FREE Japanese Language Classes in Japan?

[Hoyu]

Recently I have received ordination with a Japanese Buddhist tradition and now need to study Japanese language in Japan. Where I study is not as important as the costs are. I have researched several of the threads here on J-Ref, but have found very little about free classes (non-credit) for western students interested in studying Nihon-go. I believe that I need total immersion in Japan in order for the language to really stick. Perhaps a year or two in Japan would prepare me to pass my seminary examinations. Yet I don't have enough funds to pay for accommodations/living costs AND tuition for that long period of time. So I was wondering if anyone here might know of FREE classes that I might attend anywhere in Japan?

In Gassho, Kakuzen

[Hoyu]

Okazaki International Association holds FREE Japanese lessons taught by volunteers to non-Japanese living in Okazaki. Every Saturday from 2:30pm to 4:30pm at Tatsumigaoka-kaikan (3rd Floor), a 10 minute walk from Higashi Okazaki Station to Higashi Myodaiji cho. And also every 2nd, 3rd and 4th Thursday and Sunday of the month in Aoi Hall at Yamasa from 10:00am - 12:00am. Call 0564-45-5778 for more details, or email yoshiaki_yamamoto@hotmail.com

Kitakyushu International Association
International Village Center, 1 - 1- 1 Hirano, Yahatahigashi-ku, Kitakyushu City 805-0062

FREE Japanese Language Class: Japanese Language Lounge is open every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Fukuoka International Exchange Foundation (Kokusai Hiroba)
ACROS Fukuoka 3 F, 1- 1- 1 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City 810 - 0001
TEL: 092 - 725 - 9201

FREE Japanese Language Class: Approximately thirty lessons are held in a year.
Also, private voluntary Japanese classes in Fukuoka Prefecture will be introduced.

Fukuoka International Association (Rainbow Plaza)
1 - 7- 11 Tenjin, Chuo-ku Fukuoka City 810 - 0001
TEL: 092 -733 - 2220

FREE Japanese Language Class: Japanese lessons are held by a voluntary organization (Every Tuesday)

Any other suggestions people?

In Gassho, Kakuzen

[Hoyu]

A friend in Tokyo mentioned another good resource there. The Tokyo Nihongo Volunteer Network (TNVN).

http://www.tnvn.jp/indexe.shtml

My friend says these free classes can be found online under "Volunteer Japanese Language Classes." I Googled it and he is right!

http://www.google.com/search?q=Volunteer+Japanese+Language+Classes&hl=en&lr=&start=10&sa=N

In Gassho, Kakuzen

[Buntaro]

Hoyu-san,

All I can suggest is doing exchange with people in Japan. (You teach English for 30 minutes, then they teach Japanese for 30 minutes.) I am sure that you can find lots of volunteers!

By the way, which denomination did you take your ordination in?

[Hoyu]

Thats a great idea Buntaro! Thank you for mentioning it. Do you know of any specific organization that provides such an exchange?

In Gassho, Hoyu (FKA. Kakuzen)

p.s. the answer to your question is Jodo-shu.

[Buntaro]

Hoyu-san,

What part of Japan will you be in? No, I don't know of any such organizations. However, if you are in a place like Tokyo, we can find you TONS of exchange partners, but they will be private persons, not members of any school, etc. I have a lot of instructional materials that you can have copies of. Are you a complete beginner of Japanese?

What type of visa will you be there on? Does the church provide sponsorship? Will you be allowed to work?

[m477]

You should check to see if the city where you will be staying or cities nearby to see if they have a web site which might list this information.

Also, you check at the post office. I remember at the post office where I was staying you could pick up a free monthly newsletter for the local area which mentioned something about free Japanese language tutoring for foreigners living in that city.

[Hoyu]

Buntaro-san: I am looking into the possibility of living in the Tokyo area nearest Minato-ku because that is where the Jodo Research Institute is located. Thank you for offering copies of your study materials and introductions to possible exchange partners. Are you living in the Tokyo area at this time? I am not a complete beginner, but after many years not using the language I fear I must have lost much of it. I am not certain about the Visa situation at this time. Perhaps I will have to do the 3 month tourist rout the first time round, then look for a sponsor while I am in Tokyo. My Sensei is looking into this at this time. Informal study is in, work is out.

m477: Thanks for the tips on where to look for volunteer tutoring assistance.

In Gassho, Hoyu

[Suki-Yaki]

Here in kokubunji the kokubunji international association once claimed they were having free classes for people interested in Japanese language , in the afternoon and the morning. Even though I already am in a language school , I went just for the fact of practicing the language even more. And there I stand , infront of the assosiation 7 oc[lock looking at it being "CLOSED" and hating my self for having wasted my afternoon. Knowing that I have already CALLED them the previous day and the have TOLD me to come at that time ..

I couldn7t have imagined such dissrespect of time could occur in japan . So i think , there could be free classes , but don"t expect much from them .
Also , the free classes are usually just for a "conversational purpose" so it shouldn"t take you into the mastering levels .

[Hoyu]

Arigato for the heads up Suki-Yaki!

In Gassho, Hoyu

[Buntaro]

Sensei!

I live in the Los Angeles area. Where are you?

I would have thought that you could get a missionary visa into Japan. Can you?

Is your sensei unable to be your sponsor?

I remember seeing the Jodoshu temple in Honolulu. Very nice.

It is sad to see the splitting up of Jodo into Jodoshu, Jodoshinshu, etc. It seems all political to me.

Once again, when you get to Tokyo, it wil be easy for us to find TONS of exchange partners for you.

I used to work at the Sekai Boeki Senta- Biru (World Trade Center Bldg) in Minato-ku. Natsukashii!

[Hoyu]

Dear Buntaro,

Aloha from Hawaii dear friend! :-)

Locating enough funding for a full scholarship requires much effort on my Sensei's behalf. I am trying to see if there is any way I can assist in locating inexpensive accommodations and Nihongo study on my own. He has not asked me to do this, I have taken it upon myself to look into these possibilities. I'm not the kind of person to just sit back and expect someone else (even my own Sensei) to do all the work for me.

Regarding the Jodo-shu (Pure Land School) and the Jodo Shin-shu (True Pure Land School), actually there was not a "splitting up" per say. Honen was Shinran's teacher for six years, but after they were both exiled, Shinran added his own experience and understanding to the Nembutsu path which became known as the Jodo Shin-shu. Throughout the ages since Honen's passing, the Jodo-shu developed independent of Shinran's Jodo Shin-shu. So in fact there never was any sort of split between denominations. There is just a difference in the understanding of practice.

You mentioned that once I get to Tokyo there will not be any problem finding an exchange partner for me. Do you have any specific leads for me to check into prior to my arrival in Tokyo? It would be difficult for me to tell my Sensei that I have found assistance in Nihon-go training, but am not sure who it is who will be assisting me. I hope you understand my dilemma.

In Gassho, Hoyu

[Buntaro]

Aloha kakahiaka kaua,

I will start looking for people that you can contact before you get to Tokyo. No doubt your church will have people eager to do an exchange. Let me see what I can come up with. My friend used to run an English language coffee shop in Ebisu. That would be an excellent place to meet people, if it is still there. When do you plan to arrive in Tokyo?



Is there anyone out there in the Tokyo Minato-ku or Ebisu area?

Mahalo nui loa,
Hui ho.

[Hoyu]

Arigato dear friend! I will most likely be arriving in Tokyo towards the end of first quarter 2005.

In Gassho, Hoyu

[Buntaro]

Hoyu-sensei!

A'ole pilikia (no problem). Unfortunately, most people that I know in Tokyo do not speak English well. But I will see what I can do.


A hui ho, Brudduh Buntaro.

[Hoyu]

Bowing in deep gratitude for your assitance good friend Buntaro. I may have found a dorm room in Ichikawa City to live in. It's a 30 minute train ride from central Tokyo, but maybe there are exchange partners I can find out on that (Eastern) side of Tokyo. Thanks again for all the assistance and advice you J-Ref members have offered me.

In Gassho, Hoyu

[Elizabeth]

A friend in Tokyo mentioned another good resource there. The Tokyo Nihongo Volunteer Network (TNVN).

http://www.tnvn.jp/indexe.shtml
Has anyone tried any of the free classes or other services at this volunteer network ? It'll probably be closed but I'm thinking of checking it out Monday anyway.... :-)