Is there such thing as a Japanese distance learning course?

[Platmack]

Hi,

I have been doing some research online trying to find a Japanese distance learning course, with no luck (with the exemption of MA courses). I was taking a part time evening course at SOAS in London but was finding work slowly taking over. Sine then I have been self studying and finding that I am progressing a lot slower than my time as SOAS.

I am only learning Japanese for fun, but would really like some structure to help me progress. If there are any distance learning degree courses I would be very interested in hearing about them.

Thanks

Dom

[KansaiBen]

Hi,

I have been doing some research online trying to find a Japanese distance learning course, with no luck (with the exemption of MA courses). I was taking a part time evening course at SOAS in London but was finding work slowly taking over. Sine then I have been self studying and finding that I am progressing a lot slower than my time as SOAS.

I am only learning Japanese for fun, but would really like some structure to help me progress. If there are any distance learning degree courses I would be very interested in hearing about them.

Thanks

Dom

Japan has a University of the Air, Its called Housou Daigaiku

Not sure if they have any Japanese as a Second Language (JSL) courses though.

http://www.ouj.ac.jp/hp/nyugaku/new/kamoku/

[Platmack]

Japan has a University of the Air, Its called Housou Daigaiku

Not sure if they have any Japanese as a Second Language (JSL) courses though.

http://www.ouj.ac.jp/hp/nyugaku/new/kamoku/

Thanks for the fast response Ben. I had a quick look at the link for the Japanese OU and it looks pretty similar to the UK one, only that I have to actually be in Japan to study. I am currently based in UK and the UK OU doesn't offer Japanese as a course.

Might have to just bite the bullet and get a private tutor.

[KansaiBen]

Thanks for the fast response Ben. I had a quick look at the link for the Japanese OU and it looks pretty similar to the UK one, only that I have to actually be in Japan to study. I am currently based in UK and the UK OU doesn't offer Japanese as a course.

Might have to just bite the bullet and get a private tutor.

Housou Daigaku is for Japanese people and they already speak Japanese as a first language. You are better off using something like Rosetta Stone if you want to study Japanese by yourself. You really need a conversation partner if you want to get better in the language, anyway.

http://www.rosettastone.co.jp/japanese/

[Tatsuo]

Forget about studying a language at a distance learning institute. Paying money for getting papers sent, you could buy for 10% at every book store and getting marks on written stuff is not worth it.

Go for the big tests: JLPT, BTJ, Kanken etc., study on your own and get a professional you can actually speak to and who can give you a decent plan to reach you desired level in the above mentioned tests. So you get a tailored teaching system with structure, high efficiency, clear goals and the opportunity to actually speak the language. One private lesson a day will cost you 3-4万　a month. Definitely cheaper and more efficient than sending back papers.

There are thousands of qualified teachers in Japan:

http://www.j-os.com/
http://japanese-tutor.luna.mepage.jp/index-e.html
etc.

By the way: Language is a soft skill. Studying for a uni degree in Japanese is crap.

[kurogane]

I really don't see the need to take a whole course just to learn Japanese distances.

They are neither particularly numerous, nor difficult.

I would think that a diligent Google search would be enough to find yourself some useful web pages that give lists and explanations of the various measurements.

Here are some Japanese terms that might help:

距離

単位

道のり

陰茎長　（ちんちょう）


Hope that helps.

[Tatsuo]

free (useful) lesson: To most of kuroganes posts and others that try to be funny you just answer さむっ。。。
（comes from the word 寒い - you should stop at the む to emphasis how lame the joke of your opponent was).

[Platmack]

Housou Daigaku is for Japanese people and they already speak Japanese as a first language. You are better off using something like Rosetta Stone if you want to study Japanese by yourself. You really need a conversation partner if you want to get better in the language, anyway.

http://www.rosettastone.co.jp/japanese/

I used Rosetta Stone a few years back, I thought it was very poor. Even the advanced level of Rosetta was only about N5 level JLPT.

[Platmack]

Forget about studying a language at a distance learning institute. Paying money for getting papers sent, you could buy for 10% at every book store and getting marks on written stuff is not worth it.

Go for the big tests: JLPT, BTJ, Kanken etc., study on your own and get a professional you can actually speak to and who can give you a decent plan to reach you desired level in the above mentioned tests. So you get a tailored teaching system with structure, high efficiency, clear goals and the opportunity to actually speak the language. One private lesson a day will cost you 3-4万　a month. Definitely cheaper and more efficient than sending back papers.

There are thousands of qualified teachers in Japan:

http://www.j-os.com/
http://japanese-tutor.luna.mepage.jp/index-e.html
etc.

By the way: Language is a soft skill. Studying for a uni degree in Japanese is crap.

Thanks for your advice. I have already taken both the JLPT N5 and N4 and will soon take the N3 in July. I guess your right the think I would really benefit from is some speaking practice, and thats not something I will receive from a distance course.

Thanks