good language intensive programs for college grads?

[LUOLDENG9]

I'm a recent college grad from the US but I'm thinking about moving to Japan to make a long-term living there or maybe spend the rest of my life there. I have a BS degree in a science/technology field, so I can apply for those jobs once I know the language well enough.

I haven't taken any Japanese classes in the past, so I've also thought of enrolling in a language intensive program. Are there any good ones you guys recommend in Japan?

Also, does anyone know how long the visa application should take? I only know of Naganuma, which told me it could take 4-5 months. So if I applied now, I couldn't start the program until December. Anyone know if this is typical or if this school just takes really long?

[well_bicyclically]

I'm a recent college grad from the US but I'm thinking about moving to Japan to make a long-term living there or maybe spend the rest of my life there. I have a BS degree in a science/technology field, so I can apply for those jobs once I know the language well enough....

you can apply. you will never be selected.

[KansaiBen]

Also, does anyone know how long the visa application should take? I only know of Naganuma, which told me it could take 4-5 months. So if I applied now, I couldn't start the program until December. Anyone know if this is typical or if this school just takes really long?

Its probably because the term has started and you have missed out on the deadlines and have to wait for the next intake which could be 5 months from now.

Not sure where you want to live but the Osaka YMCA I think has a good language program too.

[ThaHamburgler]

I'm a recent college grad from the US but I'm thinking about moving to Japan to make a long-term living there or maybe spend the rest of my life there. I have a BS degree in a science/technology field, so I can apply for those jobs once I know the language well enough.

I haven't taken any Japanese classes in the past, so I've also thought of enrolling in a language intensive program. Are there any good ones you guys recommend in Japan?

Also, does anyone know how long the visa application should take? I only know of Naganuma, which told me it could take 4-5 months. So if I applied now, I couldn't start the program until December. Anyone know if this is typical or if this school just takes really long?

Hokkaido Intl Foundation.


Doesn't hurt to rub elbows with some of the richest Yale, Harvard, MIT, etc kids you'll ever meet. The studies are also conducted by Yale, Harvard etc japanese teachers with some of the most well rounded intensive study programs you'll ever encounter. After you learn their methods (by participating in the program), you can shape their methods for your own self study and then theres no stoppin ya.

[WasedaChris]

i was the same way. graduated from college in california and wanted to come to japan because i've always wanted to live here. so far i've been to two different language schools and it really helps to know which language schools are good for what you're looking for. some are real crap compared to others. my housemate right now goes to naganuma which is a great school, but is super fast paced and gives out a lot of homework and requires a lot of self-study.

these guys provide a buncha helpful information since i used them to initially enroll in a school then transfer.
http://gogonihon.com/en/learn-japanese-study-in-japan

i currently go to ISI language school in tokyo so if you have any questions about my school, feel free to ask!

[ThaHamburgler]

i was the same way. graduated from college in california and wanted to come to japan because i've always wanted to live here. so far i've been to two different language schools and it really helps to know which language schools are good for what you're looking for. some are real crap compared to others. my housemate right now goes to naganuma which is a great school, but is super fast paced and gives out a lot of homework and requires a lot of self-study.

these guys provide a buncha helpful information since i used them to initially enroll in a school then transfer.
http://gogonihon.com/en/learn-japanese-study-in-japan

i currently go to ISI language school in tokyo so if you have any questions about my school, feel free to ask!

Sounds expensive. Hokkaido Intl Foundation is 2 months during hte summer, homestay and $5,000 btw

[WasedaChris]

Sounds expensive. Hokkaido Intl Foundation is 2 months during hte summer, homestay and $5,000 btw

jesus 2 months for $5,000?? i pay, at the current exchange rate, $4,277 for 6 months of tuition. 2 months for $5,000 is outrageous even with a homestay especially since it's in hokkaido.

[ThaHamburgler]

jesus 2 months for $5,000?? i pay, at the current exchange rate, $4,277 for 6 months of tuition. 2 months for $5,000 is outrageous even with a homestay especially since it's in hokkaido.

Lol teachers from Harvard and Yale, students also from all the top schools. The connections alone could land you a six figure job in the future. Trust me, having friends in high places is pretty damn nice. Lol. Unimaginably nice

Program also taught me more than any other language programs, as well as how to teach myself to achieve a 2kyu and 1kyu and have Japanese people joke if I'm Japanese (clearly white). The skills are priceless IMO and transfer to any language you want to learn. Regular language programs suck,aren't intense, and follow the "can't teach an old dog language program new tricks."

[WasedaChris]

Lol teachers from Harvard and Yale, students also from all the top schools. The connections alone could land you a six figure job in the future. Trust me, having friends in high places is pretty damn nice. Lol. Unimaginably nice

Program also taught me more than any other language programs, as well as how to teach myself to achieve a 2kyu and 1kyu and have Japanese people joke if I'm Japanese (clearly white). The skills are priceless IMO and transfer to any language you want to learn. Regular language programs suck,aren't intense, and follow the "can't teach an old dog language program new tricks."

oh jesus i just saw the previous student list. tons of kids from yale and harvard, no wonder they can afford the tuition rate at this program. the potential connections is most definitely invaluable, but more often than not, you gotta have money to make money. kinda wish i went to this short-term program back when i was in college though. the only useful thing i learned from college was how to network and how to drink ungodly amounts of alcohol. (both very useful for business especially in japan lol)

also i looked and the program is only summer based so they don't offer long-term student visas so it's not a viable option for someone that wants to study and live in Japan longer than 3 months.

great find on that program though, seems like a short-term course winner if you can afford it.

[blacksunshine]

I went to Kai Japanese Language school in Shin-okubo and I recommend it fully.

There's a lot less Chinese/Korean people then most language schools in Tokyo. I think the biggest group was always sweedes actually. In the upper level recently there was always Chinese people who were sent from their Japanese companies to improve their Japanese.

Myself, as well as several of my friends were able to secure jobs in Japanese companies (neither IT nor Teaching) after completing their program and pretty much everyone who finished it had no problems with JLPT 1.

It's not as Kanji intensive as a lot of schools at early levels but makes sure you get everything you need for N1 by the end of it. I was really happy with my year there.

[Fred C. Dobbs]

I'm a recent college grad from the US but I'm thinking about moving to Japan to make a long-term living there or maybe spend the rest of my life there. I have a BS degree in a science/technology field, so I can apply for those jobs once I know the language well enough.

I haven't taken any Japanese classes in the past, so I've also thought of enrolling in a language intensive program. Are there any good ones you guys recommend in Japan?

Also, does anyone know how long the visa application should take? I only know of Naganuma, which told me it could take 4-5 months. So if I applied now, I couldn't start the program until December. Anyone know if this is typical or if this school just takes really long?

I've posted this elsewhere, but if you truly want an intensive language program, then maybe after you've gotten to an intermediate level, you can consider the IUC:

http://www.stanford.edu/dept/IUC/

It's expensive, but it's well worth it.