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.