Meiji Academy - Japanese Language & Culture

I spent two weeks in Fukuoka. Every day a different teacher held the class, which was good because everyone had a different teaching method. There were only two of us in a group, so I had three lessons a day instead of four. I really liked the textbook, I haven't known this until now, only Genki and Minna no Nihongo. My group mate and I were not at the same level, so sometimes I wished we could go faster with the lessons.

The school is easily accessible. The apartment where I lived is well equipped and in a good location, just a minute's walk from a metro station. Overall I felt great despite the wet and hot weather, too bad it only lasted two weeks.

Meiji Academy was such a lovely experience. Working in small groups was efficient and pressure-free. All the teachers were very encouraging and geniuenly interested about the students. The cultural activities very fun and you really learnt a lot about Japnese culture. The events organized by school had such a great vibe! The school was located in Tenjin & conviniently near several public transports. The housing was clean and spacious!

Von meiner vierwöchigen Zeit an der Meiji Academy kann ich nur positives Wiedergeben. Die Schule hat tolle Lehrer, die sich sehr genau um dich kümmern. Nicht nur in der Schule, sondern auch in der Freizeit sehr hilfreich. Sie sind sehr professionell und können ihr Wissen den Schülern gut mitgeben. Ich kann die Schule jedem empfehlen, der in Japan mit Locals japanisch lernen will.

Die Lage der Meiji ist sehr zentral und gut mit öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln zu erreichen. Das Personal ist sehr freundlich, super hilfsbereit und kommt dir immer entgegen. Durch das tolle Programm der Meiji fühlte ich mich sehr willkommen in Japan. Insgesamt durfte ich viele Erlebnisse und Erfahrungen in Japan festhalten.

Die Meiji Academy hat meine Zukunft bereichert. Die Lehrer und der Chef waren wirklich nett, und alles lief tiptop. Ich kann sie nur empfehlen, besonders für Studierende. Ich habe dort tolle Erfahrungen gemacht und mein Japanisch erheblich verbessert. Ich würde jederzeit wieder zur Meiji Academy zurückkehren. Es war definitiv eine lohnenswerte Erfahrung, die ich jedem weiterempfehlen würde, der sein Japanisch verbessern möchte.

Es war einer meiner besten Erlebnisse, die ich je in meinem Leben gemacht habe. Die Mitarbeiter, wie auch der Chef waren freundlich und lieb und waren alle gut vorbereitet. Ich bin sehr dankbar, dass ich dies erleben durfte. Ich empfehle dies allen weiter!

Die kleinen Klassen für die Meiji ausgezeichnet ist haben mir sehr gut geholfen mein Japanisch zu verbessern. Die Lehrer waren sehr nett und konnten gut auf meinen Fragen eingehen. Ich kann diese Sprachschule nur weiterempfehlen.

Sehr kompetent Lehrer, es sind alle sehr nett. Besonders die vielen Aktivitäten haben mir sehr gut gefallen, durch diese konnte man die japanische Kultur besser kennen lernen. Ich kann es nur weiterempfehlen!

Everything was awesome, starting with the amazing teachers, who were very patient and made sure everyone was able to follow. Located in the middle of the city it, the school was easy to get to and it's central location allowed you to spend your time after school in the city without taking another bus. You could also stay at the student lounge, which was very comfortable and a great place to connect with your classmates. The activities provided were also really fun and a great way to learn more about japanese culture. The housing was also really nice, no complaints there.

I loved being here the staff are super nice and vibe is great. i got to see so many diffrent things during an really great study time which im really thankful for. woud do it again if i have the chance

During my time in Fukuoka i could see in Japans heart. The people, the citiy and activitys were just awesome.
In the time i visited Meiji i learned so many things and had many awesome experiences and found friends for life.
During the cultural events we made with Meiji and our Teachers i saw so many new things, for example the traditional tea ceremony, mochi stamping, kimono whearing. All we did was just awesome and i had so much fun with the other students and my teachers.
Also during the classes i had so much fund while learning Japanese, i can just recommend it for everyone, beginners or pro´s.
Hope to be there again one day.

My time at Meiji Academy was truly exceptional. The small class sizes, typically ranging from 3 to 6 students, allowed for personalized attention and tailored instruction. This intimate learning environment fostered a strong sense of community among students and teachers alike. The flexibility of the courses, available 24/7 throughout the year, ensured that I could study at my own pace and according to my schedule. Additionally, Meiji Academy's inclusivity, welcoming students of all proficiency levels, made me feel comfortable and supported in my language learning journey. The cultural activities organized by the academy provided valuable insights into Japanese traditions and customs, allowing me to immerse myself fully in the local culture. Whether participating in a traditional tea ceremony or learning Taiko drums, these experiences enriched my understanding of Japan. Moreover, the assistance provided with student visas streamlined the administrative process, allowing me to focus on my studies and exploration of Japan. Overall, Meiji Academy provided a comprehensive and enriching experience that exceeded my expectations.

My time at Meiji Academy was simply incredible! From learning important Japanese phrases to putting on a kimono, pounding mochi, enjoying traditional matcha tea and much more, every experience was simply breathtaking. Meiji Academy not only helped me to understand Japanese culture and language, but also provided me with unforgettable experiences that I will always remember. The opportunity to learn and grow in such an enriching environment was truly unique. The support and dedication of the team at Meiji Academy made my experience even more valuable. I highly recommend Meiji Academy and would return without hesitation to learn even more and experience new adventures. My time at Meiji Academy not only broadened my perspective, but also opened my heart to Japanese culture. It was a time full of unforgettable moments that have enriched my life.

My seven weeks at Meiji Academy in Fukuoka provided me with a foundational understanding of Japanese. Their standard course covers essential aspects such as grammar, vocabulary, listening, speaking, reading, and writing. I was able to dig into some kanji learning as well, which I think was quite challenging, but rewarding. For an advanced beginner (between JLPT N5 and N4) I think it really was a great opportunity.

Pros:
1) Small Class Sizes
I had on average between 3-5 classmates which I found very pleasant as every student had more time to speak and interact with the Japanese language instructor.

2) Immersive Learning Environment
Meiji Academy is located right in the city center of Fukuoka called Tenjin. The great location paired with the variety of language exchange opportunities they offered with locals Japanese was definitely a good balance.

3) Strong Focus on Communicative Japanese
Event though I was expecting more academic style Japanese with grammar drills and Kanji lessons, I found this speaking focused approach very practically applicable when communicatng with Japanese. I think Meiji's curriculum is very much focused on practically applying Japanese in real-life situations.

4) Teachers & Stafff
You couldn't ask for better ones. The teachers were very patient, kind and friendly all the time. The staff are angels and even went out with us on Karaoke nights and yummy lunch breaks after classes:)

5) Activities & Events
I found the social events they organize at the school or with affiliated student circles in Fukuoka to be the best way to make Japanese friends. Their Traditional Culture Module was so much fun taking us to a temple to experience traditional Zen meditation and also the Japanese sweets were so good.

Cons:

1) Intensive Study Pace
20 lessons per week can be quite challenging. For first time learners in particular. From what I heard from other students it really depends on in which class and Japanese level you will be placed. For most part teachers are very attentive but some are quite patient about the quantity study practices which can becomes tiring. To be fair, you can always raise any concerns about the teaching speed to the staff or directly the teachers. They try to accommodate any concerns you will have.

2) Study Resources
Meiji Academy has a very large and spacious study lounge with a lot of Mangas, tourist information and some study textbooks in addition to the ones you get by the school. However, study resources are limited and could be more. I have raised this issue to the school and they seem to have taken notice on it.

3) Busy City Life
As mentioned their school location is right in the city center in a quiet office building with other English Language Schools, NPO companies and lawyer offices. The school itself is very cosy and quiet but as soon you step outside and go to the main street around the corner you are right in noisy Tenjin. Sometimes a quieter neighborhood would be better to escape the hectic city life, but overall it was good for a countryside girl like me to experience.

Overall, Meiji Academy offered me a great study experience and a solid foundation for my Japanese to further build on. As I have heard good things about their Hokkaido school I think a more easy-going less hectic city would be my next study choice.

All the teachers were amazing in different ways and the classes were always interesting, steady paced and fun. The location was perfect as it was close to many forms of public transport and in the heart of Fukuoka. There’s a study room that’s open before or after your classes that’s a good place to just relax and socialize or to study. The accommodation was perfect. I chose to stay in a private apartment and it was amazing. In an incredible location, next to a supermarket, train station, many convenience stores, Ohori park and so much more. I did one of the traditional cultural experiences and got to experience Tate, which was incredibly fun and interesting. I had a truly amazing 7 weeks in Fukuoka and I’d highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn Japanese. The school informed students of many local events that enabled me to make lots of friends and constantly be practicing my Japanese.

I only joined the classes during one week. I had been studying Japanese for a couple of months in my home country, so practically all material I allready knew. But by repetition and speaking and hearing more of Japanese, the words and phrases that I do know come more easily to me when talking to someone in Japan.

I was a Meiji student for almost 3 months during last Summer. Some of my favourite memories in my life were formed when I was in Japan; learning and being able to master the Japanese language to a communicational degree were very demanding but achievable. I made valuable connections with fellow international students and Japanese locals, too. Fukuoka has so much to offer and Meiji’s staff did a great job in guiding the students to really connect with all the different facets this city has to offer. That being said you can also end up not making all these great memories if you do not have the initiate to go out of your comfort zone and engage in new experiences. I found it very important to always ask the staff and teachers for any recommendations on where to go and also take part in the awesome events that Meiji held regularly. You should definitely check out their student space and the variety of cultural events they held. My favorite part were the hiking tours we did throughout the city and also exploring new shrines, parks and historic sites that are scattered across the city.

I found the study environment very good and you could tell the teachers were experienced. Every time I struggled with certain grammars and chapters in Genki 2 the teachers would make notes about my weak points and always follow up with me what I was not good at. They even made notes for other teachers so that they could follow up on my questions I had. Sometimes it felt a bit detailed but I really appreciated their efforts.

I stayed in the female sharehouse and had an amazing time making so many friends. The female sharehouse is in a very quiet and safe neighborhood which is around 25mins away from the school. I loved the cozy living room and warm environment it gave me. For female students I would definitely recommend staying here. The mixed sharehouse seemed to be fun as many fellow students told me but I preferred to have a more moderate space with gender separation considering I was staying abroad for the first time for so long.

I think this program is definitely suitable for young students that are coming to Japan the first time as the staff really takes good care of their students.

I stayed with Meiji Academy for more than two months last Autumn and it was one of the best times of my life!

From the beginning their application process was very smooth and intuitive. They have a Japanese online test you are required to fill out before you can book a course with them. I applied with Meiji almost a year before and I was still in the process of improving my Japanese as I did not wanted to be placed in a wrong class. Luckily they told me I can take the online test once again and have a video call interview with a teacher around 2-3 months before course start. To be honest they are a bit pushy when it comes to this online test as they seem to be very concerned about the correct Japanese level of each student. At the beginning it felt a bit annoying but soon I discovered that their approach is actually really effective in matching students with the correct Japanese level and study group for most suitable learning progress.

Once I arrived in Fukuoka, I booked their airport pickup and private apartment, which I found to be well maintained and within walking distance of the school. My apartment was just next to Ohori Park and I loved my green and calm neighborhood. Other students stayed at apartments even closer to the school around five minutes walk. It looks like that they work with several accommodation companies and do not really offer students a choice in terms of which location they can use in Fukuoka for their apartment. Either way my place was really cozy and just about the right size for all my daily needs to get sorted.

The Japanese lessons were fantastic and I had around eight different teachers during my studies. Classes were small in student size between 3-7 students and heavily focused on speaking and communicative Japanese. We had some intense grammar lessons followed by group exercises an other practice games. I think the majority of teachers are very good and experienced. My favorites were Naka-sensei and Yoshida-sensei. We became so close with the teachers that we even went out for lunch with the whole class, attended different cultural activities organized by Meiji and also had my graduation dinner with them.

Meiji's newly made student lounge and study area they have in a separate large room just next door is really great! I spent a lot of hours there making friends, studying, reading mangas or just having my lunch with fellow classmates. They also held a lot of parties and international language exchange events there with fellow Japanese university students. It is there were I made a lot of friends with girls from the Fukuoka Women University and other international students. Finally having some girly exchange on shopping and other things to do in Fukuoka. hehe

I can fully hearted recommend Meiji Academy for anybody who is looking for a more personal and family atmosphere school that is very very flexible when it comes to study needs and extracurricular activities. Next time I want to visit them in Hokkaido. Thank you for all.

The best way to describe Meiji is: Home Away From Home!
Great memories and lasting friendships ahead after so much fun together! The staff at Meiji really tried their best before, during and after my stay with them to accommodate my needs. Their curriculum is a unique way to learn communicative Japanese while getting a feel of what it means connecting with the locals. If you are trying to make friends with fellow Japanese or want to engage in a vast selection of cultural activities, this school has it all!

I studied for 3 months the standard course and had conversational Japanese too. I was very grateful for them placing me in another level after I just felt the classes went to quick for me halfway into my course. First I had concerns asking but they did not waste any time and placed me in another group that I stayed for my remaining 8 weeks. Living in the share house was very affordable and I did enjoy my time, but from the beginning I also wanted to do the homestay experience which they organized for me for the last 3 weeks. My host family was super friendly and they also had a very cute toy puddle called cookie I got really close to. They had some restrictions with a curfew (had to be back by 8pm…) other than this all was fine and I still keep in touch with them.

I don’t recommend to worry about studying crazy Japanese before coming, as the school is very flexible when it comes to Japanese levels and you do no background in Japanese language is also ok. They had a total beginner class once a month. The school will place you in levels pertaining to your online level score and look at yours skills druring class everything from grammar to Kanji. I learned a lot in my 3 months and am very grateful for the many friends and warm memories I made. Especially my nice teachers I want to say a big arigato and hope to see you one day again.

I spent around 2 months with Meiji Academy in Fukuoka last fall 2023. It was the first time I went away from home for so long. So I was very excited about my whole trip, considering this was just my second time in Japan and first time in Kyushu. I felt nervous that I would struggle to adapt to the local culture but the staff and teachers at Meiji really made feel comfortable throughout my stay. The classes were very mixed with mostly people from Europe, another American and a few Asians from Singapore and Taiwan. I loved the communicative study approach and most class sizes. Throughout my studies I had between 2-5 students in my class. This seemed to be normal but I heard that the Summer season can become crowdy. I stayed in the sharehouse that they organize throough an external accommodation provider. The vibe in the sharehouse was so good and we had a fun mix of students from all across the globe. I think staying in the sharehouse is the best place to make new friends and forget about becoming homesick. The best part was really the friendly family atmosphere that you can feel when studying at Meiji. The staff was very helpful with all my questions I had and always made sure to take me and fellow students out for a variety of cultural events and karaoke. I can really recommend the conversational japanese module and the traditonal culture activities that gave us excursions to performing iaido (katana sword performance) and also taiko drum playing was a lot of fun. I was not a big fan of their weekly changing schedule for morning and afternoon class. But heard it is common at other schools as well... In conclusion it was really worth it and I would do it again for sure!
I hope in the future I can come back to work and live in Japan. Fingers crossed!

I was slightly concerned when I started my first class and found I had been put into the advanced group - I took the placement test before starting classes and I left an entire section blank because I hadn't yet learned conditional form, so I was confused why I had been sorted into a class that taught beyond my level. Luckily it was a very simple process to move me into a lower class that I felt was more suitable for my level.
Over my 8 weeks at Meiji Academy, we started half way through Genki book 2 and ended 8 chapters into a book series called Chuukyuu E Ikou. Personally, I thought this pace of classes was too fast. The teachers were very nice, but they stuck quite religiously to the textbooks and seemed to have a quota of grammar points to get through each week. Furthermore, we rarely reviewed the grammar that we had learned, and I noticed early on that me and my classmates weren't really managing to implement the new grammar into our spoken language.
The location of the school is very easy to find, and in a good central area accessible by public transit and close to a lot of good restaurants for lunch. The staff were super friendly and I thought the culture classes you can take as extracurricular were a lot of fun and very informative. It's nice that we had the options to take pop culture or traditional culture classes, for a full range of electives that we can cater to our personal interests.
I was fairly disappointed to find that Meiji academy didn't have any study rooms - there's a reception area with tables, but it can get pretty noisy and students rarely study there together. The Acros building is nearby that has a floor for international students but good luck getting into the wifi network.
I enjoyed the exchanges we had with Smiley Flowers every two weeks, but I would have liked if they were more frequent and had a consistent location - having to chase exchange events around the city is tiring and time consuming. Regardless, I found the events very helpful in meeting new people, making friends to exchange contacts with, and getting to use Japanese within the context of a conversation rather than the context of a classroom.
I think out of everything, I was most disappointed with the housing situation - Most sharehouses have a mix of international and Japanese students in order to encourage each to practice their target language. For my sharehouse, all of the international students were lumped into the same accommodation, and the common language was English. No one got any opportunity to talk in Japanese at home. I think this drastically hobbled the students in shared accommodation, and the difference between us and the students who booked their own sharehouses or were in homestay was significant. If I take another study trip, I will be booking my own sharehouse.

I spent 3 wonderfull months at meiji !
Class was great and sharehouse was fun !
The teachers changed every day and all of them have there advantage.
The staff is very invested, kind and helpful. Thanks for all the party they organized !
The sharehouse is very good to meet people and having fun. I really advice it.

Overall, I liked my experience at Meiji Academy. In the following I want to give an insight about the things I liked but also about the things which could be improved. Let's start with the classes. I took the standard course for 3 weeks. As I've have never learned any Japanese before I signed up for the complete beginner class, or at least I thought so. Let me get a little bit into detail what I mean about that. Due to work reasons, I couldn’t start my class in the beginning of September instead I came after the first week of September. Due to this fact I got an email from Meiji Academy saying that the beginner class will be 1 week ahead of me when I will join. They also sent me some material to study so that I won’t be behind when I start with my class. So started with learning Hiragana and Katakana and some basic things and thought I would be prepared. But as it turned out I wasn’t at all. The first class was completely overwhelming. The teacher was only speaking Japanese and they were already at chapter 3 of the Genki textbook. This also meant that the there weren’t any romaji anymore and everybody of my classmate could ready hiragana and katakana really well. As I turned out I was the only real beginner of this class with no prior experience, everyone else already had experience with Japanese. That’s why the were also quite fast and had already started with Chapter 3. Normal speed would be 1 ½ chapters per week. So I really really struggled and to be honest I was a bit frustrated because I couldn’t really participate in class especially in the classes where the teachers were only speaking Japanese. Not to get me wrong the teachers were good and tried to get me involved but my level was just not high enough especially during these first two classes. But fortunately, this changed a bit on the third day where we got Nanami-San as a teacher. I really like her teaching style and she also wasn’t quite fast as the other teachers. Moreover, she also did some review of past lessons which really helped me to understand the concepts better. Nevertheless, I was still quite behind with my Japanese. I told this also Meiji Academy and they understood my concerns so in the second week they offered me private lessons (free of extra charge) with Nanami-Sensee which I think was awesome. This was helpful and helped me to catch a up a bit to participate a bit more. Every class was still very intense but at least I could understand the concepts. So, to sum it up in these 3 weeks I learned a lot especially when It came to grammar. Sometimes I wished it wouldn’t have been a “real” beginner class but on the other hand it really made me to step out of my comfort zone and to challenge myself. I haven’t been challenged like this for a long time. Teachers again were very good (favorite Nanami-Sensee), and the critic is that it may not have been the right level for me (for the other students it was quite right). Also, again props to Meiji for offering me the private lessons and communication was good and everyone was so nice. The facilities itself were also quite nice and I really liked the location of Meiji Academy. It is in the Tenjin Area where you will find a lot of restaurants and shops. I really loved the housing situation. I got an apartment close the academy (15min walk) and it was also in the Tenjin Area. Of course, it wasn’t very big but there weren’t any issues. It was amazing to just go out and find many shops, restaurants, and nightlife within a short walk. Also, the subway station was quite close. Meiji Academy also hosted some Social Events which I really enjoyed. Besides that, I also did quite a few activities with other students from Meiji Academy.
So, if you are up for challenge and really want to improve your Japanese Meiji Academy is the place to go.

When it comes to my experience at Meiji Academy, I found the classes engaging and effective. The teachers are skilled and dedicated, creating a supportive learning environment. The location of Meiji Academy in the beautiful city of Fukuoka allowed me to immerse myself in the rich culture and practice my language skills in real-life situations.

The facilities at Meiji Academy were well-maintained and equipped with modern resources.. These amenities contribute to a conducive learning atmosphere. Additionally, Meiji Academy often organizes various cultural activities and other events, such as visits to historical landmarks, eating at traditional restaurants and language exchange with japanese students which allowed me to explore and appreciate Japanese culture and make freinds outside of the classroom.

Regarding housing, Meiji Academy provides accommodations for their students, such as dormitories or homestays. I stayed at a private Apartment, which was close to school and very modern.

The fast pace of classes requires you to do intensive self study in order to keep up. This can get tiring especially for longer stays

The classes at Meiji Academy were fantastic! I really liked the focus on conversation with some grammar thrown in between. I also liked the fact that the entire class was deliver in Japanese, and with little English. Having a small number of students in the class gave each of us plenty of opportunity to practice our Japanese. The classes were always fun and at times full of laughter.
The teachers were all fantastic too. On one hand although I would have liked to have had the same instructor for the whole time, having a different one each day of the week brought different teaching styles and perspectives. However, there were times that there was a lot of time spent repeating out loud the book chapter’s vocabulary and dialogues.

I was told before arriving that I was going to be placed in a class according to the level I was assessed at (Ch 16) which was much higher than the one I actually ended up placed in (Ch.9). However, I was not informed of this when I arrived.
This was fine in the end as I probably could have done with the revision.

I really would have liked to have stayed at least two more weeks as I was really getting into it, however I needed to continue on with my trip and eventual return to work.
It was also great to be in the same class as like minded people that also shared a passion for learning Japanese. We organised among ourselves a few social events and outings.

The private apartment I was allocated for my stay was conveniently close to the Academy and close to shops and places of interest. Only a 10min walk. I found it very comfortable and had an everything I needed, although it seemed somewhat incomplete on some amenities like cutlery and towels. Nevertheless it was perfect for what I needed and also very economical.

As a complete beginner, I took courses for about 3 months with Meiji academy in order to get by in Japan as a traveler. My teacher was very patient, smiling and competent and in spite of my overloaded schedule I reached my goal and will be able to travel much more serenely.

Studying here was such a joy, every day I had fun and every day I learnt something new. Right off the bat, I can say that my Japanese level took some huge jumps here!

Unlike other schools, Meiji does more than just provide language classes. They always held their own events where they would invite students as well as local natives learning English, which gave us the chance to make new friends and also practice Japanese. It’s a super difficult language and you really need all the practice you can get, so this was a great option to have. Also, having the whole of Fukuoka to discover on your doorstep is a HUGE plus, it’s truly an incredible city and I’m envious of anybody who is about to experience it for the first time.

I’d like to send my thanks to everybody at Meiji who works so hard to make this the best possible environment for learners of the language. We need more schools like this!

I had so much fun here. The teachers are cheerful 24/7 and always happy to help. I generally really enjoyed each class. The small number of students in each class was also important for me, there was never more than 5 students in my classes. This made the class more personal and dynamic, so I felt that I was able to focus in a more easy way.

I loved Meiji Academy for several reasons. Not only did I learn a lot during my short time there, but I was also given the confidence to continue studying on my own after my course ended. What really worked for me was the level of class participation, made possible due to the small class sizes. The class content was also very digestible, we would focus on particular grammar points in each class, so it was definitely manageable.

Studying Japanese (or just about anything) alone is near impossible for me. I lack focus and lose motivation almost immediately. I decided to do some online lessons, as I thought that having an actual teacher to work with would give me some form of accountability. They were really effective for me, not only because my teacher was incredibly supportive and motivating, but also because we could both very easily track my progression. Definitely something I would consider doing again.

The classes are very small, which to me is ideal for thoroughly studying Japanese in a way that can be tailored to your needs. It also made the atmosphere really enjoyable, and I felt that I could personally connect well with the staff.

There is so much traditional culture in Japan to experience, and a lot of it is seasonal so you could very easily miss a lot! This course introduced me to all the best aspects of the culture, and really showed me why this country is loved by people from around the world.

I was surprised to see how diverse the staff were at Meiji - they had people from all over Asia and Europe! It was really great to see, and I felt reassured that if worst came to worst I always had somebody I could speak to.

The teachers were awesome. More specifically, they were really funny and energetic which helped loosen up the tension that you inevitably feel as someone trying to speak a language you don’t know very well. The location was as central as anyone could ask for, and the facilities were great.

One of my favorite things about Meiji would be the international events they held. I was able to meet likeminded Japanese people and we had fun together, all while practicing the language. After finishing with Meiji I am now much more confident with Japanese, and I am ready for my JLPT N3 exam.

My Japanese language course with Meiji Academy was brilliant. The content was super engaging and really gave me a solid introduction to the language. I wasn’t a complete beginner with Japanese, so the lessons not only taught me an abundance of new things, but also gave me the opportunity to iron out all of the mistakes and bad habits I’d picked up during my early stages of learning. I’d highly recommend Meiji for their incredibly professional staff and attention to detail!

I finished studying with Meiji this week and I can say that looking back I have definitely learned a lot in my time. The teachers were really fun to learn with, so they made the process effortless. Plus Fukuoka is probably one of the best cities I have ever visited! Honestly I wish I could live here. On another note, if you come during summer… just prepare yourself (it’s HOT).

Put simply, Meiji Academy is a school that cares for its students. The lessons they delivered seemed carefully put together, and every effort was made to ensure I had the best learning experience. They also have a few foreign staff members who natively speak English, which was quite refreshing during times when I was really stuck with the language. I’ll be forever grateful for all the wonderful food we shared, as well as the visits to the onsens. I hope to be back!

I had such a great time studying at Meiji Academy with their team, I learnt so much about not just the language, but also the culture. I feel like I had so many misconceptions about Japan and it’s culture, but actually living and studying there gave me a whole new insight. The teachers could speak good enough English to keep the lesson flowing when I was stuck, but 99% of the class was in Japanese. This really helped me get comfortable with the language, and I made pretty significant progress. My time at Meiji inspired my love for the language as well as Fukuoka! Seriously it’s an amazing city. Foreigners are relatively rare so you have plenty of opportunity to speak with native Japanese, and I definitely found out first hand that Fukuokans are some of the kindest people on earth!

I’m super grateful for the Meiji team for providing such a memorable learning experience. As soon as we got the green light to head to Japan I booked my flights and my plan was to travel around the country. Fukuoka was the first stop where I’d take up some Japanese lessons and hopefully kick-start my learning process. Meiji helped me with exactly that and as a beginner I ended up learning a lot more than I expected. I will say that I still have a long way to go as Japanese is not easy and I’m nowhere near comfortable with the language, but for a relatively short course Meiji allowed me to reach a significant improvement. Fukuoka was fantastic too, really nothing more I could ask for!

I did my Japanese course with Meiji Academy in their Fukuoka school. First of all the school is great, it’s a little small but that makes it really cosy in my opinion. Every day it felt like going to my 2nd home, where I could meet all the amazing staff. The lessons were structured around a textbook so I was glad that it had some form of curriculum as no time was wasted. The class exercises were relevant and really helpful in helping me understand the language better; I think this is something you can only really do in person, it's just not the same otherwise. Overall Meiji provided an exceptional service that I’d highly recommend!

The lessons I had with Meiji couldn't have been better. The school is centrally located, the facilities were good, and the teachers were very enthusiastic. Couldn't ask for more. In addition, the people in Fukuoka and Kyushu in general are amazing! I think it’s the perfect place to learn Japanese, you can walk into any bar and strike up a conversation with just about anybody - they’re so welcoming and eager to talk with foreigners! If you’re serious about learning Japanese, this is the real deal!

If you are starting to learn Japanese, I would highly advise you do some online lessons just to give you your first few steps. That is exactly what I did with Meiji and it was honestly a huge help. I could simply arrange for lessons during the times I was free, and without leaving my room I basically had access to my own native Japanese tutor. I think it’s a good idea to learn with a native speaker because they can quickly catch any bad habits you make in the early stages, so from the get-go you speak as naturally as possible. Meiji’s teachers were incredibly professional and inspired a lot of confidence in me - I’m looking forward to actually visiting Japan in the near future.

In my opinion this is the best way to experience Japan - surrounded by native Japanese who care for you and are actually enthusiastic about introducing their culture to you. Not only were the lessons fantastic, but much of the staff would go out of their way to show me around and on many occasions take me out to some local restaurants. They always say if you want to learn a language you should avoid making friends with expats while in Japan. To what extent this is true I don’t know but I can say that being surrounded by Japanese speakers 24/7 was a big help! Would recommend Meiji to anybody considering a real Japanese experience.

When I told my Japanese friends I was going to Japan for the first time to Fukuoka, they were so surprised! Really I did not know so much about the city but I am always like an adventure and try new things. I have want to learn Japanese for a long time but can never get the time. So now I decide to try hard and really learn Japanese by moving to Japan. I do the standard course for 3 weeks and get working holiday visa so I can stay in Japan for 1 year. At meiji the teacher was so amazing, she help me to understand really difficult things and always listen to me. Plus they know lot about Fukuoka so they tell me all the good things. I think Fukuoka is the best city I really love it and so will stay here for some months :)

I had decided I wanted to learn Japanese after my interest in the country grew over the past few years, however having no experience with Japan or its language had me a little concerned about fully committing to moving there. With that in mind, the online lessons were the perfect option for me. It provided me the comfort of studying from home which meant I didn't have to fully commit to the unknown life in Japan. I’m very glad with my choice, the teachers were excellent, the timings were always convenient, and I learnt a fair amount of Japanese. I’m now in a position where I can say I fully want to commit to learning the language, so I’m looking at options to move there to learn. Cheers Meiji!

I’d like to start off in saying thank you to Meiji for making my short stay in Fukuoka so special! As most people would be I was a little nervous travelling alone to Japan after the borders finally opened up, especially given my low confidence with the Japanese language. However as soon as I stepped into Meiji’s school I instantly felt at ease. The staff are all very kind and reassuring, and they taught me in a way that completely removed my fear of the language. They were also kind enough to tell me all the best places to go in Fukuoka (most importantly where to find the best ramen). I now feel a lot more confident with the language, and I have to say I may have found my new favorite city while in the process.

I did not know that this type of online course existed before coming accross Meiji Academy. I hadn't planned to take Japanese lessons at all, but when I saw that it was possible to take remote lessons, I jumped at the opportunity. I have always been very interested in Japanese culture, but I neither have time to go to Japan at the moment, nor can I take courses to discuss in Japanese and practiced in a school in Canada. However with Meiji, the timetable was completely adjustable and I could attend all of my Japanese lessons while attending my college lessons. It was an exceptional time-saver to take these online courses. In addition to that, I learned a lot about Japanese culture from the teachers who were very open and who answered all my questions. We chose subjects that interested me to speak in Japanese and practice the language together.

Japanese online lessons are a great alternative for learning Japanese. And Meiji Academy is a quality school. The teachers are invested in their classes each day, and I had a great time during the lessons. Each class was so interesting that I couldn't see the time passing by. I had already tried online courses with another school a few years ago, but that was nothing compared to Meiji Academy. Staff and teachers work hard for us to have the best experience possible. I am very proud to have studied with them ! We learn a conversational Japanese so our speaking Japanese becomes very natural.

This school is a really nice place that gave me many great memories. It was my first trip to Japan, and I believe it will remain the best! I was worried that I might get lost but they came to the airport on the first day, and then they showed me around. I could contact them whenever I needed something and my great friends also helped me adapt to my new environment by taking me to lunch and shopping. I am so proud of the progress I made in Japanese and everything I learnt about the Japanese Culture. As I went in January, it was still a bit cold, but I hope I can go again in summer because I would love to experience the summer in Japan!

I had a very good time studying at Meiji academy, all the staff were kind and helpful. One of my teachers was amazing and spoke English very well so it was very fun and easy to communicate and learn Japanese quickly. But on the other hand, i had another teacher who although was very kind and friendly could not speak English and sometimes classes were very hard to follow and after the lessons had finished I would feel frustrated with myself for not being able understand well and was left feeling confused.
The location of the school is convenient and most things you could want are readily available and nearby.
The school itself is at the top of an apartment building and even though it is very small, it’s a cozy and friendly environment.
Activities organised by the school were always fun and i met a lot of great people who were volunteers for the school. I have a lot of good memories during those times!
I stayed in a sharehouse for 12 weeks during my study period. The house is very simple and a little bare. The rooms each have a kotatsu and a fan. I came during winter and as there is no heating in the house it was very cold especially at night. I was lucky enough to have met someone who lent me a heater which I was very grateful for. The walls are thin so if you have loud housemates it can sometimes be hard to relax.
I was lucky enough to have met 2 people (who became great friends) who were staying in the house when arrived, they showed me around and helped me feel comfortable in a new environment, if they weren’t there I definitely would have felt a little lost!

I have no regrets about coming here to learn Japanese, it was a good life experience for me.

I studied Japanese from home with Meiji Academy. I was supposed to go to Japan but since the virus made it a safer option to stay at home, Meiji suggested me to do an online programme. I said yes, because I can go to Japan later when everything is back to normal and I prefer using my time at home doing something productive and useful for my future instead of watching Netflix all day. This online course was really cool, interactive and high-quality. Even though I couldn't go to Japan this time, I don't have any regrets! I could make smart use of my free time and I am proud of how much my Japanese has improved. I also learned many cultural things thanks to my awesome teachers who taught us about literally evertyhing we wanted to know! I will definitely go to Fukuoka in the future to meet everyone in person!

Meiji Academy organized a lot for us. I didn't have to worry about the accommodation, the wifi, the weekly activities etc. We even had a city tour on the first day to show us around and eat lunch together. The school is located in Tenjin, a great area with lots of things to do, restaurants and shopping malls. The school facilities are easy to find and it was a real pleasure to go there every day to study and meet my friends.

Studying abroad was the perfect way to learn Japanese while immersing in a Japanese environment and experience its traditional culture. Kimono, tea ceremony, geisha... I got to experience many traditional things that were incredibly captivating. I would recommend the traditional course if you are interested in Japanese traditional culture. I had an extraordinary stay in Fukuoka that impacted me in many ways thanks to Meiji Academy. I feel more adventurous, more cultured and I can't wait for the next adventure!

During my winter university vacation, I took a 7 week intensive Japanese course. Within 2 weeks I became able to speak to Japanese people, make friends with them.
Teachers were supportive and kind, all of them has their own unique way to teach, that’s why you’ll never get bored.
Besides, Meiji Academy has different events every week (Nabe party, takoyaki party, tea ceremony, strawberry picking and more). Such events helped me to understand Japanese culture in general.

Fukuoka is a perfect city. It is not crowded like Tokyo but at the same time has a lot of facilities. Big department stores, arcades, restaurants, cafes and bars are located nearby the school.

It was a bit cold to live in a share house during winter season since Japanese kotatsu was the only heater there. I didn’t have any choice but to buy a separate heater in BIC CAMERA. Nevertheless, I had so much fun there. Me and my new friends spent time there together watching movies or cooking. Living in a share house gave me an opportunity to learn more about other people’s culture.

I have no regrets. It was a really good experience.

I studied for one month at Meiji Academy and I choose the traditional culture course. I had a really good time while improving my Japanese skills.
Kyushu is a really beautiful area. I think it's the place to be for Japan's traditions lovers! You have so many Onsen Villages and beautiful and natural places. We went on a trip to Kumamoto, to the Mont Aso-san, it was awesome!
When everyone wanted to go to the Onsen, I wasn't really excited about the idea, because I couldn't imagine myself naked in front of others. Well, I have to admit that I was wrong to be worried. It was not that awkward, because everyone seemed to be used to it and it was feeling soooo good!! Really, you should not be afraid of it and just go for it.
Great school, awesome teachers and unforgettable memories!

My class is a standard course. This course offers 3 hours of instruction each weekday. The teachers were all friendly. If you don't know anything, it's okay to ask questions in English. The manager at school is also very kind. The school is located in Fukuoka City. I lived in a share house. This is where the students of Meiji live together. Good when traveling The advantage of the school. You can meet many people in Japan. And you can experience a lot of Japanese culture. You can meet Japanese friends through this school. This school can learn a lot. Teachers have excellent teaching skills.

The small classes guarantee interaction between students and teachers, which was very important to me. I chose the business program to have a new approach to Japanese culture. It was impressive to notice how manners and social behaviors can be different from a country to another. Not only the manners, but the language also varies depending on the situation and I learned a lot about that. I was always asking lots of questions and I would like to thank my teachers for taking the time to answer each of them! The teachers and the school staff really tried to put significant effort into each student, complying with everyone's requests and setting up events and activities every week. I am not confident about socializing with people that I just met, but thanks to the friendly atmosphere of the language exchanges or the activities at the school I had a really good time in Japan!

I studied with Meiji Academy this summer, and I spent a very good time there.
I was afraid to end up alone in Japan, but in fact, I had nothing to worry about! Living at the sharehouse already insured me to make friends, and thanks to all the activities it was fun to spend time with everyone and it helped us become closer. On the first day, I got to know the other students during the "City tour" which is held whenever a new student arrives. The language exchanges were also nice occasions to practice Japanese while making friends, I really enjoyed participating in those events! Actually, there was a whiteboard in the school with all the activities available during the weeks to come. All the activities were not organized by Meiji, but at least we had all the information and we could take part in some of them with the other students.
On the last day of classes, Meiji took us to a graduation dinner, which will remain a strong memory for me. It had the taste of the end of an adventure but at the same time, we made promises to meet each other again in the future!

I enjoyed my stay!

Quality of teaching

The teachers placed a lot of emphasis on each individual, which I enjoyed. They use a variety of different techniques and the breaks are properly spread-out throughout the day. I am not sure what qualifications the teachers had, but they all seemed highly educated.


School facilities

A handful of classrooms, a communal study area, bathroom, kitchen, free wifi, microwave. Solid facilities.


Social activities

City Tours on Mondays, language exchange or cultural event every now and then, graduation lunch on Fridays, special sightseeing activities every other weekend. For me it was just right.
School location

In Tenjin, the city centre of Fukuoka. Great for shopping.


Housing

I arranged my own accommodation. But from what I have heard from friends and other classmates, it was good.

I like the teachers they are good in teaching. They’re friendly and nice. One of my greatest experience here in Fukuoka.

I greatly appreciate the time I spent at Meiji Academy in Fukuoka. Just like many other students, I stayed at a Share House that was located approximately 45 minutes from the school (by walking). Since I am not a 20-year-old student anymore, I first worried I might feel out of place there. No reason for that! I got along perfectly well with my fellow mates and the size of the house allowed for plenty of privacy.

At Meiji Academy, I took the Standard Japanese course for 9 weeks. It was my first time in Japan and I had only studied Japanese by myself before, but after a shaky start, my Japanese was on success course! My teachers played a big part in this. I had 2 different ones and they were great, highly qualified, and very knowledgable, especially with complete newbies.

What was especially great about the school was the location. Excellent! It is central, easy to reach by foot and by bus or train and very close to pretty much everything. I really enjoyed spending my lunch break in Tenjin’s central park. Sometimes, I even came here to study after class.

Also, the school provides many activities, for example visiting the local shrine, language exchanges with Japanese and weekend trip to places a little further away. I especially like the language exchanges as it gave me the opportunity to have actual conversations in Japanese outside of the classroom. 


I am very glad to have chosen Meiji Academy as my Japanese school and can highly recommend it to others - especially to my fellow beginners who are looking for a school that dedicates a lot of attention and care to student’s goals and ideas).

Back in Canada, I am minoring in Japanese because the culture has always fascinated me!
Since I will be graduating soon, I decided to spend my summer holidays in Japan to brush up my skills and finally use Japanese in daily life situations.

I stayed at Meiji Academy for 3 weeks and took the Intensive Japanese course. There was one other student in my class at that time, needless to say, we had the teacher’s full attention. I am used to attending language classes with over 30 students, so this was a very pleasant surprise. Studying in such a small class definitely contributed to my continuous progress!

After class and on weekends, Meiji arranged language exchanges and weekend activities where I could meet many fellow international and Japanese students. I still keep in touch with many of them (and my Japanese friends still help me out whenever I have any questions about Keigo!)

Overall, I enjoyed my stay at Meiji Academy and loved my life in Fukuoka. It was a great experience and it brought me unforgettable memories and, if I could, I would do it all over again!

Even though the school itself is a bit tricky to find and the facilities are surprisingly small, it is the perfect size for anyone to experience something special.

Because they build new groups of students every week, everyone is bound to have a different experience. I was alone, so I ended up having only private classes during my whole stay (6 weeks). Was this better than being part of a group? Well, even now I don’t have an answer to that. But one thing is sure, I could connect to my teachers on a much more personal level and ,in a way, I was more free to steer the class wherever it suited me most.

My entire stay was originally scheduled with 2 teachers, for 3-4 hrs a day, 5 days a week. I came with some basic knowledge of hiragana/katakana/some kanji and very basic grammar. I ended up with both of my teachers not speaking a word of english and needing an electronic dictionary to translate even the simplest words. I took that as a personal challenge to emerge myself with the culture. But after 2 first weeks of hardcore work and never ending lists of vocabulary while always preparing the classes beforehand, I still found myself pretty lost in class. I realized I would have preferred having classmates to share this challenge with.

Realizing half way through the course that this format was not working for me, I told the very lovable/dependable staff that it wasn’t working for me, that I needed teachers I could communicate in English with. In a matter of 2 days they managed to swap most of my teachers for ones that had a really good level of English. And this right before golden week!
I’m telling you, the few staff members are the best... They make you feel at ease and don’t hesitate to help you with any errands, even none school related. Plus, they’re just adorable

Teachers are nice. The teaching has been customized to my level and needs. The school is located next to Tenjin which ideal for restaurants and other activities after school.

I attended Meiji Academy for six weeks with a mix of traditional culture and business classes (I wisch I could have stayed even longer).

First of all the location of the school is in one word: Brilliant! Right in the main suburb for shopping, partying and chilling out, Tenjin is the main place to be. Just two minutes walk from the Tenjin-Minami station hidden in a large side street you will find the school in an office building.

Second, the school atmosphere is great with the staff always willing to help and the teachers very experienced, it is the perfect place to feel at home in Japan. Most of the teachers paid tremendously importance on conversational practice and also used some media like video clips and role playing situations to practice Japanese efficiently with us. The classes were very small in terms of size and varied between 2-5 students. Most of the time I was with two other students in the classroom which made it easily asking any questions to the teacher.

After class there is a lot of time to explore the city with fellow students, refresh yourself with some great bubble tea in fancy cafes and also discover the many hidden secrets of the city. I highly recommend visiting the Kushida shrine and also participating in the tea ceremony that was organized.

Another terrific experience was the share house I was in. I made so many friends there that I did not have enough free time to participate in Meiji's activities, except i would study less Japanese. lol There were also some Japanese living in the share house which made it perfect to practice Japanese while being outside of the classroom. The facilities of the share house including the kitchen and bathroom was in a good shape with a good size bedroom. Obviously I cannot compare it with mine back in the UK but it was definitely fine.

Overall my experience at Meiji Academy was fantastic and I am already saving up to come back next year again!

I had a great time in Fukuoka even though I stayed in a private apartment I was able to meet so many other students and make friends with local Japanese through various student activities. I have been in Meiji Academy's language classes for eight weeks and did a brief two weeks internship in a marketing company promoting local tourism to foreigners. I felt this was a good length for me as much as i didn't want to to go back. This trip helped tremendously to become more confident as I was forced to get out of my comfort zone and immerse myself into a completely unknown culture. Not to mention the culture shock struck me several times, especially with the raw food (sashimi and even raw meat!). Fortunately Fukuoka is a foodie haven and has a wide variety of Japanese cooked food and also a lot of international cuisines.

Meiji Academy's classes were very well structured with experienced and fun teachers. Sometimes the classes seemed a bit too intense to keep up with, but I consulted with my teacher that I would like to take a slower learn pace and my request was almost immediately dealt with. As a small advice, make sure to take one or two private and kanji classes, because I felt I needed that extra private time with the teacher to get more out of it.

My internship experience was very short (only booked two weeks), but it gave me a unique chance to experience what it means to work in an international company in Japan. My colleagues were really nice and assisted me anytime I had questions. In the future i want to come back and do a proper long term internship to get a deeper understanding of the culture and also gain more professional experience.

Last but not least: When you come in Summer don't miss the Hanabi (Japanese fireworks). It was one of the most beautiful and romantic things i have seen in my life =)

It was a great experience. Very friendly teachers and school administration, located in the city center. Greatest activity ever: participate in famous japanese matsury (festival). Housing was the only drawback, a bit small.

After ten weeks at Meiji Academy I can say without doubt my Japanese went from really basic beginner level to understanding advanced conversations and complex sentence structures. It is important to understand a complex language like Japanese cannot be mastered in a few months. It is very difficult and so different from my mother tongue German.

Meiji Academy' teachers were all very experienced and seemed to be used to teaching Westerners as most of them can speak English or at least have basic knowledge of English which helps for total beginners. A few teachers were also young around mid twenties, which was a great. I had a very close relationship with several teachers and we all went out with other students for lunch and cultural events in Fukuoka. The close family-like environment made it very comfortable studying at Meiji Academy and I do miss my teachers.

From my observation conversational Japanese and personally tailored classes seem to be the main focus of this school. The focus on conversations made it very useful to apply it in daily life situations. Many teachers encouraged me to speak all the time Japanese in class and also outside of the classroom. Me being more an introvert person and interested in learning grammatical structures and the deeper meaning behind Kanjis, made it a little awkward at some times. That’s why I decided half way through to add additional private and Kanji classes. Fortunately they could organize them for me even though it was on a short notice. The staff was very supportive and created a customized schedule for me meet my needs, which was so nice.

I highly recommend this school and their traditional activities. Doumo Arrigatou Gozaimashita Meiji Academy! Mata rainen ni aimashouka!

I studied for three weeks the traditional culture course at Meiji Academy.

This was my second time in Japan and I chose on purpose a less known destination than the common places where most foreigners go (Tokyo, Osaka & Kyoto). All I can say is that Fukuoka is very underrated and definitely an insider tip for anybody who wants to experience the real Japan and see another beautiful side of Japan. It lies in the south just next to South Korea and is a large international port city.

Meiji Academy's classes were exactly what I was looking for: small classroom sizes with less than five students, very practically focused lessons and many different teachers. Having had the opportunity to learn from different teachers was a great chance to see the different teaching styles and also helped the students not to get used to one teaching routine of a specific teacher.

Another good thing were the outdoor classes for the traditional course we had. I had the chance to try a real kimono, go to the ancient shrines in old Hakata and also watched a life performance by a geisha. The best of all was the big cherry blossom hanami party that Meiji organized. It was such a great experience to see how Japanese people are altogether sitting under the beautiful cherry trees, mingling and chatting while enjoying the scenery.

It was a great experience but just too short...

My six weeks Japanese studies at Meiji Academy were one of the best decisions I made so far in my life. Without exaggerating I think the staff and teachers at Meiji are well organized and put a lot of effort in accommodating the students' needs. I will try to outline a few main areas to give my honest opinion about the school in general.

<Japanese Teaching>
The best thing about Meiji Academy's classes is the size. They really focus on their students by having classes from 3-6 people max. Mine was a bit small as I had semi-private classes with another student, but midway of my course we got another two joining our level. The teachers spend a lot of focus on conversational Japanese and try to make it applicable with day to day situations and also a lot of role play practices. We were using Genki textbooks, but also additional newspapers and other magazines to practice more complex sentence structures. I wanted to focus more on my Kanji studies and decided to take two additional Kanji classes per week to focus more on in-depth writing Japanese.

<Location>
The school is in Tenjin, which is the downtown area of Fukuoka and literally next to the subway station Tenjin-Minami. I do have to say that it is tricky finding the school when you go there first time as it is in an office building in a side street. Luckily they put a sign board at the entrance of the building, but still I got late at my first day of school. lol

<Activities>
The school has an event board and posts regularly activities for the students where they are either organized directly by the school or by other students and volunteers, who come to Meiji Academy. The language exchange program was one of the best things to make new friends. Once or twice a week they have language exchange nights where Japanese students come and you have the opportunity to talk with them. Usually after these nights we go out with the other students for some dinner or Karaoke. There are also weekend trips to nearby spots like Itoshima and Nagasaki, but they seem to be irregularly held. Another thing I definitely recommend for any newbie is the city tours. It is good to get some insider information on where to shop cheap and what places are good for having lunch.

<Accommodation>
I have stayed at a superior apartment in walking distance to the school. The apartment was clean, well maintained and had all the basic facilities that were also listed on the website. My apartment had even electronic doors at the entrance and a security service. As a woman I was very concerned about safety at first, so it was good to know that it was in a safe neighborhood. Many people seem to be unsatisfied with Japanese apartment sizes as they are definitely smaller than in Europe. I can say that it is true, but I did not find it to be a problem as in Japan everything seems to be S-size including a lot of clothes. hehe

<Overall>
The atmosphere at the school feels really family like and very cozy. Most of the teachers have a very personal and close relationship with the students, which makes it very easy to address any problems that I had during my studies. I will definitely come back again to study at this school as I felt in love with Fukuoka and also made a lot of friends during my time there.

Arrigatoo Gozaimas Meiji Academy :)

I spent two weeks studying Japanese at Meiji.

POSITIVES: (1) The staff were friendly and helpful, (2) the class sizes were very small, (3) you tend to get a different teacher each day, so you are exposed to many different teaching styles.

NEGATIVES: (1) The school isn't terribly close to a subway station (although most of Fukuoka is very walkable) and somewhat difficult to find (2) my apartment was very small, and mid-week I switched to staying in a hotel. I know Japanese are used to small apartments, but big, tall foreigners are not!

Finally, I big "shout out" to Language International, who did a great job of explaining all of my options, working with the school, and arranging the details of my courses. I couldn't have done it without Matthew Niebes and the LI team!

Last Summer was simply mind-blowing!

When I stepped off the plane in Fukuoka airport I was super nervous. This was for me not just the first time in Japan, but the first time abroad ever! I stayed with a host family for the whole time and my Japanese improved so much during the time. But I have to say that after a few weeks with them, I was thinking it would have been more nice to have your own apartment and privacy. Sometimes it can be a little bit exhausting being around all the time with Japanese and not having time for yourself.

I have done a traditional and intensive course with Meiji Academy for six weeks and it was so much fun. Make sure to attend their free language exchange events that they are hosting as well as the weekend trips! My most memorable time was when I went out with the other students to see the Summer fireworks and we were all dressing in traditional Japanese Yukatas!

Overall my whole stay in Japan was really good and the staff at Meiji Academy really did a huge effort to accommodate all my requests and also help me with many personal questions I had about Japanese people and lifestyle here.

Doumo Arrigatou Gozaimasu Meiji Academy! ^o^

Being immersed in Japan for two months was simply AMAZING!
I did my internship at a four weeks Japanese business and traditional culture course before embarking into my logistics internship. After spending quite a bit of time researching and contacting several language schools and internship providers, I came across Meiji Academy. The quick responses, clear pricing, good communication and great support on spot was simply amazing!!!

One thing I need to stress out here. It was my first time to Japan and I was a little bit worried that Fukuoka might be a small town as I am originally from Berlin. But I was proved so wrong once I arrived here. It has a vibrant night life, great shopping malls and the best is: you can hop on a bicycle and be in 15 minutes at the beach! :)

Thanks for the great experience Meiji and I'll see you next Summer for my intensive Japanese course. hehe

Miss you guys,

June