(I originally posted this in r/LearnJapanese and was advised to move to here)
Hello
I’m a 49 yr old single Aussie man looking to spend a few years in Japan primarily to learn Japanese and immerse myself in the culture. I’m visiting Japan later this year for 6 weeks and aim to return in mid-late 2024 to commence studies by which time I’ll be 50.
My personal situation insofar as may be relevant:
\- I’m a semi-retired solicitor based in Western Australia
\- I’m financially secure & have no plans to work while studying in Japan or to use my Japanese language skills to work in Japan in the future (although if I decided on a more permanent move to Japan, I would be interested in teaching English both to enrich my own experience and to ‘give back’)
\- I currently have no Japanese language skills. Between now and when I commence studies in Japan, I intend to master the kanas & do some preparatory coursework to at least know the fundamentals.
\- I am interested in applying for a course of 1 – 2 years’ duration
\- I am open to studying in any city. That said, studying in/near Kyoto really appeals to me
\- I think I would prefer a ‘medium’ learning intensity course given I would ideally like to have plenty of free time to do other stuff. However I am not averse to putting in the hours to make the most of the learning experience
\- I am unsure what style of accommodation would be most suitable. Although I am an older guy, I would say that I am ‘young at heart’ and would prefer to live in a social setting or at least one with plenty of opportunities to socialise and meet locals and other students outside of class
Any advice regarding schools, locations, accommodation, any required or recommended learning prior to commencing study, tips & tricks and favourable or unfavourable experiences is welcomed. I would love to hear from younger & older students. I had a nice laugh reading one of the language school sites which described 30 year old students as “middle aged” haha.
Thank you very much 🙂