I have 3 weeks off in March. I’m planning to go to Japan and want to improve my Japanese but am unsure what the best use of time would be.
My current level is roughly N4+ (finished Genki 1 & 2, level 34 WK) after studying for 1 year with iTalki and between now and March I think I can improve further
Options:
1. Language school – either Fukuoka (Meiji) or Tokyo (GenkiJACS). 2 weeks with homestay + 1 week travel after. I have done this before in Spain for 2-3 weeks at a time for Spanish and found that helpful and fun – but this was years ago before online options were available.
The main appeal of this is the homestay aspect and the chance to meet other students – but then I’m worried that the classes may be no more useful than just having a week of upping the pace on italki and self study.
2. Travel for 3 weeks. This would be my 2nd trip (first trip was Tokyo to Hiroshima via Japan Alps) so was thinking Kyushu & Shikoku. However – besides simple tourist/service industry interactions and going to izakaya I’m worried I wouldnt be able to meet people in wider situations (vs the homestay with language school – but then what if the host family aren’t particularly sociable)?
As you can see there’s quite a few competing confusing thoughts going on so any advice would be very welcome – thanks!
2 comments
Honestly, unless you’re the kind of person who loves to sit at bars and talk to strangers, I realistically can’t see you getting the chance to have too many extended conversations while traveling around. As you said, you’d mostly just be having short conversations with service workers. Imo the homestay sounds like the better bet if you’re main goal is practicing Japanese rather than tourism
It depends on what your goals for this trip are. Do you want to tourist around and maybe practice a bit of Japanese while you’re at it, or are you going to improve your Japanese and maybe see some sights while you’re at it
Maybe another option is travel but stay at Japanese youth hostels / guest houses where you can meet other people (including Japanese travelers and staff).
Usually these places are much more social vs. staying in normal hotels etc.