Free Japanese lessons in Kansai?

Davey

先輩

Contributor

5 Feb 2005

7,694

627

• 28 Jun 2006

• #1

Hi everyone, I hope that someone can help me out in here.

I want to work on my Japanese skills, but having a teacher is a bit expensive, and I heard that there I can follow free Japanese lesson at communitie centers in here.

So does anyone know where I can take them in the Kobe-Osaka area?

 

undrentide

Japa'n vagyok

18 Jan 2006

3,652

310

• 28 Jun 2006

• #2

I'm not living in Osaka, but found this webpage.
http://www.ih-osaka.or.jp/enjoy/jp/facilities/11.html
http://www.ih-osaka.or.jp/enjoy/en/facilities/11.html
It shows both 日本語学校 and 日本語教室 in Osaka.
Most 日本語教室 seem to be offering lessons for free of charge or very small fee (something like JPY300/month).

Hope this helps.

 

xerxes99

Robot/Ninja

28 Aug 2005

299

7

• 28 Jun 2006

• #3

Most cities in Japan offer free Japanese lessons. I take a pretty good class in my city. Check this page out for info on Osaka classes.
http://www.city.osaka.jp/kyouiku/english/sisetu/japanese.html

 

nice gaijin

Resident Realist

Moderator

Donor

Twenty-year veteran

8 Aug 2005

7,316

3,727

• 28 Jun 2006

• #4

just walking around is good practice! A friend of mine studying at a prestigious university says that 90% of what he learns is outside the classroom.

 

S

Silverpoint

後輩

17 Jul 2005

483

44

• 28 Jun 2006

• #5

Plausible though it sounds, unless your friend has discovered some kind of lifestyle which encourages people to come up to him and teach him new language, I would, on the whole, disagree with him.

It's perfectly possible to walk around Japan for several years and barely learn a word (as perfectly demonstrated by a large number of the foreigners who teach English here).

 

nice gaijin

Resident Realist

Moderator

Donor

Twenty-year veteran

8 Aug 2005

7,316

3,727

• 28 Jun 2006

• #6

well i wouldn't put it past him to exaggerate the numbers, but I think what he means is that he learns more from interacting with his Japanese friends "outside the classroom" than what is taught in a classroom. Of course, this can only be so helpful to a beginner, but could be very useful for someone with a couple years of experience learning the language.

Of course, motivation is key, no matter what method one pursues.

 

Harvey

先輩

10 Jun 2002

466

9

• 29 Jun 2006

• #7

once you get to kansai, check the KANSAI TIMEOUT and KANSAI FLEA MARKET, the gaijin papers which are available in the English section of big bookstores, like Kinokuniya. They are available near cash register #4 at the Kinokuniya at Hankyu Umeda station.

In the back of these magazines, they have lots of language exchange want ads and stuch, and also information about organizations like the previously mentioned international house in osaka that give lessons for free.

If you look in those mags you should find it for sure!

This is the online version of kansai time out
http://kto.co.jp/new/modules/news/

not sure if they have the english/japanese teaching want ads though. Check the paper version.

Kansai Scene is good too.
http://www.kansaiscene.com/current/html/home.shtml

 

Davey

先輩

Contributor

5 Feb 2005

7,694

627

• 6 Jul 2006

• Thread starter
• #8

Cheers you guys.
I found out that I can take some free classes at the KICC in here.