I remember the thrill of holding my COE in my hand, that feeling is indescribable. But, what to expect next ?
It was a long time ago (still feels like yesterday 😉) that I had my COE (certificate of eligibility) in my hand. The happiness, the thrill, the excitement that I felt cannot be explained in words. After all, I was going to Japan. The country that fascinated me so much. The country and the culture of which I had only read about. Everything was about to change and for all the good reasons 😊.
Now, I am not here to narrate the same old story of how I reached Japan and how I was welcomed (read it here). I am here to tell you what happens after you have reached , settled in your room and have to start attending the language school from the very next day.
I arrived at my share house, grabbed a quick meal from the nearest 7-11 and then went straight to bed. The next morning was crucial as it was my first day at Japanese language school (btw the school that attended was ARC Academy ). Dressed up, put on some Kawaii makeup and off I went.
After about 30 mins (15 mins of actual train travel and 15 mins of getting lost LOL), I had reached my dream school. Even though I had received good Japanese language training in India, after reaching Japan, this was the moment of test. And I mean this literally and not just because I actually HAD to start speaking Japanese now. NO, most Japanese language schools give you a test on your first day to judge your Japanese language abilities. And this is same for everyone. No matter if you have already cleared N3 or N2, you HAVE to appear in this test.
The test : Day 1 of the school
So you are given a test but there is no pre-determined range of scores that you need to get in order to PASS. In fact, there is NO pass or fail. Once you have given it all in the test, one of the teachers will analyze your skills based on what you could or could not solve. Great! The hardest part is now over ! phew !! Your results come and the one of the teacher will explain to you how and which class would be most suitable for you. You can go with their choice or you can also ask the teachers if you can sit in other classes of higher or lower level just to confirm that you have made the right decision.
What comes after
Now that you have selected which class you want to take, it is now time for formal introduction with the rest of the class. Everyone introduces themselves in a simple way : Watashi wa 00 to moushimasu, 00jin desu, yoroshiku onegaishimasu 私は00と申します、00人です、よろしくお願いします : meaning 'I am 00 (your name), I am 00 your nationality , NIce to meet you ! or looking forward to knowing you !.
What happens next mainly depends on how social you are. I am selectively social LOL. Meaning I did make some friends but not a lot of them. Also, there were days when I preferred roaming around Osaka alone rather than with someone. So this part completely depends on your personal choices.
The study and what not
I am just going to say it here ITS NOT VERY DIFFICULT TO GRADUATE FROM A JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL. There I said it. Its true. And it applies to all schools. The thing is , the teachers prepare you in a way that, even if you try, you cant fail the final test. HAHA! So, its a good thing, no ?
Well, I would highly recommend those who are currently in the language school to NOT MISS THE FINAL PRACTICE TEST. Yeah, this is the one that HELP you in passing the final test. I can't be any more clear, can I ? AHEM. I think I said a bit too much. 😀😀
In case you are wondering, I passed all my tests with the best possible grades and before the final results were out, I already had a job offer letter in my hand. ✨✨ (just bragging a little here)
How to improve Japanese speaking skill
Frankly, when you are living in Japan everything helps you in improving your language skill. Whether its simply interacting with the super market staff, reading the sign boards or studying at the school.
Here are a few things that I recommend :
Do not skip the kaiwa (speaking) classes at your school. At first, they seem very childish, but, believe me they are so very helpful.
Interact with your classmates as much as possible. These are the people who probably have the same level of Japanese as you do. So there is a lesser chance of embarrassing yourself. HAHA! Go ahead and speak as much Japanese with them as possible.
Do some part time jobs. This is by far the most efficient method of honing your speaking skills (learn about part time jobs here ). Not only do you learn daily conversational Japanese, but also Business Japanese which is quintessential when applying for jobs.
What else do you want to know about what to expect from Japanese language schools in Japan ? If you have any questions, do write in the comment section below ❤
Till next time
Love,
🌸Indu🌸
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