JCLI Japanese Language School

Classes are well organized and planned - a true tribute to Japanese "shikata", the way of doing things. Teachers are experienced and always ready to help at length with any questions a student might help, and what is particularly important - they represent in their past a variety of professions and walks of life. Teaching is structured in such a way, that it covers a wide range between two polarities of Japanese language - from various levels of speaking, reading and writing all the way to idioms and everyday slang. Chosen topics represent important milestones of Japanese culture from everyday life and salaryman culture all the way to Japanese haiku and senryu poetry. The school itself is spacious, clean and well maintained, located just a short walk from the metro station in the area sporting a shopping wall with big grocery store, restaurants, 100 yen-shop and even a book store, as well as a tiny shrine. In my particular case, I was fortunate to reside in a dormitory just five minutes walk from the school. Kita-ku, where the JCLI is located, is particular in that it is never too far from the craziness and glory of Shibuya and Ikebukuro, at the same time maintaining a quality which might even be described as pristine.

My experience here is from a fresh student new to living in Japan on their own. First any time there was an issue that came up, whether it was housing or paperwork, they were very quick to help resolve any situation that came up. So even if you run into a problem with your residence card, which you get when you arrive in Japan, or housing they are very quick to help you sort it out.

The classes are very structured, which I appreciate, and even people that have no working knowledge of the Japanese language are assisted and helped to stay in pace with the class. That being said, as this is a school, it does matter how much personal effort you are willing to put into your studies.

It is affordable, and all of the money you put in is accounted for so your only monetary expenses will be health insurance, food, cell phone bills, and what you want to spend on leisure. Overall, it is a pleasure being here and taking classes in an immersive and structured environment.

I really liked the 3 teachers we had. The teaching system was very nice and i could follow easily, even with my bad japanese skills. Also Ingrid, who is responsible for the english speaking students was very nice and helpful.
Overall it was a good experience.
Also, since I only stayed for 2 months, I would have not received a graduation certificate. But after asking, I got one for at my last day of school! It is so beautiful and really nicely packed - would recommend to do this!!

The teachers were all very nice and competent. I was put into a beginning class that was too simple for me. I was hardly challenged at this level and my Japanese did not improve very much from being in the school. When I told them this they didn't have a real solution for me because their terms runs three months at a time and if I had gone into the next level it would have been too difficult. I should have started the second or third month of the first term in order to have been challenged appropriately.

They did not demonstrate much empathy for my situation.

When I enrolled in this school I believed that their short term program would accommodate my level of Japanese and challenge me to get better. The breakdown of their term was not made clear. If I had known what the situation was, I would never have applied to the school. Also, I was in a class with 18-25 year olds. This was also not ideal for me.

While I can't say anything for the housing, having chosen to rent an apartment on my own, I found the rest of the JCLI experience very enjoyable. I found all the teachers I had both approachable and passionate about teaching Japanese, and the school's location convenient.

The classes were good and I learned a lot. The teachers were interesting and kept me involved. I liked going to Oeno Zoo and feeling like I was part of a group. The facilities are excellent and the location is great. My only complaint is that I wish the communication between the school and myself was better. I had trouble finding out basic information.

In general it was a good experience to be with JCLI.
I liked my teachers but I didn't like my classmates because they were not punctual and sometimes they were disrespectful to the teachers and sometimes the teachers didn't know how to manage such a noisy class.
Classes were okay, content and time. However, I didn't like that there weren't conversational class that I was looking for. I think they were so many students in one class, this occasion we were 19 persons so I felt that teacher couldn't pay attention for everyone.
Regarding facilities, we were in a small room, it was uncomfortable and sometimes it was cold.
Regarding the housing, I didn't like that at we paid for a three-person room but they placed us in a four-person room. Sometimes we have a problem with the maintenance of the house, kitchen light didn't work, outside grass were overgrown and caused mosquitoes. I was in Shinookubo female dormitory, I was in the first floor, as we need a room to study, each floor should have a study room. Also, I think they should put more clotheslines because for girls it is normal to have a huge amount of clothes.

JCLI is a really special language School!

I had a lot of special moments in the school and also made a lot of new friends.
All the staff were always at our disposal, in person or by social networks and emails. If we have a problem in the house, the staff would solve it immediately. It was so convenient so I recommend the housing service of the school amply.

The school also offered extra courses and activities; for example I took an extra course in one of the most famous universities, about scholar life in Japan, it was so fun and we could practice our speaking skills in that place. On September we had a trip to Odaiba it was so interesting and fun!

In my last day in the school the main teacher of my class and all my classmates went out for dinner together, it was really sweet!

The teachings methods of the teachers amazed me, because I think I learned a lot in just three months! All the teachers were so kind and helped each of us if we need it.

Thanks to all the JCLI staff! God bless you all.

Well my experience at this school was hopefully the only one that went this bad! I don't really know where to start. I do not want to say that you should not go to this school, but I will say that there are some BUT's.

First let me tell you my story. I booked an Absolute beginners course for 3 months. With the accommodation being a shared flat (7 girls) in Shin-okubo. The day I landed in Japan, it was arranged for me to be picked up at the airport. I landed on a Sunday. Well that didn't happen! I was stuck at the airport in Narita and didn't have an emergency number! But I did have the number for the guy who was supposed to pick me up. I called him, only to find out he doesn't speak English! Thank God for Japanese people being so kind! A sweet lady at the airport talked to him and translated it to me.

So now I have to go from Narita airport to Ikebukuro Street using the Japanese metro! Well I've only been awake for 23 hours at this point and used 11 of them on a plane! I am so tired, I'm mad and disappointed and I had no clue how to use the rail system in Japan (kinda why I paid for airport pick up :') ! I finally get to Ikebukuro, and I find this guy who's supposed get me to my flat.

Well he doesn't know where we are supposed to go! I was a bit furious at this point, but I will say this, he did whatever he could to help, and even took to me out to lunch! Damn, Korean food is good! ;) He then finds the place I am supposed to stay at! But ohh a new problem. There is no key for me! And my roommate is not there! In all of this I am asked to please remember the way to this house. Then he shows me the where the school is and again asks me to remember where it is! After all these, I am sent off to be alone in somebody's apartment in the totally opposite end of town to stay for the night!?? What a mess!! I am told that a teacher will pick me up at 8:30 the following morning, so I should please be ready! the school starts at 9:00 o'clock.

Next day: I leave all the disappointed feelings I have of yesterday behind and look forward to this cool experience being here in japan and all! :D And at 8.30 I'm ready and standing outside (still tired!) No one comes!!! At 10-11 o'clock a teacher calls me saying he is so sorry! And that he is on his way to pick me up. Excuse me, at this point I am so mad, and I feel like crying, I felt like seriously, I spent all my savings on this trip and I get this!!

Finally we get to the school. They ask me to take a test in Japanese, sorry guys, I don't know what this means! So I just get appointed to a class, yes finally let's get started on what I came here for!

Because of all these, I'm late for class, so I hurried in. My teacher is explaining to me IN JAPANESE that you should never be late! Yeeeaaaar... well... okay whatever... class starts, and only in Japanese which is actually great. But I can't keep up! It's going too fast I have no idea whatsoever on what I am being asked to do or say for that matter, because even the freaking writing on the board is in Japanese and in KANJI on top of that! Excuse me I asked for a ABSOLUTE beginner! I can barley read hiragana and katakana! I might be able to pronounce some of it, but the meaning behind it, I got no idea! And all of my classmates are doing great. After 4 hours of complete torture, the class ends. And I ask the school for a transfer to an easier class cause I got no chance in the one i started in.

After this first day of school, I get to go to the shared flat and meet the other girls, and go see my room and roomie, I expected a small room, but that room was really small!! Wow.. like you can barley get into the room! But well okay at least i had a super nice roomie. <3

So the following day, I get to be in the absolute easiest class they have, and yes it's easy, kindergarten Japanese of course it is easy for the Japanese! Not for a Daine who speaks Danish and takes the class in English to learn Japanese!

And what is worse, you can't ask your teacher something in English..! you'll have to wait until class is finished and ask your student counselor.

I didn't hate any of the teachers! It's actually the opposite! They were so nice and they really did all they could to help me and if they knew any English they would use it to help to the best they could, but so few of them were able to understand and answer in English. Sad but true.

I wasn't able to keep up with this even if I studied all day and night, I felt like a complete failure during class and I had no time to go out and enjoy Japan.. :(

So after a couple of weeks with this I stopped, and took 2 more weeks in Japan as a tourist!

So yeeaarh my stay at this school didn't go well and there are even more experiences on the bad side. :(

But enough about that! this school is actually quite great. If you already know some Japanese, you don't have to be super good at it, but have some vocabulary, be confident about hiragana and katakana maybe get to know the low levels of kanji. Then this school will be great for you! And then I would recommend you stay there at least for 3 months.

The best things there were the teachers. They will do everything to help you, inside or outside the school. The only bad point was the dormitory. The problem itself was the people. Being 28 of different culture is a mess, very fun but a mess. Sometimes you got to be ready to see things that might shock you.

The teachers were exceptional; some of them went out of their way to accommodate my vision problems and to help me with my study of Japanese. The study book was difficult to read and the print was tiny. Everyone in my class disliked it. I recommend some previous study of Kanji script before enrolling. Mastering Hiragana and Katakana before enrolling will help you to be placed into higher level classes.

The facilities were clean and the director was most helpful in arranging every detail of my stay. I had some other English speaking dorm mates in my house, and this made it easier to get to know people. My dorm house had excellent accommodations for my needs, and was within walking distance of the school.

Many of my classmates had help from the school with finding work. I would have stayed longer and tried to do the same if I had applied for a student visa instead of a tourist visa.

It was "sugoi" (amazing). The teachers were friendly and the building was great. The elevator was a little bit small and slow.

I had a great experience here, it was truly an amazing opportunity for me as I got to learn Japanese with people from all corners of the globe. The teachers are extremely passionate and the stuff are extremely helpful.
I recommend JCLI highly.