Japanese for beginner (short-term)

I had a wonderfull experience at I -Seifu! The teachers were so friendly and helpfull. The first couple of weeks I had a bit hard time to understand everything but the teachers tried to explain everything to me and also really encouraged me to practise my conversation skills! We had small tests almost everyday which was very good for learning. The students were so friendly too and I had the best time there! The location is very good and there is a konbini next to the school where u can go buy snacks in between breaks. I really want to come back to I-Seifu and definitely spend more than one month there:)

Because of the upcoming JLPT exam, the lessons were too fast and mostly just tests without explaining the content in detail. You need to learn by yourself. But the teachers and students were very nice.

What I liked the most was that EVERYTHING was taught in Japanese. Teachers are very good at illustrating what they mean (either by having pictures of vocabulary or actions, or through body language) so this works very well and probably is the best way to learn. Also sometimes this is hilarious so class is mostly very fun. Sometimes you will not fully understand everything but at some point everything will make sense.
Even though there are about 20 people in one class there is enough speaking practice so useful sentences get burnt in your brain. For me (as a Student that wants to learn Japanese) pace was just right. Demanding but still comfortable. Everyday you get homework which repeats what you did in class and that gets corrected the next day by the teacher to point out your individual mistakes. I felt like I was learning concepts I was needing in daily conversation almost every day. (They use the Minna Nihongo books.) The best thing about this course was that I really could use all those things in conversation. And there is a big difference in knowing things in theory and the ability to actually use them.

I stayed just one month but it was amazing. Both the teachers and the staff are great, especially Watanabe San, he was so kind and helped me also with things that didn’t concern the school. I definitely recommend to those who want to study here to have a good grasp of Japanese, if you want to do the short term course like I did (1 month). That’s because I studied quite the same things I studied in Italy: I tried a lesson in the A3 class (mine was A2) but it was too difficult. Unluckily the day we left, our classmates started studying kanji and things I wanted to study too. I wish I could study at least two months at ISeifu so that I could learn new things. Anyway the teacher’s pace is fast and everything is very clear even if you never speak English during the lessons. I am already planning to come back in 2025 because I loved every single moment at ISeifu. Thank you everyone, one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. ありがとうございました、ラウロ。

The location of the school is really great, even if we were in the temporal building everything was organised really well. Our stay in Iseifu was of approximately one month, but if you want to learn Japanese and you already have a basic level I would recommend to stay at least two months. In fact, I already had some knowledge of Japanese but there wasn’t an intermediate class from which to start. I had to revise all things I had done in my country, which from one side was nice since I could improve my vocabulary and conversation, but on the other hand I was expecting to do new things. Apart from that, teachers are really great, even if they use only Japanese don’t be scared because through images and books in mixed language (Japanese and English for example) you can understand everything. I think this is a bonus point so that you can always use and listened Japanese at leat 4 hours a day! Also, please try to communicate with your classmates in Japanese, I did so since they were all Asians and I think it really helped my Japanese. Everyone from the staff of the school is really caring, my tutor was Watanabe and he is amazing! I really loved the fact that everyday they do little tests in class (hiragana, katakana, kanji) and a big test on every Friday so you have to really study and to measure yourself! Maybe sometimes they are a bit picky on writing but I understand there has to be a scholarship standard! I have loved my experience in Iseifu and maybe I will come back to study more and for more months! I really suggest it for a medium/long stay, maybe not for only one moth because you risk to do things you already know and that’s it.

Teachers are very helpful in Seifu except for few teachers are below average in the way of teaching.
Location wise is good, facilities are quite good too. I am a afternoon student and I had spent most of
the morning in the school for own revision. Overall is ok is just to be happened Covid19 and we end up study online which I think is totally wasting time as some of the teachers may not control the situation, but I can understand this is the first time for everyone, so I am not blaming anyone.

Definitely must have a good grasp of Japanese before entering the course , but if you do , your Japanese will excel like you'd never imagined . Intense classes ,covering all aspects of the language ,in a complete Japanese environment .
Co-Ordinators can speak English , to help with any concerns .

It was a great experience to have. The coordinator (Watanabe san) was really helpful and welcoming, and so was everyone else at the school (students and teachers alike). It was immersive, and I appreciated how the school was close to the subway station (5-10 min walk). You will probably have some catching up to do for the first week or so, but you’ll have caught up by the half of the second week. The majority of the students there are Chinese, as well as southeast Asian, so it’s great if you’re an English speaker looking for a non-English environment. The teachers there usually don’t know English either, with a few exceptions. The workload is decent, but you’ll need at-least a few hours for homework (I did anyways). There’s a kanji quiz everyday, and chants every Monday (which was slightly confusing but interesting once you’re used to it). The only downside is that there isn’t really any one on one attention, but the teachers are more than willing to give you extra handouts and things like that if needed.

I spent 3 months in total in Japan and I wanted to spent at least 1 in a language school. I was looking for a school were I could really improve. Many institution are not run by real teachers. At SEIFU I met knowledgeable, strict and yet friendly teacher. I was told that this school is notorious for having a large load of homework... It is true.

Furthermore, I asked the teacher for some supplementary homework because I'm a language learner masochist. In all not a lot of time to travel, but my Japanese improved a lot.

It's a Buddhist school so we have to respect some tradition. Like bowing before and after each class; The Monday morning prayer/mantra. It's weird at first, but it's a cultural experience at the same time.

If your goal is to focus on learning I would totally recommend.
If your goal is to review a little bit, be cozy about learning and mainly travelling, I would advise against.

For people who are eager to learn japanese this school is just perfect. The teachers are always there to help.
But if you are interested into learining just a bit this is not for you! Since this school awaits a lot of self studying and homework and all. The regular students are there to get to N1 within 2 years so this is how the speed goes.
But I had so much fun and met my all time favourite teacher here.
If you come around the right time there is also a school trip. It was around beginning of May. We went to Nara.
The rules here are way stricter then I am used to back in Europe. And it's very educational but I guess that is because a lot of the full time students just came to Japan and from school so they want to help them grow up, too.
The buddhism chanting is.. interesting for someone who has no idea. But it's maybe like 15 Minutes a week so I didn't bother much. I took it as a chance to read faster.

The teaching style at Seifu is very intensive and traditional. In the D4 (advanced) class, we had homework most days and a couple of short tests per week. We also had a few classes per week that focused on preparation and practice for the JLPT and EJU exams, which was very useful. The teachers were very helpful and supportive in finding me additional study materials specifically targeted towards taking JLPT N1.

In my third week, I was able to join a school trip to Nara, which was a lot of fun and a good opportunity to get to know my classmates better!

I would definitely recommend this school to anyone wanting to make serious progress in their Japanese learning. If you are willing to put the effort in, this course is extremely rewarding. I wish I could have stayed longer!

I took a 4 week Language course at this school and i would highly recommend it. I was a little worried about joining after reading some reviews, i was concerned that the teaching and code of conduct would be too strict and, with the lessons being in only Japanese, that i might struggle to follow them and be left behind but i thankfully enrolled and i'm very glad i did.

First of all this course is an intensive comprehensive Japanese language course. From day one you will be learning reading, writing and speaking. You will be introduced to new words daily as well as sentence structure and Kanji and you will have to work hard. If you're only looking to improve in conversation or such then this might not be the right course for you.

The teachers i found to all be very friendly and even with the fast pace of the lessons, made sure that everyone practised and participated in each part of the lesson and during the breaks or after school were very friendly and approachable. The rules were not strict in the way i thought they would be either. You are required to bow before and after each lesson and greet staff appropriately and respectfully when passing them around the school etc, As well as this other rules were standard things such as not eating in the hallways or drinking during lessons and were not tolerated which i completely agree with. I would suggest reading though the rules before enrolling as you will be expected to adhere to them all.

This course is very fast paced and even in 4 weeks i progressed a surprising amount. If you enroll you will be expected to do homework daily as well as putting your education at the school first. During this time i would find myself spending most evenings a week at home completing homework, i would then wake up every morning and begin revising until i had to leave for school and even then while waiting for my train and riding to the station i would be practicing my Kanji for that day. You will be expected to commit a large amount of time to this course not just during lessons but in return the progress is amazing. Even though most of my time for this month revolved around this class i loved every minute of it and really wished i could have stayed much longer.

The school also involves its students in the culture of Japan. During my short time there we went to Kyoto and visited the Fushimi Inari Shrine and had the unique experience of taking a tour of the grounds with our teachers who gave us explanations and insight as we traveled that you couldn't get on your own. I believe they have more tours and events during the course too. The Buddhist aspect of the school is also used to show Japanese culture as well, no attempt is made to convert students and instead it is used as a tool to help students to experience the culture as the two are very entwined in Japan.

I would definitely recommend this course for the right people and even hope to come back one day.

The school provides a rather fast pace of teaching that is manageable if you put the effort in it. You will definitely improve your skills dramatically. It includes all aspect of the Japanese language, quite some kanji too. If you are focusing on speaking only this is perhaps not the place for you. It was exactly what I hoped it to be and it gave me a good base for further study.

This 1 month language course was a very good experience. The school has a lot of traditions, and you have to behave in a specific way around teachers, but that was an interesting experience, since I'm not used to bowing in the beginning of every class. The teachers and students were very nice, kind and helpful.

Watanabe-San who is in charge of the short term students was very very helpful, and always in a good mood! I wouldn't like to stay long term, but that's only because of the teaching way which could be a bit strict.

The facilities were great, and location was also ok, 15 min walk from a big station. Unfortunately I had to finish the course a bit earlier, and couldn't join the school trip to Kyoto, but it looked like they had a lot of fun. I would definitely recommend this school, but keep in mind that they expect you to behave in a certain way, and wear appropriate clothing(of course).

Again, this was fine for me for a month, but I wouldn't enjoy it longer than a month. I could choose between two classes, one class read a new chapter every day, and the other took it in a bit of a slower tempo. I chose the 1 chapter a day, which was difficult in the beginning, and the homework took a lot of time. But in the end i was happy with my choice!

Very much enjoyed the experience - the teachers had been exceptionally supportive and understanding for foreign students.

A note is that students would better be ready to commit to the school - the teaching would be fast pace and you will be mixed with students who are studying to go to university. In general expect at least 2 hours of homework / study time after school!

My School experience was great. Teachers were very strict, yet very friendly. And when I say strict, I mean in good way. It wasn't like "you can learn a lot", more like "you have to learn a lot". So I was Happy because I had good motivation to work. People in my class were awesome. I made so many friends. Chinese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, People Philadelphia and Mexico. Teacher's gave me opportunity to join Aizen Matsuri and when the Taifu came to Osaka I was really well informed by the teacher what to do.

Location was really good, from my living place (J&F House) it took me 25 minutes by subway and 45 minutes by bike borrowed from one of my classmate's. And about J&F House, first impression was weird. Room's didn't look very nice and I felt a little shock. But it was only for half of the day, because living in J&F is really really fun.

Meeting a lot of people from all around the world is great experience. Everyone have their own interesting story, everyone's like family. People are using their own language, English and Japanese, so if you can't speak Japanese, don't worry you're not alone and If you want to practice there's a lot of opportunities.

I really appreciate how professional is the manager of the J&F Mr. Tatsushi. Once we had really troubled situation and Mr. Tatsushi solved it like the most professional person on the world. When I had problem's with my eyes, he even offered me to go with me to the doctor. I'm sure that one day I'll go to this school once again, it was the best time in my life.

Now, when I'm back, I can recommend this place for everyone who really want to learn language.

Very traditional way of teaching. 1:20 teacher to student ratio may not be attentive to individual needs. Teachers are nice and helpful. Friendly classmates and great people. I would recommend people who already know some Japanese to attend the school. Facilities are very clean.

School was very nice and well located in Abeno-ku. The course was intense, improving my language skills fast. Classes are all in Japanese, teachers were very competent and helpful, most students came from Vietnam and everyone is respectful and kind to each other.

Teachers were super active and passionate, it was fun overall.

I studied in this school previously. So I wanted to join the advance class, and I was able to get permission from Teacher Abeno. That was really important for me, and now I can say the school really helped me improved on my Japanese.

The classes were challenging but extremely rewarding. Having joined the A1 (beginner) class nearly three months late, I had a lot of catching up to do. The class is taught entirely in Japanese and all instructions/assignments are in Japanese as well. This all leads to a pretty steep learning/adjustment curve for people's first arrival (especially those arriving late). Nevertheless, the teachers were very kind, personable, and patient. It was clear that they genuinely care about their students' progress and I personally would not have been able to catch up without their support.

Monday prayers are a centering, calming way to reflect and feel a part of the i-SEIFU community. Every week a new speaker comes in to talk (in Japanese of course) about the work that they do or about different current events. It is a formal affair that seems to still have a warm, accessible air to it.

Overall, everything was excellent. It was truly a very meaningful experience and I learned close to a year's worth of Japanese (as taught in the US) within a month. I cannot think of a single thing that did not meet or surpass my expectations.

I really like the teachers in this school. The teachers were really helpful and nice. The students of course very friendly and cheerful. I really like the school. Even until now, I have contact with the teachers and students. The housing was perfect. I always had delicious food to eat, and everything in the room was clean. Location was okay. I really like Oji. Next year, I think I will go back.

Very friendly teachers, good learning. In the beginning, all customs seemed very strange to me but they were finally very useful. No English permitted at all which has advantages but also inconveniences.
The activity days consisted nearly only in standing and waiting but at least permitted to get in contact with other students.
It was a strange but great experience and I want to continue next year as soon as my work allows me to do so.
Many thanks to my teachers and the other students. I do both miss them so much!!!

The classes were quite hard but that way you would learn faster and better this great language. The teachers are really kind and understanding; always there if you need anything. Both, the school and the residence location was in a fine zone with a metro stop close by, though quite apart one from another. The residence was neat, the householder were really kind even thought they don't speak English, the food provided by the residence cafeteria was absolutely wonderful. There are many places to go near the residence and the school once in a while prepared trips or events for the students. Really an amazing and excellent experience.

The school is pretty good, the teachers are attentive and friendly, and the pace of the course is pretty good. We had two lessons of “Minna no nihongo” per day.

You only have time to study during the week, so take advantage of the course.

In the end, all the time you spent in your short stay will stay with you. :D

My time at i-SEIFU Japanese Language School was really entertaining. The classes were organized and I could improve my Japanese a lot thanks to them, and the teachers were really good. The school was located kind of far away from the station I got off at every day. The school facilities were ok and the place where I stayed was great, but far away from the school.

I loved the classes. The teachers were very attentive, just like the rest of the staff who worked at i-SEIFU. One thing I really liked is that even teachers from other classes talk with you. This was great because we put into practice our Japanese. We had tests every lesson that we did and that was good because it helped to fix what we have learned. The location was also great; the school was very close to the subway. I loved it because it was great for tourism after class.
In the housing, the staff was great too. We talked every night as we watched TV. I learned a lot having contact with people from other places.

Good teachers, the groups are a bit large, but there are 5 different levels. Good housing and the location is very good.

First, I went in Osaka in order to learn the Japanese language.
All is very different from Europe. It was very difficult to find someone who speaks English, French or German. But the people were very friendly, and tried to understand. Moreover, the indications were very useful and clear.
Then, at school, I had a problem: I didn't know enough Kanji. But i would learn this beautiful language, and the teachers helped me. Thanks to them, I could learn a lot about traditions and Japanese language.
Japan is a fantastic country with very friendly people, very interesting traditions and very beautiful and modern country.

I would like to thank my sensei for their help and their kindness.

I like the school very much. It’s near to my house and the teachers are very nice and explain very well. About the facilities they are very comfortable and useful. Due to my short stay i didn´t do any social activities yet i would like that the school have more level diversity for example an intermediate level.