Hot Topics | |
---|---|
Samurai_Jerk wrote:I can't recommend a good school, but DON'T go to KCP. It's a piece of shit.
yakitori wrote:But to make it through 9 months there, that is nothing short of impressive.
Samurai_Jerk wrote:I was at KCP for 9 months so I have a pretty good idea of how it is. The classes are far too big with 20 students (a typical breakdown would be one American, 12 to 15 Koreans, and the rest Chinese). The in-house textbooks are piss poor plagarizations of better texts. They have no method of teaching kanji. Basically, they just teach vocab that happens to be in kanji and presented in order of the kanji's onyomi. They never talk about the meaning of an individual kanji or why is carries that meaning. Just a list of words that happen to include that kanji to remember. The worst part about that is the words you have to remember often have kanji you haven't learned yet. There is almost no conversation in class and very little listening practice. The facilites are over crowded, old, and dirty. They is no language lab either so you can't even practice listening on your own outside of class. The grammar is also pretty poorly presented with little explanation as to why something works a certain way. On top of that they are dishonest and if you have a visa through them they will hold that over your head to keep you in line with their stupid rules. And yeah, the rules are stupid. They basically try to micro manage your life and behavior and do things like reduce your grade if you are 30 seconds late or go to the restroom too many times during a term...
Charles wrote:OK, hold it right there. Your complaints about the curriculum seem like you could remedy them on your own, no class can provide ALL the knowledge you could need, so for example, if you need more grammar, there's nothing stopping you from additional study on your own. That's what everyone did in my classes here in the US. You will only get out of a class what you put into it.
But your objection to the late-for-class rule seems petty. My teacher had a rule that if you were not in your seat when class started, you were marked late, and if you were late or absent even ONCE without a written excuse from a doctor, you would not get a 10% bonus on your grades. I had this teacher for 3 years, and I always got my bonus, which often made the difference between a B+ and an A-. But one winter, I was absent for one day, due to the flu. After inspecting my note from the doctor, she demanded I write a formal letter of apology for my absence, which she taped up on her wall in a prominent spot. Every time I visited her office, I got to see her little trophy of my shameful letter. I visited her a few years after I graduated, the letter was still hanging up, almost 10 years after I wrote it. There were only a couple of additional letters posted next to it.
So regardless of whether or not you liked the class, is it really that hard to be on time to class?
akira117 wrote:What level should I get before going one of these schools in japan?
(Is this the school that was meant)
Samurai_Jerk wrote:I was at KCP for 9 months so I have a pretty good idea of how it is. The classes are far too big with 20 students (a typical breakdown would be one American, 12 to 15 Koreans, and the rest Chinese). The in-house textbooks are piss poor plagarizations of better texts. They have no method of teaching kanji. Basically, they just teach vocab that happens to be in kanji and presented in order of the kanji's onyomi. They never talk about the meaning of an individual kanji or why is carries that meaning. Just a list of words that happen to include that kanji to remember. The worst part about that is the words you have to remember often have kanji you haven't learned yet. There is almost no conversation in class and very little listening practice. The facilites are over crowded, old, and dirty. They is no language lab either so you can't even practice listening on your own outside of class. The grammar is also pretty poorly presented with little explanation as to why something works a certain way. On top of that they are dishonest and if you have a visa through them they will hold that over your head to keep you in line with their stupid rules. And yeah, the rules are stupid. They basically try to micro manage your life and behavior and do things like reduce your grade if you are 30 seconds late or go to the restroom too many times during a term. They won't let you even drink water during the class and have required outings and sports days that if you don't attend will also end up in grade reduction. Basically it's day care for immature kids from China and Korea. I could go on but I'll stop.
Western All Stars wrote:S_J, you wouldn't happen to be ex-military would you?...
I went to KCP a couple years ago just for the summer and we might have crossed paths. You're right about a lot of things at that school, but I don't know if it would be any different at other places. The teachers are strict as hell but that's just the only way they know how to teach. Personally they were really nice though and we'd go drinking sometimes after class. For me being the only English speakers was a major plus.
Japanese Language Program: Three semesters of college-level Japanese language or the equivalent is required for students in the Japanese Language Program
HeyMonkey wrote:Has anyone here taken private Japanese lessons in Tokyo? I don't mean private through an organization (because that is wayyyy more expensive than you can get it directly from a freelance teacher). I did Berlitz once a week for a year before I decided to try a freelance teacher for a fraction of the price. And then I was like... darn it, I should have done that sooner!!
Screwed-down Hairdo wrote:I haven't taken private classes, but if you're in Tokyo, you can probably find someone through Metropolis, craigslist or other online classifieds.
Why bother, though? Your entire surroundings are a classroom. Just get out and talk to people...it's easily the fastest, cheapest and most natural way to learn Japanese. Carry a J-E dictionary with you, mark down any new words you hear and then study them. You'll pick it up in no time.
;)"Yeah, I've been always awkward toward women and have spent pathetic life so far but I could graduate from being a cherry boy by using geisha's pussy at last! Yeah!! And off course I have an account in Fuckedgaijin.com. Yeah!!!"
;)"Yeah, I've been always awkward toward women and have spent pathetic life so far but I could graduate from being a cherry boy by using geisha's pussy at last! Yeah!! And off course I have an account in Fuckedgaijin.com. Yeah!!!"
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests