It's a very informative video girl's ❤❤

I think much depends on what one is looking to get out of language classes...how you plan to apply what you learn...the style of teaching that you may or may not like/prefer, etc. ... So take me, for e.g. I learned two other languages (Spanish and French) a very long time ago, at a very strict high school. The method of teaching those languages was that the teachers 'drilled' things into our heads. Lots of repetition and memorization. We learned vocabulary in categories. So body parts. Various fruits and vegetables. Animals. Etc. And the teachers explained things to us, in English. So now, as for ISI, where I recently began N5 level classes.... I have been teaching myself Japanese, over the years, in an extremely haphazard way. No formal schooling. I had maybe 15 lessons with a tutor (over 10 years ago). I listen to podcasts (Japanese Made Easy is a favorite, BTW,, and the guy, 'Greg', does an excellent job at explaining things like 'wa vs ga', 'ga, o, no, de' (and when it's appropriate to use which), etc. I have imaginary conversations with myself, in Japanese, etc. I have a general understanding on sentence structure, word order, verb conjugation. But I have very little vocabulary, beyond the basics. And without much vocabulary, you can have trouble communicating what you want (as is the case, while I'm in Japan right now) or understanding what others are saying to you. As soon as other people start talking to you, and their sentences are full of words you do not know, you become overwhelmed. My main goal was to improve my overall ability to speak...without having to 'think' so much...and to also expand my vocabulary, mainly by way of being immersed in the language during the 2.5 months I am here, in Tokyo. I also want to improve my reading capability, as Google Translate can only help you so much, when you are in the middle of say, Shinjuku station, trying to find your way among a literal SEA of signage that is 99.% all in Japanese, ergo totally overwhelming. Because I'm not able to read Japanese (beyond recognizing ~60% of hiragana and katakana), ISI automatically put me into the N5 class. My first week of class began on a Wednesday, so I only had three classes during that week. (I've yet to begin my second week.) And during those three days, we had three different teachers. (It's not clear to me, yet, if that is the norm at ISI...if they think it's best to have different teachers, with different teaching styles, in order to give students a broader learning experience?) Either way, as folks here know, everything was entirely in Japanese, from Day One. And so while I understand that for totally new students, it would be very overwhelming, for me, it was painfully elementary...at least, the lessons themselves. It was things like how to introduce yourself...greetings... some basic vocabulary words like 'umbrella, desk, student', etc. Then almost an hour or more spent on 'this, that, that (way over there)' complete with ridiculous 'exercises' where we had to form small groups, each put a personal item (water bottle, pen, paper etc) into a plastic bag, and then take turns pulling an item out from the bag, holding it up and saying 'Kono pen wa, dare no desu ka?' I thought I was going to scream. Not only that but, nothing.....Nothing...is explained at all, in English (which is what the bulk of the students in the class can speak and understand). So for e.g., the concept of 'no', when it is used to show ownership of something. That concept can be very confusing for new students, not only because when English-speaking students see 'no', they think 'NO', but also because 'no' (when used in that sense) doesn't mean 'so and so's book', as much as it means 'the book OF so and so' or the book 'belonging to so and so'. I think the teacher should have explained this. Also, during our practice sessions for hiragana and katakana, the teachers simply had us take time during the class to practice the patterns for the various characters. However, I think it would have really been helpful for the other students, if the teachers also suggested to us 'AS you are writing out the various characters, quietly SAY the character sounds (to yourself), at the same time. This will help to further ingrain in your head, not only the appearance of the various characters, but the SOUNDS that each character has.' (I figured this out on my own, and so every time I'm writing out a character, I'm quietly vocalizing the sound of the character, at the same time. After class, another student was saying the same thing to me...that she too does this same thing...and that it would have been nice if the teacher recommended it for the other students...) Two of the three teachers I had during the first week seemed pretty bad, and one in particular seemed like she was in over her head...as if she had no real sense of 'how' to teach. It seemed like she was grabbing at straws...trying to think of ways to fill up the class time...having us do the most ridiculous exercises and 'games' with fellow students, over and over. (I even heard at least one other student behind me, groaning at how ridiculous it all felt.) Homework assignments are very haphazardly communicated and I honestly get the sense that most students really don't understand 'what' our homework assignments are, much less are they doing them. Perhaps part of the reason why the N5 level class may be so bad at ISI (and perhaps other schools, as well?) is that the range of student levels in the class is far greater than it may be at other levels. At the N5 level, you have students who are totally new to Japanese...where it might even be their very first foreign language they are trying to learn (and maybe they will find they simply do not have any aptitude for foreign language, period)..and then there are other students in the class - like myself - who already know many of the basics, and are now ready to challenge themselves (but who, because they are unable to READ Japanese), are put in a class with total beginners. Also, while in some respects I can see the benefits to the entire class, from start to finish, being conducted in Japanese, I don't see why it can't also include some explanations, now and then, in English. Many times the teachers are saying things to us, and it's clear from the students' faces that not a word the teacher uttered was understood by us. I just don't see how folks can learn that way, when things are so over their head, that their brain just shuts down. It's one thing if the teacher utters the same phrase...the same word...over and over again each day, and finally we are like 'ah, so THAT must be what that means' (because we are able to get context and see a pattern). But it's quite another thing when the teacher is just saying this or that (i.e., it's not a standard, everyday classroom phrase like 'now it's time for our break' or 'class is over...class is dismissed'), and we don't understand one word. So...the jury is out on ISI. I'll see how Week #2 goes. Oh...and I should add....my class has about 50 students, which many have said is simply way too many students, for one class.

God... With my b1 English level understanding these rappers is kinda hard... (good video)

This is a dream that seems so far away for me, but I am absolutely sure that in the future I will be there studying or working in fashion 😩💕

thank you sm for this video! im currently thinking about moving to tokyo for about a year and visiting a japanese language school. This helped me so much!

great answers and funny video too haha

Are they in English??bunka?

Your sister gave me stress 😂

1 year to get to N2 is CRAZY doing amazing!

thank you so much!!!

Hello Hazina!!! I absolutely love your videos, and im getting informed to study in Bunka , concerning this video i have some questions for you if it's ok to ask, did the field trips you mention around Japan were an to an extra fee, or were did they were included on the tuitton fee, i would greatly appreciate if you could answer but if not it's totally ok, thank you sm!!!!

Girl u are amazing I am from india and I want to do fashion designing course after my highschool so can u Please make a video on full details of best japan fashion designing universities and which universities Doesn't need interview kinda things and which one want the test for entrance

You are wonderful! Thank you so much for this video.

Is it possible for someone to duplicate your experience in school at their own home?

How are the classes conducted? Do you listen to dialogs and stories? Do you get practice making conversation? What percentage of the class is conducted in Japanese? Do you read dialogs and stories and does the teacher ask you questions to test your understanding?

Do you think it’s possible to go there for 3 months and find a part time job?

FUCK WHAT DO I DO WHEN IM HOMESCHOOLED

I wish your sister had a youtube! would love to hear more from her time at ISI and ask questions. but great video! I'm leaning towards ISI's Kyoto Campus for October!

what visa did they give you?

Did you apply trough agency or? There is agency I'm talking to called study in Japan (studyin.ninja) I'm curios do you know anything about it. I'm just trying to check credibility of it.

Can i get into bunka through mext scholarship?

Can you plz give some information on master in fashion designing in japan is it possible

Is there any scholarships for international students

Awesome video!!!

Thank you SO much for the inside scoop on ISI. I'm planning to attend in April 2024 for the 2 year program at ISI Kyoto, so this video is pure gold for me. Neema, it sounds like you study in the same style as myself.

Hey, you think that non-native speakers of English can get a job like that, the one you stayed for two years? I mean, having almost native pronunciation level type of thing. I'm not sure, but they test you to check if they like your speaking abilities or they just care if your country native language is English? I mean, I guess japanese people can't really tell westerns apart anyway. In my case I'm from Brazil, but have been using English for the longest time. Btw, thanks for sharing all the amazing tips about Japan that you did in this channel years past. Still being helpful. This showed up spontaneously to me lol

Girl you are such a joy to listen to! New subscriber <3

I’d love to study at a fashion college in Japan I just wouldn’t know what to do for a job after finishing the course 🥲

Your friend and her dad are such gracious and funny hosts! Thanks for sharing some of your Italian trip with us 💃🏽

1:20-1:30 if that's your answer on why you want to go, then your parents will be like "hahahahahahaha! Nice try but you'll have to do better than that."

Very informative. thank you!

WOW, these sisters are AMAZING!

Is there any way to get a student visa to study Japanese for more than 2 years. Or to apply to extend the visa beyond two years? Or do you need to apply for a different kind of visa at that point ???

Ho guys! It was very informative. Do you have like a placement test in ISI before starting the course?

Thank you for posting your insights !!

You're so gorgeous girls !

Do you know anything about Toyo Language School?

How did she get the job doing English activities with kids?

Ah oh no, the video is from last year I just noticed, That's a pity TwT

Omg I'm from Italy !! It would be great to say hi to you while you're here ><

Wow this video is so helpful and empowering, thank you! Side note, I LOVE your hair cut and jacket 😻

do you have to point the 1,500,000 yen every year?

Do you know about the Japan student exchange program

You're the best babe 💓

What's the total fees for 3year garment creation?

Sis , may I take addmission for B.Des course and then M.Des?. & What's the overall fee of bukan ? Include "B.des + M.des + tuition fees"~ please reply me🥺...& There is any entrance exam for admission?

after attending were you able to pass the JLPT N2? Were you able to find work in Japan after and extend your visa or did you have to return home after language school? What were housing costs? dormitories don't seem that great of a fit.

Hey! I have seen your Bunka videos and your writing on Bunka's website wondering if you could make a video about what books, sources, magazines have you used during or which one was in curriculum of Bunka.

How much do you make ??

Thank you for posting! I wish there were videos like this!