6 months learning Japanese with Meiji Academy

I decided to study 6 months with Meiji Academy and it was definitely one of the best experiences of my life! The teachers and staff were so friendly and sweet that I felt comfortable straight away with everyone. When I first started I could barely understand a sentence in Japanese and now I can communicate with locals and have made a ton of Japanese friends. I took a separate Kanji class alongside the normal course, which I really recommend as reading is so difficult especially when you’re trying to get around the city or order from restaurants. Being able to understand even the most basic of kanji made everyday life here in Fukuoka so much easier.

For my first month I stayed with a host family and then moved into the sharehouse for my other 5 months. I can’t thank my host family enough for helping me quickly get accustomed to life in Fukuoka and boosting my Japanese from the start. It was a once in a lifetime experience and although it’s a little pricier than the other accommodation options, it’s definitely worth it!

We followed the textbooks Genki I & II and Chuukyuu e ikou, which got me from an N5 level to around an N4/N3 for the JLPT. Although some of the teacher’s English was a bit difficult to understand in the start, the classes were easy to follow and really fun. The school also organised a lot of events, such as Tea ceremonies, Okonomiyaki, Nabe, and Takoyaki parties, trips to festivals, etc. I loved all of it and, as a bonus, got to learn so much about Japanese culture and way of life. I would 100% come back to study with Meiji Academy if I get the chance!