Meiji Academy

I’d say definitely research into what the weather will be like while you’re here. I mostly assumed that since Fukuoka is in South Japan, it would be warm all year around. Boy was I wrong. It got a lot colder in winter than I expected and I’d only brought a few jumpers. Especially if you’re going to be here for a long stay, make sure you prepare for all the seasons!

Classes usually start at either 9:30am or 1:30pm and go for 3 hours unless you have extra classes. Mine were usually in the afternoon so I was able to spend the morning doing whatever I wanted and could go meet friends for lunch later. After classes, Meiji Academy would sometimes have parties to eat Takoyaki, Okonomiyaki, Nabe, etc. They would also occasionally have trips on the weekend, which was always really fun. Some of my favourites was going strawberry picking in Itoshima, or riding the boats along the canals of Yanagawa.

My biggest fear was definitely the communication barrier as my Japanese speaking ability was pretty much non-existent when I first arrived. However I decided to jump into the deep end and stay with a host family for my first month. It turned out to be the best decision I could’ve made. They were so friendly and welcoming that I straight away felt at home in Japan. They introduced me to a lot of cultural things I wouldn’t have otherwise experienced and, as a bonus, my Japanese improved so much faster with having to speak it everyday.

This really helped my confidence with speaking and allowed me to use it in real-life situations, like ordering from restaurants or asking for directions. So I’d really recommend this for anyone that’s a bit worried about being able to communicate. Even if your Japanese isn’t very good yet, I found that locals really appreciate you at least trying to say a few words.

I would’ve tried to budget my money better. I came to Japan thinking, ”I’ll just see how it goes“ but around a month in I realised how quickly my bank account was being emptied. Everything is so exciting and you want to experience it all, but of course everything costs money.

It’s pretty tricky trying to find a job or part-time work as a foreigner. If your Japanese isn’t at least an N3 level (JLPT) then you’re pretty much stuck with teaching English lessons (if that’s your native language). It’s also not usually paid very well either. So I’d suggest to really make a plan before you arrive to figure out the best way to make your money last.

One of the best memories I have from talking to return students is how I have managed to impact one particular student's life with my passion for Japanese culture and fashion. In fact, he actually decided to pursue Japanese culture for his major in university because of what I had taught and told him in class.

If I were a student here at Meiji Academy, I would definitely take part in the Pop Culture course to understand more of the interesting cultures we have here in Japan. It is unique as compared to all other countries on this planet and I encourage students to explore this exciting mix of traditional and modern culture!

What is unique about Meiji Academy is that it is not only a language school but also a centre for intercultural exchange. Here, students can also earn more about Japanese culture (both pop and traditional) and explore the culture that lays outside of the textbook. I believe this to be an invaluable experience.

Passion. Without passion, employees will not be able to work to an optimal level. Staff must be passionate about his/her job so they will give their best in their tasks at hand. Passion also makes teaching more enjoyable to the teachers as well as learning more fun for the students. I can most certainly see that staff members, teachers and students at Meiji Academy are highly motivated and passionate, which makes me happy to be teaching here!