Meiji Academy - Long-Term Japanese Course

Meiji Academy and Hokkaido treated me so well and my 6-month Japanese course is nearing towards the end. I have learned so much and I made a lot of Japanese friends during my time here. I think Meiji is a great place if you want to learn actually properly speaking Japanese. Their focus on communication and business related teachings for young students is really impressive. Me just being 18 and finishing Gymnasium in Germany it was actually a wonderful chance to have this school taken care of the whole study program for me. I also enjoyed the social activities and crazy events we regularly had. From sushi making, kimono wearing to Taiko drum playing. I have made so many warm memories in this time and even met my cute Japanese boyfriend, which I won't write anything more here :P I think Meiji Academy is really good for long-term students who stay longer than just a few weeks as the teachers and staff really care about everybody having a good time and enjoying Sapporo. Be back soon everybody and miss you already a lots!

One thing I learned during my half year I was in Hokkaido is how much I still have to learn about Japanese language and culture. I am saying this as a positive thing as the life long learning Japanese became a huge passion for me. Meiji's teachers did a great job of making me learn to love the process rather than ruminating why my studies take so long. Japanese is a very difficult language for Westerners and this school has a proper understanding on how to make it fun and accessible for anybody to master the language. The cultural activities and occasional hangouts with other teachers and students just rounded up the whole experience. Judging from what I have seen so far I think Hokkaido is THE PLACE to go and learn Japanese as it's such a relaxed atmosphere and gives so much freedom to enjoy the nature and culture with lovely local people that are very welcoming.

I joined Meiji Academy in Hokkaido last year and studied with them for over a little than 6 months. First I joined them in Hokkaido for 4 months and decided half way through that I have also the option to switch campuses and study my remaining time in Fukuoka! Hey would be great if I would have known that earlier! But no bad blood here!! I really loved my time in Hokkaido and I am actually going back there, but I was so much set for Fukuoka that it would have made things in terms of planning better. Looking back at my time with Meiji I am very happy with the amount of progress I made with my verbal Japanese skills and intense conversational moddules and private lessons I took. The best part is the very focused study relationship that students have with their teachers meaning you can literally ALWAYS go over to them and ask about any part you would like to revise, you have problems with certain grammar or even just some extra practice sessions and homework. Belive me they won't even leave it there. I had teachers following up from other teacher notes what I spoke to them more than a week ago and frankly I was shocked! I mean positively shocked how much they paid attention on these things! Back in Aussie I would be happy if my professor at uni would have even remembered my name at the end of the semester. The other good thing was the housing. I stayed with them at both locations in a sharehouse and the community was awesome. Super nice Japanese people and fellow international students from all over the world and from different language schools or unis in Japan. I think it's the best way to make friends and it was good for me to get out of my comfort zone. Obviously you do not have to organise your housing through the school but I did find it much more convenient and the majority of students seemed to have taken the same approach. One of the best parts besides the really good classes and well organised learning schedules were the regular events and activities we had. I made a bunch of Japanese friends and also engaged a lot in international language exchange talks. I recommend you do that as well when there. All in all great time I had and couldn't recommend any other school over this. Big thanks to the whole Meiji team for organising this.

Meiji's classes were very fast paced without making you feel overcome any time. I was able to study more Japanese in these 3 months than during my last 2 years back in college. I saw so many beautiful sights and wonderful natural landscapes that I won't ever forget. I loved all my teachers and made so many Japanese friends on the way. The teachers paid a lot of attention to teaching us communicative Japanese with an approach on speaking practice. This was very new to me as back home in New Zealand we would focus a lot on grammar and textbook learning which was less effective for interactive Japanese speaking. Hokkaido will always remain a special place in my heart and with that said I'll make sure to keep in touch with everybody. Thanks a lot Meiji Academy!!!

I've studied with Meiji Academy in Sapporo on the 6-month course and reflecting back I think it was very rewarding experience. The language course and also the cultural activities were very well planned and I always felt welcomed by all the staff. I would recommend anybody who wants to get a deeper exposure to Japanese culture and grasp a better understanding on how to immerse yourself in the culture by doing long-term studies with a school that you can really trust their teaching methods and educational approach.

My three months in Sapporo were really good and Meiji did very well job. I liked a lot my sensei helping me all time with my questions. I think Sharehouse is best choice and when you can should come for Summer season. Especially Furano trip to lavender fields was so nice. I recommend doing the conversation japanese module as I improved speaking a lot. Grazie mille Meiji

My 3 months last year passed by like in a week. So intense, so much things happening and I even did a lot of studies for my JLPT N4 that I successfully passed last Winter!!! I spent all my time at the Hokkaido campus and it was really a lot of fun with the brand new school and good campus life. I stayed at the sharehouse as it was cheapest option and really good la. I'll be back sometime after my uni time or during Summer holidays. Hokkaido is really great and the people super nice.

Good day all! Just done with my 6 months at Meiji Academy and looking back this was very very useful for me. I spent 4 months in Hokkaido and 2 months in Fukuoka. I think the long-term courses they offer really equipped me with a lot of fundamental Japanese skills you honestly need to get by here. For sure if you plan on working here permanently. The best thing about the long-term program are the great discounts. lol Just joking, that's one part for sure but I reckon really adapting to the country requires some safe space where you can rely on people and also ask about anything you are concerned. Meiji was and is for me like a home. With a lot of Aussies in Hokkaido I just naturally tending to go back there (where I'm currently). For me the personal care and great visa support throughout my stay was the best part. The list can go on but I think you really need to consider longer Japanese studies when you come on a working holiday visa or other visa that allows you to spend more time exploring Japan. I'll drop by sometime and cheers to all my fellow Meiji Students! Your Boris!!

I came to Fukuoka around a month ago, on a Working Holiday Visa. I’ll be staying for a year so I thought it’d be a good idea to get some good experience with the language first, and I came across Meiji. For now I’m doing a 14 week course, and so far I can genuinely say I’ve loved every minute of it! The school itself has a very homely feel to it, and I always feel welcomed there. It almost feels like the staff have taken me in as one of their own, they make sure I’m well, they give me great tips about life in Fukuoka, to be honest they’ve turned into good mates. Thankfully I’ve yet to finish my classes, so I still have a lot more to enjoy. Aside from being great people, they’re great teachers. I can say I’ve learnt more here in a month than I did from the so-called university course I took over the past year. So in conclusion I highly recommend Meiji to anybody!

I had so much fun at this very nice and family like Japanese school in center of Tenjin, Fukuoka. I recommend you come here if you are looking for small sized classrooms and a very personalized learning experience. Meiji teachers made so much effort teaching and helping me properly adapt to my new Japanese environment. We go every Friday when there is a graduation of students for graduation lunch or dinner. Sometimes we even went with the Japanese teachers for Karaoke and some city sightseeing tours. I was so happy and blessed to have chosen this school. I don't know why Fukuoka is not so popular but it definitely deserves more international attention. I will come back here in the future again but now I will continue studying a bit longer with my WHV visa. Muchas Gracias Meiji! I love you all!

When you stay for 5 months at the same place, as I did, you need to find the perfect place, the one you won't regret. I can guarantee you that Meiji Academy IS the right place to be! It took me a while to make my choice, but after reading their reviews and contacting them by email, I decided to go for it. I am so glad that I chose them. After 5 months of studies, travels and all types of adventures, I became close friends with literally everyone at Meiji and they are like family to me. Teachers, staff, students... everyone was open-minded and kind-hearted. I could always find someone to share a meal with after class and I was never tired of Japanese food! My Japanese level improved so much that I was sometimes surprised by my own skills! Meiji makes sure that you practice during the classes but also everyday situations outside the school during the field trips and activities outside. Thank you so much for those incredible and fantastic months spent in Fukuoka.

Studying with Meiji Academy was beneficial and challenging. I learnt to have a different look at Japanese culture, to avoid stereotypes and appreciate the real spirit of Japan. This is something you cannot understand unless you come to Japan for at least several months and experience daily life. The atmosphere in Fukuoka was especially charming. The mysterious mountains that sometimes disappeared in the background had a really positive influence on my everyday mood. When I was looking at it, it reminded me that I was in Japan, this beautiful country. The classes were captivating and my level was undoubtedly improving day by day. The Japanese people do not speak much English, so you are really forced to speak Japanese to them and improve your skills. I am delighted to say that now speaking Japanese no longer scares me!

I'm used to traveling fast during my trips, but this time I choose to try the "slow travel" while studying at Meiji Academy. I was tired of my approximate Japanese level and I needed to get a solid grammar basis in order to improve faster. So I stayed for 3 months at Meiji, and I could enjoy the daily life in Japan! It was a new experience for me to get used to people and making lots of friends. For example, the woman from the konbini or the guys from the ramen restaurant were always happy to see me and talk with me! I easily talk with others, even if my Japanese was not perfect, and thanks to that I became friendly with an old woman running a small restaurant with her husband, and on my last day she gave me some Japanese tea to bring back home, how cute is that! I'm happy to have stayed longer than usual at the same place for this kind of encounter. In 3 months my Japanese level improved a lot, I could literally feel that! It helped me communicate with the locals and make friends!

I spent 4 months at the school last spring. I really had a nice time, lots of fun and competent teachers that provided me with a fantastic mixture of fun and challenging lessons. The school has different programs outside of the study hours where you can meet your schoolmates, local Japanese university students, make business connections and practice Japanese. The school is smaller than I expected, but I liked it to be a bit smaller, like a family, and all-in-all for me, it was worth it and I am considering returning.

Meiji Academy is very well organised and has a friendly atmosphere. The teachers were very professional and excellent. The sessions were usually fun and helpful. In the rare occasions when I would not be satisfied with the classes, I would tell the Meiji staff and they would adjust the speed of the class. That’s definitely what’s great about studying in a small language school with small classes: Flexibility and Individual attention. Even if my classmates and I were of different ages or cultures, and not exactly at the same level, Meiji managed to place all of us in classes that suit us best. Meiji Academy also organised a free walking tour around the city on our first day, which was a nice welcome.