Japanese Language school

Hi all, i have spend a lot of time researching into universities that gives japanese langauge program and also language schools in japan that teach japanese and prepare students for university admission. I have narrowed my search from near 50 to these few:

http://hajl.athuman.com/e/index.asp?code=090058
http://www.incul.com/eng/index.html
http://www.naganuma-school.ac.jp/
http://www.aoyama-international.com/english/en-index.html
http://www.musashi-nihongo.jp/e/index.html

Each and every of these schools has university prepatory course and are good but i cant decide which one to go to as they are about as good as one another. Therefore, if anyone has any experiences or opinions they have on any schools mentioned above, would you share it with me so i can better decide which schools to go to?

Thank you very much and sorry for the trouble.

regards

anyone knows anything?

i don't know about those ones, but i was like you lost and confuse on to which school apply for, the one thing that decided for me was the books. They're using the same series i was using here back home.. minna no nihongo. the school i applied is this one: yosida.com (yoshida institute )
I'm waiting for February 26 for the COE results and hopefully start in April.

When people *really* don't know what school to go to, I recommend Naganuma if only because I personally know a few non-Japanese who have been there (some years ago already) and now have decent Japanese language capability. But if you are in the midst of your search already, then I think you might just go ahead and contact them, possibly ask about student mix and textbooks, and see how they respond - that would tell you a bit about how "student-friendly" those schools are :)

I've only been to naganuma, so I can't give you an objective view, but I've done quite some research before deciding to apply there.
I studied there for 1,5 years and not to brag or anything, but every foreigner that I ever met here who studied at different places is amazed at my japanese level (just like the japanese themselves).
Naganuma uses their own textbooks which are great. The teachers are very friendly but strict, you won't be cut some slack for not being asian and thus having a kanji disadvantage. So it can be hard, but the people there are great. Even now I still contact my old teachers, ask them advice about japanese universities (and many personal things as well) and hang out with friends from there.
Just go there and you won't regret it!
(I'm not sponsored by them or something, but I should, because I've already recommended so many people to go there ;)

thank you everyone for their suggestions.
Recently i have just seen a school which is not bad too. it is called jpschool.com

i dont know if any of you know this school. i have taken out the first and fourth choice in the website list provided in my first topic. now i am down to 4 language schools including the one i just found...

*HEADACHESSSssss

If you want to throw them all completely into a panic, ask them how much actual communication you'll practice.

I hope you like grammar patterns...

I think there's no significant difference in standard. The place it located, price, dorm, distance b/w dorm and school, etc., are in my concern. It's very tiring to get to school using train in the morning (according to my friends). My school was just 15 walk and that was so nice.

Also if you want to study further in Japan, ask them if they provide any special classes or EJU class.

Hi all,

2 Choices left. Please comment!

http://www.jasso.go.jp/tokyo/index_e.html
http://www.naganuma-school.ac.jp/

Please!

Thankyou

I like the 'unique' Naganuma 'method'. Listen and repeat. Wow! A revolution indeed...

Looks like something that's been done for the last 50 years at least.

And I see the classroom layout is designed for maximum non-communication with the teacher as far away from students as possible.

Sheesh! It really does seem to be the depressing truth that in Japan, whichever school you go to you'll get the same old diet of formal, teacher-centered non-communication.

What goes on??

Hmm, as a fellow looking-for-language school person, your choice looks very well-made ! Have you picked on a school?

I'm still in the ''omg-so-many-whichone!?!?!?'' phase so I can relate with you (back then). It seems there's too many of these language schools....

I'm very curious; What are your criteria? I'm currently using dormitory as the biggest selection tool but...I began to reconsider.

And....for the JASSO one; I... don't...see...the price page. Or is it just me?

I hope you can share your experience and efforts with us, ans especially me, here. :D

and sorry, for OP's last response;

from those two, Naganuma's seems to be more comprehensive and detailed, but on the other hand, the other (ISI?) is endorsed by JASSO, which should tell its quality.

And...per usual, Naganuma's dormitories is more pictured. :|

I can't say for price due to ISI's apparent lack of it. Naganuma itself isn't really unreasonable; albeit I personally believe it falls on the expensive side.

But for course hours, ISI's longer... Which may be bad, if you're looking for parttime job, and if you can't handle long amounts of studying.

That's my very limited judgement :|