Study Japanese in Japan

[Wouter]

I am very interested in studying the Japanese language in Japan.
I have been in Japan before and I would prefer to study in the Kansai region.
I am 19 years old and my nationality is Belgian.
I have completed my 12 years of studies (I completed highschool 2 years ago)
At the moment I am studying Japanese studies at the university of Louvain (Leuven) in Belgium.
I have a basic understanding of Japanese.
What are my options to study the Japanese language in Japan?
I've heard about special language schools which teach only the Japanese language to foreigners.
Also, is it possible to get a scholarship or grant to help me financially?

Thanks

[Rio Lee]

I am very interested in studying the Japanese language in Japan.
I have been in Japan before and I would prefer to study in the Kansai region.
I am 19 years old and my nationality is Belgian.
I have completed my 12 years of studies (I completed highschool 2 years ago)
At the moment I am studying Japanese studies at the university of Louvain (Leuven) in Belgium.
I have a basic understanding of Japanese.
What are my options to study the Japanese language in Japan?
I've heard about special language schools which teach only the Japanese language to foreigners.
Also, is it possible to get a scholarship or grant to help me financially?

Thanks

Even tho I'm new here, I've to say that theres already alot of similar thread in this section of the forum. Do a little search. But I'll answer some of your question anyway, according to my limited knowledge. If you just want to study just the language, I dont think having 12 yrs of studies really matters( only if youre aiming going into a University in Japan). Options? that depends on how long you want to study it and how much money you got :relief: About the language school, do some search in this forum and you'll find a lot of recomendation. About scholarship, yes the Japanese goverment do give a scholarship for people who want to learn Japanese in Japan, its called Monbukagakusho. Check the Japanese embassy in your country. And theres probably a scholarship provided by your goverment. If not, its all on your money until you go to Japan. I heard theres alot of private scholarship you can get there, either from a private company or from the school itself.

Those info might not be 100% correct, but It can give you some idea.

[Suki-Yaki]

Hello Wouter.

I already study the japanese language in one of those "schools" in hope to enter a Japanese university someday.
The Japanese language schools offer intensive courses. Which last usually not more than 2 years. These courses have been mainly designed for the purpose of achieving the level 1 in Japanese language proficiency test. The japanese language proficiency test is a test non-japanese speakers should take , and pass, in order to enter a university. Only achieving the level 1 means that your Japanese is really advanced.
Aside from schools there are also universities which offer these courses.

But if you already are in university maybe you should look at your university first to see if they offer any exchange projects with Japan , that way you could still earn credits , ne ??

As for scholarships , there is the MEXT that is offered by the Japanese government . This is the only scholarship which I know of is obtainable from abroad and before you start study. As inside of Japan there are really many scholarships from various private organizations , but I never yet tried to apply to any of them , so I can't give any specific information over this..

Also if you want to come to Japan you will have to notice that the visa should usually be applied to about 6 months before your course starts. That means you will have to contact your school of choice just as soon as you can if you wanna be here for the April sessions (the beginning of the school/economical year of Japan) however ofcourse , many schools offer october sessions (infact maybe all of them). And some offer 4 term sessions (January/April/July/October) . But you should always notice that these sessions always vary in length, the April session is usually the 2 years session.
Many schools offer the option of additional subjects such as maths / phisics etc. But if you are not planning on a Japanese university in japan , then you shouldn't have a problem of searching a school that offers them .
The fees are usually 5000 dollars a year. It is almost similar to Japanese university first year fees.

I don't think you can make it for the student visa , but you can always enter on a visitor visa , and then change into the student visa, like what I did.
my love , this is kinda complicated. I think you should first find your school of choice , and then if you need any more help, just ask for it :wave:

suki-yaki

If you just want to study just the language, I dont think having 12 yrs of studies really matters( only if youre aiming going into a University in Japan).

Ok sorry for the double post but,

It DOES matter that you have completed 12 years of education , if you are applying for the student visa. If you are only using a visitors visa , and joining a 3 months course in Japan , that's when it deosn't matter.

And also , it doesn't matter if you have completed 12 years if you are like STILL in school , and joining like a homestay program or high school exchange. I don7t think the japanese immigration will appreciate the image if you have dumped school at some age. mreover it basically won7t "fit" into their picture of a Japanese langauge student.

And Rio Lee I think your should do some search for yourself. You will need much more knowledge of these matters if you are planning on studying in japan any soon .. :okashii: ..

[Rio Lee]

Ok sorry for the double post but,

It DOES matter that you have completed 12 years of education , if you are applying for the student visa. If you are only using a visitors visa , and joining a 3 months course in Japan , that's when it deosn't matter.

And also , it doesn't matter if you have completed 12 years if you are like STILL in school , and joining like a homestay program or high school exchange. I don7t think the japanese immigration will appreciate the image if you have dumped school at some age. mreover it basically won7t "fit" into their picture of a Japanese langauge student.

And Rio Lee I think your should do some search for yourself. You will need much more knowledge of these matters if you are planning on studying in japan any soon .. :okashii: ..

I'm sorry if I didnt make it clear in my last post. I mention that the 12 years of education is not necessary if you just want to learn just the language, since you only need a pre-college student visa. As in learning japanese less than 1 year time, as i said, it depends on how long you want to learn it and your financial status. And it still doesnt matter (in the case of my country, 11 years of studies) since you can still get a college student visa if you join the selected school for prepatory courses. But yes, point taken :sorry: even now I'm still doing an extensive research on this subject. Still I can feel some hostility in your post. Maybe they way I answer Wouter-san post makes me look like a wiseass. Or maybe i offended you in other post. gomennasai to the both of you. :sorry: :kanashii: I'll try not to make the same mistake again.

[Elizabeth]

The fees are usually 5000 dollars a year. It is almost similar to Japanese university first year fees.
What dollars are being referred to here ? In USD anyway, most schools I've looked into are at least twice that. And one entry requirement is 12 years of education in your country for a pre-college visa. Immigration officials needs to see either a certification of graduation or a high school/college diploma.

[Rio Lee]

What dollars are being referred to here ? In USD anyway, most schools I've looked into are at least twice that. And one entry requirement is 12 years of education in your country for a pre-college visa. Immigration officials needs to see either a certification of graduation or a high school/college diploma.

Yup, thanks for clearing that up for me...*scratch head* I have the info right on my hand and I missed it. Its 12 yrs of education for the pre-college visa. Sorry to everyone that got confused by my stupid post. I got myself confused too >_< sorry. I'm an idiot. I think i got it confused with the bold sentences in this pamplet from the embassy. :sorry: It says "In the case if a foreigner with the aim of just learning the Japanese language in Japan without the intention to proceed to higher education institustions in Japan, he/she is entitled to study at a general course or other courses at any of the Japanese language institues accredited by the Association for the Promotion of Japanese language Education regardless of his/her educational background" . Actually, i'm still confused. Nevertheless, sorry sukiyaki-san for my stupidity ^^;.

[Wouter]

Does anyone have experience with studying Japanese in Japan?
Can someone help me and give recommendations?
Thanks!

[Elizabeth]

Does anyone have experience with studying Japanese in Japan?
Can someone help me and give recommendations?
Thanks!
Yup a lot of us, although not necessarily under the criteria you've specified. Have you also tried a search of the Language forum (in particular through the subfora...Textbooks...Language Schools) as well as this bottom link ? If nothing still comes up, try creating another thread titled something like "Scholarships to Kansai Language Schools" and you may get a more specific response.

http://www.jref.com/language/japanese_schools_2.shtml

[wintersweet]

I'm looking at the Yamasa Institute myself. http://www.yamasa.org/

[Mike Cash]

Google is your friend: http://tinyurl.com/3k9zv

[Harvey]

I studied for one year at Nanzan University in Nagoya. They have a program called CJS (Center for Japanese Studies) that is a special program for students from abroad to come and study Japanese on their campus.

It's... close to Kansai anyway!

The good thing is that you will be studying on their campus for at least part of the time when the regular Japanese students are there. It's a really fun place with a very solid language program.

I know there are schools like that in Kansai too... but their names escape me at the moment.

[Edit]
Oh.. it's on my webpage...

Kansai Gaidai University
http://www.kansai-gaidai-u.ac.jp

I am living in Nara and working in Osaka now. If you need any help with anything specific feel free to contact me. You can catch me on my webpage.

Oh, speaking of which, here is a little FAQ I made a loooooooong time ago about study abroad. It's not great, but may lead you somewhere.
http://www.japannewbie.com/ryugakuseitips.php

Oh, and if you are a genious, you can get the FULBRIGHT (SP?) scholarship to study in Japan for free!

Nanzan: http://www.nanzan-u.ac.jp/

[ax]

Can anyone recommend cheapest language school that issues a visa?
If I switch to student visa... I need to make sure it is cheap to save the dough.

ax