Testimonials – 2015

I joined ITO classes 7 years ago as an absolute beginner with no knowledge of the Japanese language at all. Now, at JLPT N1 level, I am able to use the language in the professional business environment and comfortable with using the language under any circumstances whenever I am talking to a Japanese colleague or a friend.  I would like to contribute my continuous interest and progress in Japanese language and culture to the small-classroom set-up of ITO’s program set-up, the teachers’ dedication and the interactive nature of every class.

ITO is definitely your top choice for learning the Japanese language in a truly enjoyable fashion.

Alice 19/03/2015 (613.5 hours at ITO)

I started learning Japanese at ITO 3 years ago. Back then I knew only 4 or 5 words and the あ-dan of Hiragana. Looking back it seems like so long ago, but the time sure flew by quickly. Today I can understand most of the dialogues in anime, read manga (luckily new kanji there usually have okurigana as well), write letters in Japanese and speak fairly confidently too. All of that thanks to kind and passionate sensei that have been guiding me on the journey. It was tough and challenging at times to get my head around confusing concepts of the language, but never even once I thought it wasn’t awesome! We started off as a group, but then I switched to private classes and I liked those better. There are pros and cons for both types of course, but private classes certainly do help to match the individual learning pace and give more flexibility. The “Japanese only in classrooms” restriction certainly does help with the immersion effect. Whatever your level is, the sensei will find a way to give you more practice and a chance to learn something new!

Roman 06/03/2015 (337.5 hours at ITO)

I started learning Japanese because I have friends who have studied the language and knew it to an advance level. I wanted to be cool like them and speak Japanese. My goal changed recently and I am sure all I have learnt at ITO shall come in handy with my new job in Tokyo this Spring. I take group classes with four others twice a week. The classes concentrate on conversation which helps a lot with pronunciation but also acquiring a useful vocabulary which is necessary to having interesting conversations in a new language. The flash cards are very useful for quick revision whenever you have a spare moment. I love to do my homework at a café with some tea during my breaks at work.  I first came to ITO for their Calligraphy class which was held in complete Japanese as well but it is a lot of fun and allows you to practise Kanji in a relaxing environment. 

Aisha 21/02/2015

I became fascinated by East Asia when I was a little girl, and started teaching myself Japanese because I loved the way the writing looked and I thought the spoken language sounded very soft and melodic. After many years of very slow and intermittent progress self-teaching, I decided to try to get my language to working proficiency so that I might have more opportunities to travel to Japan through my future careers, and so I could experience more of Japan if I ever got the chance to visit again. My ultimate goal is to one day become fluent but I am happy taking my time about it. Because I had been self-teaching, I started by taking private lessons until I filled the gaps in my knowledge so I could skip the Beginner’s classes. From the I stepped into the classroom to discuss lessons, I was greeted in Japanese and encouraged to speak only Japanese. This rule was strictly adhered to the whole time I spent at ITO and was instrumental to the progress I made. The teachers knew exactly what I was trying to say with my limited Japanese, and they knew exactly what vocabulary and grammar to use that I could understand. In my initial private classes, if I couldn’t understand something they would use the whiteboard to help explain even complicated grammar using only Japanese and drawings. Once I joined a group class, we followed the JLPT books and if anyone struggled with a specific term or had something unrelated they wanted to learn, the teachers would make sure we understood it before they moved on. It really was a tailored experience. I was working full time but had few other commitments outside that. I set aside 2 evenings a week for Japanese homework and revision. The homework is always enjoyable and helpful. You are encouraged to take chances with more complicated questions and the teacher will correct you and explain why what you wrote was wrong so you don’t have to try to ‘stay in the safe zone’ with your writing. A lot of textbook examples are over simplistic and do not tell you that you can’t use certain grammar structures in all situations. I tried to do at least 2 hours of homework and 2 hours of revision every week on top of my classes. If you have use public transport, try to get some revision done on your phone or on a notepad to make better use of your time, or if you drive, record your own learning CD where you test your own vocabulary and grammar. From the first class I was genuinely surprised at having been able to hold a 2-way conversation in Japanese for a whole 2 hours. It made me feel a lot more comfortable about speaking Japanese. I still find it difficult to understand when Japanese is spoken quickly, but if I return to Japan this time I will be able to start conversations with the locals rather than just asking for directions or book hotels.  I honestly cannot recommend this school enough. I’ve always looked at advertised classes and felt like I couldn’t spend money on Beginner classes when I already knew Hiragana/Katakana and basic Japanese, but then I wasn’t sure whether I could handle the more advanced classes. With ITO they will assess your level and know exactly what to do with you. It might sound intimidating that everything is done only in Japanese, but believe me you will see the benefits immediately! Oh and the teachers are super-friendly as well! Classes are never boring, they’re really interactive and that’s what makes it so easy to learn!

Eleonore 15/02/2015

I first started studying Japanese because I was interested in the culture and wanted to travel to Japan. Going forward my goal is to be able to speak in Japanese with friends and to be able to understand conversational Japanese. Right now I am studying for the JLPT level N3. Lessons at ITO are fun and challenging at the same time. Only Japanese is used at all times and that means that you constantly make an effort to understand the teacher and your classmates. Teachers are very good at understanding what students are interested in and they use these hints as part of the conversational part of the lesson. All abilities are thought – reading writing listening speaking – so at the end of each lesson you feel more and more confident with using Japanese. A big part of the lesson is outside class in the sense that you have to practice with your homework and kanji drills. I try to read and listen to a lot of Japanese watching movies and trying to read manga to make learning fun. After one year studying at ITO I decided to spend three months in Japan. At that point I started to feel a bit more confident with my Japanese. After two years with ITO I passed the JLPT N4.

Gianna 13/02/2015

In 2012, we visited Japan for 3 weeks. This is one of the best trips we have done and food, sightseeing and people were extraordinary. In many occasions though, we found ourselves in situations where Japanese people were trying to discuss with us, but because of their limited knowledge of English and our ignorance of Japanese we were not able to discuss as much as we would have liked to. I started learning Japanese so that next time I travel to Japan, I am able to discuss with Japanese people. My goal would be to get to a point where I can improve my Japanese level by myself by reading or watching movies. We are four in our class. The class always begin by some discussions with the rest of the group on our past week. This is the occasion for us to speak and to use the latest words or grammatical forms we have learned. Then we usually correct the homework which takes more or less time depending on if it was a text to write or an exercise. We then go to the lesson and put in practise what we learned in an exercise. There is rarely a moment where we are not speaking and the lesson is very interactive and fun (with the teacher and with the rest of the group). From the very first lesson, the teacher only speaks in Japanese to us and we are not allowed to speak in English which is a very good thing for us to improve our understanding and to learn to think in Japanese without translating. The Japanese and English (or French) construction of the sentences are really different and I think translating is something which just would slow us down. Therefore the “only Japanese” rule is a very good rule as it helps us think in Japanese. I always take the time to do the homework and re-read the last lesson. Sometimes, during holidays I also re-read a bit more to remind me what we have done in the past months. As I am working, I don’t always find as much time as I would like to study especially the kanjis. But my primary focus being able to understand and to speak, I have decided that when I have less time, the learning of those kanji is not the primary priority. I felt my Japanese had improved by watching movies in Japanese. Being able to understand more words, or more complex sentences. When I looked back to how it was at the beginning, I really saw the difference. Also when discussing, being able to do more complex sentences and being able to say more what you want to say is really encouraging.

Nathalie 06/02/2015

I decided to study Japanese because of my interest in Japanese culture. My long term goal is to read, write and speak fluently (or as close as possible!) I study one evening a week in a class with three other students. We are only allowed to use Japanese to communicate during the lesson, which was quite difficult to begin with, but after a while felt like a much more beneficial way of learning. We are set homework every week, and work through text books with our tutor.  I try to study a bit every day, even when time is tight, I’ll study on the tube or on my lunch break. At the beginning of every class, our tutor often asks us what we did during the past week. When I’ve been able to recount stories or events in Japanese it has felt particularly rewarding.

Aaron 02/02/2015

It was actually a bit of a coincidence. I was in Japan doing an artist’s residency & found myself with some regular free time so I dropped into the first language school I saw & began taking classes. 

I look forward to the class each week. The balance between practical conversation & more in-depth grammar training is just right. The teachers allow the conversation to flow freely, which encourages participation, while correcting errors without undue severity.  Little and often works best for me. I carry word cards to learn vocabulary & look through them regularly whenever I have a few minutes to spare. More difficult points such as kanji and unfamiliar grammar require more focused study however, so I tend to dedicate one evening a week to homework & fully understanding the point I’m studying.  There’s definitely no immediate change but at some point I realised I was able to fully participate in conversations. As time passes, the conversations became longer & more fruitful. It’s only really in hindsight that I can notice the change.  ITO comes highly recommended as a well-balanced & considerate school.

Paul 02/02/2015

I wanted to learn Japanese because I love the culture and people.  I have very early memories of visiting Japan as a child with my mother.  It was during that trip that I began to be fascinated with Japan.  I want to experience everything Japan has to offer. I like lessons at least two days a week.  It enables me to get constant exposure to Japanese and push myself.  The amount of time I spend studying Japanese depends on my work schedule. Usually I spend an hour a day practicing writing and reading.  It helps me to be in class because I’m forced to commit to a schedule.  Last week, when I was in Netherlands I had a conversation with a Japanese chef.  I was able to have a conversation with him.  That was really nice 🙂

Todd 02/02/2015

While I was into the Arashi (a Japanese idol group) fandom, I decided to learn Japanese so that I can watch their TV programmes and dramas without subtitles. Attracted by the Japanese culture, I always look forward to travelling in Japan and being able to speak the language surely makes the journey more enjoyable. With my Chinese background and access to Japanese-Chinese subtitled TV programmes, learning Kanji and vocabularies are relatively easy for me. However, Japanese grammar, unlike Chinese and English, is rather unique and it takes time to remember the variety of phrases and sentence structures which give the same meaning. When I first joined ITO Japanese School for private lessons, my plan was to take the GCE AS Level Japanese exam in a year’s time after having completed a JLPT level N5 course beforehand. With limited knowledge of Japanese, I was quickly adapted to the Japanese-only environment ITO adopts as tutors patiently explain grammar rules and vocabularies until I grasp the ideas clearly. Since private tuition is more flexible, ITO teachers assisted me tremendously in realising my goals as I achieved an A in both GCE AS and A2 level after 8 months of study at ITO. Having completed JLPT level N3 last summer, I am planning to take the level N2 exam this year. Due to the nature of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), speaking and writing are not assessed. However, ITO provides lots of support to practising these two components, which boosts my confidence greatly when I attempt to communicate in Japanese. Besides, not only are tutors professional but also friendly and caring: while studying in university, it is sometimes hard to cope with my academic work and extra-curricular activities, but tutors are always willing to adjust the schedule so that I can strike a balance between the two.

Catherine 30/01/2015

I am learning Japanese for two purposes. First I find the people, culture and natural geography of Japan absolutely fascinating. Japan is a rich country like western countries but its value system is very different. I find trying to understand these values through learning the language very rewarding. Secondly, on a practical level, if you travel to the rural areas where English is not generally understood, some Japanese certainly comes in handy. I always find my lessons at ITO very enjoyable. They are always conducted in an easy going, good natured atmosphere and there is always a well explained resolution to any specific difficulties I may have. In conversation, I can raise absolutely anything I want so long as I speak in Japanese. I try to read a little from the text book every morning; I have found that words soon disappear from my memory unless I keep refreshing them. I also prepare for the homework at this time but do any writing at the weekend usually on the computer (I have drawn the line at learning to write the kanji). The grammar is relatively straightforward after a while. Perhaps the two most challenging areas that I have found is remembering the meaning of the kanji and how to pronounce it, and the lack of use of personal pronouns means that the meaning of sentences is often embedded in the (Japanese) context of previous sentences. I found reading Jay Rubin’s Making Sense of Japanese: What the Textbooks Don’t Tell You very helpful alongside the lessons at ITO. I regard the learning of Japanese as more of a journey than a destination. It becomes more pleasurable the more you learn but it’s like unpicking the layers of an very large onion, that is why you need native speakers like those at ITO to good humourly guide you.

Paul 29/01/2015

I originally started to learn Japanese as a hobby, after I got interested in Japanese fashion, food and culture. After I started to make Japanese friends and eventually my Japanese husband, it became more of a mission for me to be able to communicate with them more effectively. Particularly my non English speaking in laws, I would be so happy to sit down with them one day and have a proper conversation with no language barrier. It took a long time for me to find a Japanese school I wanted to join in London. I contacted ITO after a recommendation from a friend of a friend and I’m very happy with my choice. Even after a just a few classes I could feel my confidence growing. The immersive technique, being unable to hide behind English if I don’t know a word or phrase is brilliant and teachers are excellent. Our classes feel like we’re chatting with friends but we’re learning at the same time. I tend to try to do a little homework each day, during my lunch break or for an hour or so in the evening. Luckily, I really enjoy learning Japanese so it doesn’t feel like ‘homework’ as such. Kanji is definitely my most difficult point, but I find I’m learning little by little, usually by trying to use it often through letters and emails to friends. I’ve never been confident talking to Japanese people face to face, so I guess I realised my Japanese had improved when I finally felt able to talk to some of my Japanese friends using Japanese rather than English. Learning Japanese has been a long road for me. Sometimes I feel like I come to a standstill and don’t improve for weeks or even months. I never gave up though, and I always try to find new ways to keep studying enjoyable. I really love studying Japanese, it’s my hobby and my passion!

Laura 29/01/2015

During most of my teenage years I didn’t have the chance to take part in many extracurricular activities outside of studying. The subjects I was pressured into studying didn’t really offer me a connection to the outside world or other people, so even when I tried hard I could only feel bored and unmotivated. I wanted to find my own passion, something that would prove my own capabilities to myself. It was around then I noticed that through watching Japanese media I had subconsciously picked up a few words. It was at that point I set myself a challenge to see how far I could get in ten years under my own effort. To begin with I set myself simple goals when studying, propelled by my eagerness to understand a new Japanese audio books or dramas I might come across. Each step I took made it easier for me to take the next and with time not only was I able to understand most Japanese speech, I had managed to teach myself to read (for the most part I should add).

Ten years have passed since I set myself the challenge. With self-study I have gotten reasonably far but there has been one area I couldn’t improve upon no matter how much I tried alone and that was with my speaking skills. Other schools I had researched didn’t really place so much importance on this skill so I was very excited when I found out about the Japanese only classes ITO Japanese School offers.

One thing that has pleased me about the lessons is how they don’t make you feel like you’re a child back in secondary school when in discussion. Everyone there is an adult, there to talk about the world, culture and their lives. In past lessons we’ve chatted about things from how education works in the UK to why is it common for Japanese people to peel oranges the same way. Of course the whole time you’re learning so at the end of the lesson you find yourself starving after all the mental effort you’ve used. I had been very unsure of myself when I started as I had never spoken so much Japanese before and was very self-conscious of how I might sound. I pushed through that though as I was desperate to get better. Of course even now I still make many mistakes but I’ve gained the confidence to feel comfortable speaking and I promise this will be the same for anyone. With the practice ITO offers you learn to speed up the rate at which you change what you think into Japanese to the point that you even think in Japanese! The school’s utmost biggest strength however, is its teachers. So far their guidance has helped me refine my grammar and explore the ways I can express what I want to say. They also give students the push needed to move onto the next level, carefully considering the needs of every learner.

All the homework and extra studying has fitted in neatly into my timetable after I finish work. With classes on a Saturday, I like to leave Sunday as my ‘day off’ from studying but even then I’ll still be passing my time by reading Japanese novels. I am currently familiar with about 1000 kanjis but was stagnating when it came to further progression. Being at the school however has not only aided me in carrying on further but has given me the chance to use it in a practical setting, i.e. the homework. It has ranged from writing my own example sentences using specific grammar to writing short articles about my own opinions of certain subjects.

For a long time whenever anybody would ask about what hobbies or skills I had, I never used to mention Japanese. I was always worried I would betray their expectations as I didn’t gain the various skills of this language at the same rate. I didn’t want to feel the embarrassment of having to say Well, yes I do ‘understand’ Japanese but…er, I don’t really speak it”. It’s because of this that only recently, through joining ITO, I have felt like I really know the language and am good enough to use in other settings. Coming to this realisation has been an incredible boost for me, and an affirmation that my efforts these past years haven’t been in vain. Thanks to ITO I have set my sights on gaining a qualification in Japanese so that I can soon work using the language I love.

I came to ITO Japanese School with some previous knowledge of the Japanese language but more than anything I wish that I could have found this school sooner, regardless of what level I might have been at. What they offer is the closest experience London has to being in Japan. It’s this immersion that means anybody, of any level has the ability to gain greatly and progress in their learning.

Nadira 29/01/2015

I was always fascinated by the Japanese Kawaii culture and on a number of occasions I was mistaken as a Japanese at Japanese shop. However, the last few years I started to do Japanese cooking hence it motivated me to study Japanese language and enable me to communicate in Japanese during my visit in Japan which I thoroughly enjoyed.  For beginner, the class structured emphasis on the basis of understanding the ‘hiragana’ style wording/ lettering, also by using a hiragana/kanji/katakana alphabet playing card to help student identify basic word in daily Japanese life and teachers ensure I understand and trial and error practice during the lesson. The teacher always ensures I think out of the box to be creative with my Japanese phrases. If time allowed I tried to practise my homework, hiragana and kanji every day from minimum of 30 minutes to 2 hours. I tend to scroll or write the same word over and over again to get myself familiarise and reading out loud definitely helps me identify the different wording. I noticed I had made improvement when I started to be able to understand some Japanese word on the tv and not struggling too much to write. I must take this opportunity to thank my teachers for making the effort in insisting on me speaking in Japanese at all time.

Inn 27/01/2015

My wife is Japanese and her family does not speak much English. I decided to learn Japanese to be able to converse with them. I also want to be able to communicate with shop staff, etc when I travel around Japan. Japanese can be difficult to learn but the way you are taught at ITO is really good. You quickly start learning the language without getting bogged down with grammar. The lessons are great and really get you “thinking in Japanese”. I try and find some time at the weekends or evenings to do the homework. I also use some apps to practice kanji during the day while travelling or even a few minutes at work. The improvement in speaking/understanding is quite gradual and difficult to notice yourself. However on my most recent trip to Japan (after learning Japanese for about 1.5 years) my parents-in-law said they definitely saw a big improvement in my Japanese. I can at least have some small conversations with them now.

Dewang 26/01/2015

I began studying Japanese simply because I wanted to learn a non-European language but after visiting Japan several times I quickly grew to love the culture (and food!). Thanks to my studies I have made many new friends both in Japan and here in the UK, my partner is also Japanese and I want us to be able to use both of our native languages comfortably. It’s also just a lot of fun! I enjoy the small class sizes at ITO as everyone gets a chance to participate fully in any discussion. The class often starts with a casual chat about our week and what we got up to, not only is it great practice but also one of my favourite parts of the class as we get to use what we’ve learned in more casual conversation. The homework assigned is a useful tool for reinforcing what you have just learned. I try to do the homework shortly after the lesson and find that anything I didn’t quite get during the class tends to make itself clear through the homework. As with many others I find Kanji to be the most difficult, the text book does a very good job introducing it gradually but I still make it the focus of my independent studies. Even though the “zero English” approach is intimidating at first I was surprised at how quickly you can learn through this method. Being able to read an entire sentence in a non-romanised language after a matter of weeks is extremely satisfying and now, after only 18 months, I am able to have conversations and express my opinion in a language not commonly spoken in the west. After only 6 months I was able to travel independently on my first trip to Japan! As mentioned, I first started learning as a curiosity but the class has quickly become the highlight of my week. ITO’s classes are not only effective but also fun; they turn studying into something closer to a hobby than work. The structure is extremely effective, I learned more in 6 weeks than I did of 6 months of self-study (I bought all the usual books that promise quick results!). In summary, learning a second language is always difficult (especially one so different from my native tongue!) but ITO have definitely minimised that difficulty and keep me interested where otherwise I may have already given up.

Luke 25/01/2015

Japan for me has always been a country of great cultural history and traditions. Since a very young age, it has been my passion to educate myself about Japan and its people. From the beautiful and charming animations of studio Ghibli to the works of celebrated animators like Makoto Shinkai, I started learning about the country of cherry blossoms and samurais. These interests encouraged me to broaden my knowledge about Japanese literature, art, design, language and history. I started learning Japanese language at ITO Japanese Language School 2 years ago as my dream is to live and work professionally in Japan. Since I joined the school my Japanese language skills have developed significantly to the point I was able to travel in Japan on my own and what is the most important thing to communicate with Japanese people not using English at all.

The classes usually consist of small group (3 to 6 people) which give a unique and enjoyable learning experience. All the lessons are structured around speaking, writing and reading exercises. The atmosphere is relaxed and we always have a lot of fun! I highly recommend this school for those who think seriously about learning Japanese language but also for those who want to learn the language whilst having a great and full of you time.

Dagmara 26/01/2015

I started learning Japanese at ITO nearly 6 years ago having had no previous experience of learning. I had no idea what kind of journey I was embarking on! Aside from taking breaks of a few months due to work on a few occasions I have studied regularly from that point and have grown more and more confident in speaking, reading and writing. ITO Japanese School has a great system of teaching with enthusiastic and dedicated teachers. The immersive environment is brilliant – One which I believe is second only to living and learning the language in Japan. Only being able to speak Japanese in class is a great method and pushes you to learn more elegantly. Also the attention to grammar gives great foundations to build upon. I would highly recommend ITO to anyone who wants to learn this fascinating culture and deep language. The atmosphere is friendly and the classes are fun but also intense. あいとの先生 – どうも ありがとございます。

Will 26/01/2015

I started to learn Japanese when I was living in France, I took lessons there for about 5 months. Then, I moved to London and found out about ITO Japanese School. I am learning Japanese at ITO since a year and a half now and will continue until I will reach JLPT 3 (I will apply for the JLPT 4 test in July!). The way of teaching is really good! I was impressed that I improved a lot since I started to learn Japanese at ITO. You only speak in Japanese with your teachers, so it makes you practice much more than usual, and even if you don’t know a word in Japanese, they encourage you to explain it on your own way in Japanese. I am studying in a group with one and sometime two other people, this makes you interact with your classmates and having funny discussions about everyday life while studying. Teachers make you feel really at ease because they care about you, and make you feel more confident about your Japanese. You definitely won’t be disappointed by coming to this school, I really recommend it!

Marie-Anne 25/01/2015

Having been interested in Japanese culture for a while, I began watching movies and other media. Lots of aspects of Japanese culture have filtered into my knowledge little by little but I wanted to get a better knowledge for real from Japanese people. I was fond of the fluid sound of the language immediately and found myself looking things up, words I was hearing and ended up trying to teach myself in part but becoming quickly confused and baffled by aspects of it such as kanji, sentence structure and basic grammatical points and being quite passionate to learn started looking for schools, finding ITOs course description and teaching methods to be interesting and well structured. My goals are to become a proficient speaker and perhaps fluent one day.

Class has a good mix of speaking, reading and conversation. Overall course structure always keeps some pace and encourages you to keep moving forward at a decent speed. Sometimes I have come out of lessons feeling like I’m falling behind or there is something I will never understand, however by the next week I will be wondering why I was ever confused.

Timing homeworks does require a some routine. Most of the people I have met here have a busy work/social life and you should be passionate to learn and make that time. Learning a language is a difficult thing to do if you can’t put in the hours. Homework is reasonable however if you want to get the things you are struggling with sometimes putting in an extra hour here and there will go a long way and make class easier.

Frankly I am scared how much I can understand at this point. I feel like it was not long since I have been learning and am surprised at how much I can hear and understand. Conversations I used to hear in other classrooms that previously baffled me, I feel now I can have comfortably. When watching dramas etc I am also surprised at how much I understand – but more that I’m now at a point where I can easily pick up new vocabulary.

ITO is a great school. I think the process and the order of learning has been exceptionally good and never leave a class feeling unmotivated. I can walk into a class after a long day feeling exhausted and leave feeling energised and mentally exercised. The teachers are very encouraging and warm people to work with and it’s a bit of a gift to have found this school. I am excited to see where it will have taken my Japanese in a year’s time.

Laurence 25/01/2015

A few years ago I left my job to go travelling, Japan was on the top of my list as I already had a great interest in Japanese culture. I spent 2 months there and fell in love with the country. I have re-visited many times since and enjoy discovering new places, learning more about the culture and have met some lovely people. A couple of years ago I decided to take lessons as it would mean that when I visit I would be able to talk to people and understand more about Japan. I have no end goal other than to be able to speak very good Japanese! Perhaps one day I could use Japanese in my working life, although I have a lot of study to do before this is possible!

Group classes have 2 – 4 students. We do not speak any English, from the very first class it is clear that English is not allowed! I believe that this makes the learning more effective as you don’t translate words in your head, you just accept the word and sound for what it is. At the start of the class we have general catch up on how our weekends were, and what we did. Our Sensai encourages us to ask questions, perhaps using phrases and expressions we have been working on. We have 2 work books – 1 for reading and the other for writing, as well as a CD to listen to at home. We have homework issued twice weekly.

I work very long hours so finding time to study can be tricky, especially mid-week. At the weekend I set aside time to do homework, during the week it is either early mornings or late at night. I find it useful to listen to my C.D if I am cooking, doing housework or jogging. I like to look at my books every day to keep the current learning material familiar.

Every time I have visited Japan my Japanese has been slightly better each time. This makes the hard work worth it! I went to Japan last month and I was very happy to be able to go to restaurants and eateries that have no English menus (so no tourists!). I surprised myself how much I was able to understand, and it was nice to be able to talk to people without resorting to English. I also got my hair cut in Japan, which was great as I was able to explain exactly what I wanted, and was also able to have a very nice conversation with the hairdresser!

Vanessa 25/01/2015

My Japanese study at ITO school has been extremely rewarding. On regular trips to Japan I’ve clearly noticed the improvement in my language, both in conversation and reading. I travel to a semi-rural part of Japan, so these skills have been invaluable. The teachers have targeted the lessons to my interests and occupation, while being very rigorous with the language. So my time at ITO is always enjoyable. The school is flexible with my irregular schedule, which is really useful. They have also prepared me very well for the JLPT exams.

Tyrone 21/01/2015

I’ve been attending hour and a half private classes, once a week, at the ITO Japanese School for about a year now. I started with little to no experience, and so was initially taken through the absolute basics, learning the hiragana alphabet at first, and then moving on to simple grammar and description, during the first few weeks, while also slowly expanding my vocabulary. The teaching method allows only Japanese to be spoken in class, which I feel makes for real progress, as I’m forced to put the language into practice throughout the lessons, though a fair amount of gesturing and mime can be required at times. Though the prospect of this initially was quite daunting, the teachers are very patient and cheerful, making the process quite enjoyable. Currently, in class, I’m practising how to talk about my day using everything I’ve learned so far, which includes modes of transportation, different times of day, work and hobbies, and a variety of verbs. Homework is assigned at the end of each class, usually consisting of writing and reading done through a charmingly presented workbook and textbook. I later bought an audio CD from the school, as well, to help practice pronunciation while at home. My motivation for learning Japanese was purely for pleasure, as I’d been interested in the language for some time. I decided on private classes, as I wanted to be able to learn at my own pace, as well as be able to focus on my own goals and challenges in the lessons. The homework expands upon and refreshes what I’ve learned in class, and is substantial enough to keep me engaged with it throughout the week, while also not reaching a point where it interferes with my other commitments. On the whole, my experience with the ITO Japanese School has been very rewarding, as well as challenging in the best of ways.

Faisal 16/01/2015