willing to help. The school itself is very nice and the teachers really focus on you because of the smaller classes. It is also in the middle of town (5 min from sapporo station), so there was always a lot to do after school. There were also many cultural activities after school and on saturdays where I was able to do things I would have never been able to do on my own. The school also set me up with a very kind host family. They were very accepting and really made you feel like part of the family. At this school I was able to: improve my japanese quickly in a short amount of time while learning about the culture at the same time, make many new friends from around the world, and experience life in Japan instead of just traveling. Overall this was an amazing, once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget. I highly recommend this school to anyone planning to study in Japan.

As my first visit to Japan, I think this was a great choice. Rather than the intense heat and huge crowds of Tokyo (as I later got to experience), in Sapporo you get to immerse in the Japanese culture without rush, giving you time to acclimate to this whole new place. As for the school, I think the staff and teachers are the nicest people ever, and they really try to make you feel comfortable. I learned a lot from this program and I really wish to go back to the school and study more Japanese with them. I literally knew nothing and ended up being able to order and asking for directions without anyone (or anything) to help me. It was simply great.

The summer course is very good! I recommend it to everyone, who want to learn something more about Japan and not only study Japanese. You can learn a lot about the Japanese culture and make interesting things that probably you will never try again in your life :) There are a lot of activities during week so you have always something interesting to do and you can make a lot of friends, every day is fun ! Japanese lessons in the morning are enjoyable and you will learn a lot in few time. If you have any problem school staff is really helpful and i think everyone is friendly and kind. I really enjoyed my month in JaLS, and hope I'll go again in future.