I guess you’re right. I got the Genki I book but haven’t been doing much study. I will get the Dictionary of Beginner Japanese Grammar book as well.
If you really, really need a teacher and don’t like online classes/practice (or like, online with people you don’t know), there’s always the Hougang Japanese Language School. Probably the cheapest one in SG. Here’s the class schedule: https://www.hougangjapanese.com/class
Even if you start from complete beginner, getting to N5 will only cost SGD 780. Total number of hours also about 120hrs (actually 116hrs). Fees include textbook and notes. Much cheaper than Tomo. They also have online classes, so if you don’t want to go out too much (coz COVID), can also do online (costs more though). Their website says they will deliver notes to you, you just need your computer.
But yeah, otherwise, you can self-study. Talking to natives is good practice also. Apparently HelloTalk and Tandem are free? (@Tahazameel Is it?) I don’t do it coz my study schedule isn’t consistent, so I do everything myself and just ask my friend studying in Japan for help if I’m stuck.
It’s quite expensive. Isn’t there any institute associated with Japanese Embassy? Or you can check with the Embassy itself. They do teach language. From where i am studying, it’s an institute where the embassy outsourced there teaching. So, my point is check with the embassy website, since it’s usually cheaper than the other ones not to mention you can easily find natives there teaching stuff. Hope this helps.
My friend actually went to Hougang Japanese School and he didn’t think it was really effective. But then again he is a procrastinator and is as disciplined as a YP on an E-Scooter, so I won’t really take his word for it. But imo $780 to get to N5 Level is still very steep. With 1.5 to 2 hours of self study every day which includes listening practice every now and then for two months, one can easily pass N5.
Yeah HelloTalk and Tandem are free. Only frustrating part is to find long term partners for you to have conversations with. Fortunately for me I’ve been having conversations with a Japanese guy and a Japanese girl everyday for the past 8 months to reinforce what I’ve learnt.
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Hahaha. Ok. Different people need different things also.
Yeah, this is what I was worried about. So like for me, I don’t do it coz I study Japanese quite often, but at random times. If I have too much uni work, I will put Japanese on hold. So no one will want me as a convo partner. Not consistent enough. But since both you and @Cans101 are making use of CB conditions, I think it will be OK. Just need to find someone else who can commit.
Agreed 100%. I’m a Chinese Singaporean, so I already know kanji and can go a bit faster. Even with all the uni work, it took me just about 8 months to finish my textbook (roughly N3 level at the end). Total cost: about 100 SGD? N5 stuff is much easier and you don’t need a lot of kanji either, so it should be doable even if you cannot find a convo partner at first. $780 is a lot!
Hi, if you need physical course.
Coto is more expensive and less flexible than ikoma and bunka.
I know coto market themselves to emphasis on conversational, but before being able to speak, we also need grammar and vocab. The premium probably only good when you would like to start practising.
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