A perfect first time language learning experience abroad.

My time at GenkiJACS was simply amazing. I wasn’t sure whether or not to do a language study during my trip at first, but the unique experience it gave me was more than worth it.

The teachers at my beginner level were all extremely nice and well prepared. The small size of my class, 5 or 6 students, allowed for a lot of individual attention which the teachers all made sure to give. For me a slight downside of this was that I was slightly ahead of the rest of the class, so it sometimes felt some time was wasted for me going over things I already understood. This is just something that comes with group learning, though, and not something I can blame the school for. I also do wish the complete beginner course started more often than once a month, as this would make planning easier and might have made it possible for me to start a week later.

The school staff were all a joy to talk to as well, and are always ready to support you in any way you need, even issues outside of school.

A possible negative of the school is that schedules change every day, and every week. Because of this you need to be flexible. Classes can be in the morning, late afternoon, or in between.

I was able to attend two events organized by the school on Friday evenings, and I highly recommend signing up to these if you want some more social interaction outside of the classes! The events themselves were fun, and they are a good opportunity to meet people from other classes.

I booked my housing outside of GenkiJACS, but they offer a good selection of options that they can support you with as well. Sadly, when staying for less than 4 weeks, the only option is booking a homestay which is a bit limiting. I do however recommend staying at a homestay if it is possible for you, as I had a great experience at one and it is a great opportunity to practice your Japanese in the real world!

While I wouldn’t say it wasn’t worth it, the course is a bit pricey. That is of course something that comes with studying abroad, but while the progress I made in my two weeks is not nothing, I’m not going to say what I paid for it doesn’t still feel expensive. However, for the entire experience this gave me, it was definitely worth the price to me. This is something that differs per person, though, of course.

Overall I definitely recommend GenkiJACS Tokyo for anyone looking for a fun and fulfilling language learning trip in Japan!