Easy Languages

Program

Destination

Japan is a nation comprised of islands, situated in the extreme East of Asia between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan. This "Land of the Rising Sun" has a highly developed economy and a rich cultural and historical heritage.

The Japanese often take pride in its dichotomy between modernity and tradition. Beyond simply cultivating tradition within a modern atmosphere, they have managed to create a veritable fusion of these two extremes. Glass and steel skyscrapers crop up next to ancient temples. In the modern folklore, geisha and samurai meld seamlessly with manga heroes and the latest robot prototypes from Sony.

With its concrete towers, its neon lights, gigantic shopping malls and trendy districts in the nightlife, Tokyo is a modern metropolis. Rebuilt twice, after the earthquake of 1923 and after the U.S. bombing of the Second World War, the most populous city in the world is also a place steeped in history: its rich artistic heritage and prestige of its many museums have made it the cultural capital of the archipelago.

Subtle blend of futuristic towers and traditional Japanese houses, the architecture of the city attracted visitors, who love this typically Asian city, but turned to the West. An essential step to discover the identity and Japanese culture.

School

Our partner school in Tokyo has been teaching Japanese to foreigners for many years. The staff consists of experienced, university-qualified teachers. The schools are also very international, with students coming from all corners of the world.

However, small class size will allow you to study in a relaxed, personalized environment. The schools possess all of the modern facilities necessary to facilitate your learning, including a library, Internet room, and quiet study rooms. The school is located in the city centre.

Courses

General Japanese courses are available for adult students of all ability levels.

Course begin each Monday, except for absolute beginners, who can only start on the dates listed below in the “Prices and Dates” section. Lessons last 50 minutes.

If you have never studied Japanese before, we strongly urge you to study at least how to write and read the Japanese hiragana and katakana alphabets, as this basic knowledge will help immensely when you start your course. (Some Asian Nationalities are required to have basic Japanese skills at the time of application, so please contact the school for details.)

• Standard programme: 20 lessons per week
  Classes take place Monday to Friday.
  You will have lessons in the morning from 8:50am to 12:40pm, or in the afternoon, from 1pm to 4:50pm, depending on your level.
  Enrolment to these courses must be made at least one month before you start.
  
  
• Long-term programme: one year in Japan
  Students who wish to study for a full year can benefit from a special promotion price for long-stay programmes, still with 20 lessons per week.
  This programme starts in April, July, October and January (see Prices and Dates section). Enrolment to these courses must be made at least 5 months before you start.
  
• Summer program: 20 lessons per week
  This program offers intensive courses (4 lessons per day) that will enable students to learn or improve their Japanese quickly while having the opportunity to experience the culture of the "land of the Rising Sun."
  There are four programs open to all levels:
  
  - 02/07 to 20/07: 3 weeks including language classes in the morning and afternoon activities such as cooking Japanese manga movies, visiting museums etc. (Harajuku, Asakusa, Akihabar) Some day trips are planned to Disney World and Hakone.
  
  - 02/07 to 28/07: 4 weeks including the activities mentioned above plus a discovery stay of 3 days in Kyoto City.
  
  - 02/07 to 17/08: 7 weeks of full program including advanced courses in Japanese language. In addition to the above activities, students will have the opportunity to go to an amusement park, and a trip to Mount Fuji for 3 days.
  
  - 30/07 to 17/08: 3-week program for beginners only: Japanese course, calligraphy, visit Tokyo and vicinity, manga evening, and 3-day stay in Kyoto.
  
  Accommodation may be a host family (half board) or shared apartment (no meals)

Activities

In addition to classes, some optional cultural activities are also offered (some included, some for an additional fee), such as excursions, yoga, tea ceremony, flower arranging, cooking, calligraphy, etc.

Accommodation

We recommend that students wishing to find accommodation through their own means should book through us for their first month just to make sure they have somewhere to stay when they arrive. In this case we offer accommodation in a guest house, in a single room, for a period of 1 to 12 months.

There are two possible accommodation options:

• Guest House
  If you choose the guest house option, you will have your own room with desk and refrigerator and Internet connection upon request.
  
  The house also offers common areas, including a living room, video room, kitchen, Internet room, and bathrooms.
  
  The guest house is situated some 30 to 45 minutes from the school by subway. The price includes a security deposit (30 000 JPY). The deposit will be reimbursed to you at the end of your stay (in yen) as long as no damage was incurred to the apartment.
  
  
• Host Family
  Accommodation in host family is the ideal solution for students wishing to learn about daily Japanese life. Students who choose this option also have the opportunity to continue to practice their Japanese outside of their courses, with the families. Students stay in individual rooms.
  
  The families are generally around 60-90 minutes from the school by public transport. Availability is limited.
  
  
• Student residences
  We have a few spaces available at a residence very close to the school (less than 30 minutes walk, or 10 minutes by metro).
  
  The rooms can be either doubles or triples, with a shared kitchen and bathroom.
  
  Warning: these rooms fill up quickly and are therefore reserved for students staying longer than 6 months. We encourage you to contact us if this type of accommodation interests you. We will verify if there is space and send you a personalised price quote.

Prices & Dates

Dates 2012

• Courses start on the 1st Monday of each month, except for complete beginners.
• Beginners must start on the beginning date of a term.
• Winter term : 11/01/12
• Spring term : 09/04/12
• Summer term : 03/07/12
• Fall term: 10/10/12

School holidays take place on the following dates:

• 23/12/11 - 15/01/12
• 17/03/12 - 08/04/12
• 28/04/12 - 06/05/12
• 23/06/12 - 01/07/12
• 29/09/12 - 07/10/12
• School is closed during the Christmas holidays: 22/12/12 to 06/01/13

Students applying to the full-year programme may start on 10/01/2012.

Prices include:

• Programme chosen by the student,
• Accommodation as chosen by the student
• School facilities: computer lab, library, Internet
• All administration costs

Prices do not include:

• Flights and airport pickup (Transfer to be paid on location)
  
• Student visa if you are staying more than 12 weeks.

Practical Info

Transport

• Arrival airport: Tokyo (NRT)
• An (optional) transfer is available between airport and accommodation - see price table.

If you prefer, we can book your flights for you. This must be made clear at the moment of enrolment.

If you intend to book your own flight, try to arrive the Sunday before the start of your course and leave the Saturday following its end.

Visa Information

A tourist visa is enough for visits of less than 3 months.

Students intending to spend 3 to 6 months in Japan can either renew their tourist visa or apply for a student visa. Renewing a tourist visa implies that you are leave the territory for a day. Your visa can only be renewed once. If you choose this option, you will need 400 euros for a small trip to Korea.

Students intending to spend 3 to 6 months in Japan without leaving the country, and those who intend to spent more than 6 months in Japan, must obtain a student visa. This application process can last up to 6 months and cost around 400 euros. Candidates will need to already be enrolled at the school where they will obtain the certificate that they need for the visa application. The formalities vary according to the nationality of the applicant. The student visa allows 28 hours of work per week.