Hokkaido Japanese Language School Add to wishlist

When I was looking for a Japanese language school in Japan, JaLS immediately got my attention, because of how many interesting activities it offered besides regular lessons, and also because classes were so small in comparison to all the other schools. So I chose to enroll for the 2016 Winter Course (which last approximately a month) and after that to attend the Standard Course for two more months. To put it shortly: the best 3 months of my life!!! :-D The lessons were always extremely interesting and fun, and a lot of focus was given to conversation, which was my weak point. It’s amazing how much progress I made in such a short period (and having such a great time!), all thanks to the amazing work of brilliant, super-friendly and dedicated teachers who really motivated me day by day. Also, the classes being very small, they can give a huge amount of time and attention to individual needs, which really gives you the opportunity to practice your language skills a lot. Every lesson was useful and challenging, making for very pleasant mornings. And the afternoons and weekends the learning process didn’t stop, as there were always great trips or cultural/recreational activities to join, where you really had a great chance to relate to local people, their culture, their everyday language, their way of thinking. Just to name some of the fantastic experiences I had: I had a barbecue in an igloo, followed by a bath in a beautiful onsen in the snow, I learned how to make sushi and soba, I watched the penguins march in beautiful Asahiyama zoo, I watched fireworks shining over enchanting Ice sculptures at Shikotsu lake, I learned how to fish in the ice and how to swing a kendo wooden sword…and I could go on and on and on…It was a memorable, fascinating journey, made all the more special by the great people from all over the world I met along the way. I made a lot of friends of all ages and from all countries, I learned a lot of things and I cried a lot of tears when it was time to say goodbye to JaLS. The accomodation was fantastic, too. I wanted to have my own room in a dormitory to have a lot of privacy, and the school staff really went out of their way to accommodate my requests. I stayed at a very lovely dormitory, where I had a huge room with private kitchen and toilet and two very tasty and abundant meals every day. It was clean, cosy and very close to the metro, I couldn’t ask for more! I’m so happy I chose Hokkaido and found JaLS. Sapporo is an elegant, beautiful, vibrant city, and at the same time it’s way cheaper and easier to live than megalopolis like Tokyo or Osaka. Hokkaido’s nature is just breathtaking, especially during winter and there’s lots of ice and snow festivals in the city and all around the region. And if you go, get ready to get a few kilos, because food in Hokkaido is heavenly good! To conclude, I think what made this adventure so magical is the people. JaLS people are just special, both the teachers and the staff go out of their way to make everyone happy and safe and to make sure everyone’s learning, socializing and having fun. It really felt like a big family, a strong bond was created among students, teachers, staff people and the atmosphere was always friendly and vibrant. I’m grateful to all of them, and I can’t wait to see them again…which I will, because I will certainly go back to this amazing school very soon! :-D

When i made my decision to go study japanese in Japan, i directly aimed to live in Sapporo. For me it was the perfect mix of japanese studies and culture experience, even though class is only 3 hours per day you will learn and progress alot since it's small classes and you get alot of attention from the teachers. This was my first time leaving my home country alone, but i went back home with so much awesome awesome experiences and awesome new friends!!

I spent four weeks studying Japanese in JALS and had such an amazing time. The class sizes are small, and learning for three hours a day really lets you improve your Japanese ability really quickly - but I never felt stressed out at all. The lessons are very well-structured and focused on conversational ability, and it was really fun to go out every afternoon and practice whatever I'd learned that day on unsuspecting wait staff and my host family. Will definitely return at some point!!!

This was the first time I had ever been on my own, and it was the absolute best experience I could ever have asked for. The class sizes were at most six people, which really helped me concentrate on the material and getting to know my classmates as well as my teachers. The activities they had planned for us were some of the funnest things I have done in my life! In my eleven weeks of study, I went from knowing almost nothing, to being able to show my parents all around Japan! Highly recommend!!!

I came to this school with next to no previous experience with Japanese, and after twelve weeks, I left with basic speaking, reading, and writing abilities! The teachers are excellent and invested in their students, and they are happy to answer questions and help with any confusions you have about the material. The excursions organized by the school also really expose you to both traditional culture in Japan, as well as fun outdoor activities characteristic of summer life in Hokkaido.

I studied for 6 weeks and learned lots of Japanese due to high quality teaching. There’s always something to do as JaLS is located a few minutes away from 2 useful stations. There were events every week to bond with other students and staff. Some activities were day trips to the zoo, lavender fields and after school activities like a Genghis Khan BBQ and a taiko drum lesson. I hope to return and recommend it to anyone interested in learning Japanese in this outstanding language school.

I spent 10 weeks studying Japanese at JaLS and it's been one of the best summers I've ever had. What I greatly value about JaLS is the community which makes you feel like being in one big family, the staff would always go the extra mile to help me. JaLS also offered a very effective teaching methods, studying in small groups of six, and having excellent teachers who taught me much more than I could ever learn in a language school outside of Japan. I am very grateful for the time I spent there!

I spent an amazing 4-week course at JaLs last summer! What I really like about this school is that there were only 6 people per class so we got a chance to do a lot of speaking and practice. As I joined the summer course, there were both cultural experiences and summer activities for us in the afternoon, including a day trip to lavender farm in Furano at the weekend. The location of JaLS is just a 5-minute walk from Sapporo station, so it is very convenient to go round the city.

I have started from basic Japanese and reached an intermediate level. The lessons are really effective and I was able to learn fast. The teachers follow your progress individually. The whole staff is nice and friendly, dedicated to your Japanese studies and they really cares about your well-being in Sapporo. I recommend it for short term studies, people interested in visiting Hokkaido and experience Japanese culture. They propose a wide range of activities food, culture, visits, festivals, ...

I stayed for two weeks at JaLS and I had the best time of my life. I am very grateful to all the awesome people I met and the great experiences I could make. The classes are small and you learn quickly. I really liked that you have lessons in the moring and in the afternoon you were free or could take part in one of the activities the school arranged for the students. I would highly recommend this school and I hope I can come back again!

Went to school last year for 5 weeks. Would consider that time as the best time in my life. Met great people and had great time. JaLS staff is better than family. Even you dont like to study, you feel like you want to study at school and spend there every day of your time. Came back this year twice and it was even better. As a result im moving to Sapporo for good next year!

I chose Jals since the small class and various programs. Teachers and staffs were so kind and full of energy that I could learn a lot only only from the lessons but through chatting with them. I think it's the best way of language learning. At first I could only say some single words and phrases, but after graduation I could find a part-time job in Japan. It's absolutely one of the best memories of my life. If there's any chance, I'd like to go back again!

I spent 8 weeks during the summer of 2014 in Sapporo studying Japanese at JaLS. Yet, I was doing more than just that. I was learning about a new culture, experiencing a new way of life. Most study abroad programs focus solely on a particular language and that's fine if that's all you care about. But JaLS does a fantastic job of integrating the language it teaches as well as the culture in which that language is embedded. I couldn't imagine a better place to get a full bodied education.

I had an amazing learning journey in JaLs. The teaching staff were friendly, engaging and adaptable to the needs/abilities of the international students. What sets the school apart from other schools were the after class activities. We were able to soak in the Japanese culture through the different activities and even had lots of opportunities to interact with native speakers. In a nutshell, if you are looking for a fun and enriching experience learning the Japanese language, look no further.

I had an amazing learning journey in JaLs. The teaching staff were friendly, engaging and adaptable to the needs/abilities of the international students. What sets the school apart from other schools were the after class activities. We were able to soak in the Japanese culture through the different activities and even had lots of opportunities to interact with native speakers. In a nutshell, if you are looking for a fun and enriching experience learning the Japanese language, look no further.

As I wrote at the end of the summer, this is how I felt when I got back home, still feel now, and probably will ever feel about my time at JaLS: There are no words to express how grateful I am for having spent the whole summer with this amazing group of people. This was the experience of my life and you made it happen. I finally know where I want to go in my life and it's all thanks to the big family that JaLS is. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I really wish to come back again!

Having been to several language schools in Japan, Hokkaido JaLs is definitely my favourite. The location is superb, just in site of Sapporo station, and is surrounded by must-see spots for anyone visiting Sapporo. The school is chic and exceptionally welcoming, with small class sizes, friendly students and staff. Even if you don't have class, they are always welcoming and love to just hang out. You can tell the teachers really love their jobs, and go out of their way to help students out.

j'ai suivi 6 semaines de cours a l'Hokkaido Japanese Language School. Je recommande vivement cette ecole. Les cours ont lieu dans des petites salles avec un petit nombre d'etudiants (1 a 6) ce qui est bon pour l'oral. Les enseignants ont beaucoup d'experience dans l'enseignement du Japonais et font preuve de beaucoup de patience, de devouement et de professionalisme. L'enseignement suit un livre de reference (minna no nihongo) et les progres sont persceptibles au bout de quelques semaines.

I would recommend Hokkaido Japanese Language School as great way to enjoy Hokkaido on the short term. They offer all levels of Japanese from beginner to advanced for formal study and employ effective learning methods such has shadowing to help in the language learning process. More importantly Hokkadio JALS allows for activities outside the classroom which encourages students to immerse in real world Japanese through an enjoyable informal setting.

My time at Hokkaido JaLS as a student included morning group classes, afternoon 1-1 lessons, and activities. Everything was brilliant! I had a great time, made some amazing friends and gained confidence in my Japanese! The morning classes are a maximum of 6 people so there's loads of time to talk and ask questions. The 1-1 classes were great for helping me learn the Japanese I needed to at the time (I was writing a Masters paper!), and the activities meant I met wonderful people!!

The school is fantastic. The whole experience from dealing with the office staff with my countless queries and schedule changes, to being taught are effortless regardless of Japanese ability!!

I chose this school because of small classes (up to 6 people max) which provided me with a lot of opportunities to speak Japanese and due to a small number of students in class, the teacher was able to correct my mistakes efficiently. In addition, the location and environment of the school were perfect! I highly recommend you to study Japanese here at JaLS, especially for those who want to practice speaking!

I am very satisfied: we weren't a lot of in the class (4 students, the maximum is 6) and the teachers have been able to pay attention on each of us. My Japanese accent really increased because we were working on it. The home-works and the lessons allowed me to practice a lot of! I am also very satisfied because of the activities! The Nabe Party, the Ainu’s culture, the Onsen with the snow, the sushi party, the Japanese conversation lesson, the ski… I'll never forget how fun it was in this school

Hokkaido JALS is a great school with a focus on improving speaking capability. Unlike other Japanese courses, the attention leans on nurturing practical speaking. They accomplish this not only from the choice of the course material and small intimate class sizes, but also through frequent out of class activity. In short, the Hokkaido JALS had great and caring teachers who really go beyond the call of duty to provide a native speaking environment and lots of fun. Definitely recommend!

I joined the Winter Course plus Standard Course this year and had a great time at Hokkiado Japanese Language School! Staff here are so nice and helpful. Whenever I have got problem, they are always willing to help. I love the teachers here so much. They are so patient and kind to hear and correct my strange Japanese. I can feel great improvement in my Japanese proficiency !!!