A former student of Genki Japanese Language School wrote the following report after her stay in Japan. Her reflections on her time here may be useful for others thinking of coming to Japan, so we have received special permission from her to reprint the report here. We should warn you, it's long, but it's a great read!
Myself as Other and the Beauty of Internationalism
I sway with the rhythm of the train traveling the forty-five minutes from Chikushi Station to Tenjin Station. I am crammed between business men all holding identical black suitcases and young women in high-heeled boots and short skirts text-messaging to unknown recipients on their cell phones. All around me, men and women sleep in seemingly the most uncomfortable positions, and yet I wonder at their collective ability to wake up right as their stop comes up. “Gojyosha arigatou gosaimashita,” the cool feminine voice rises above the familiar clackaclackaclacka of the train, “Kono denshya wa Fukuoka Tenjin-eki kyuuko desu.” As the polite recording goes on to explain that the next stop is Futsukaichi, I finger the flash cards attached by a ring to my purse, feeling flustered and yet never more at home. As I savor every moment—my third morning, my fourth morning—I feel the disconcerting prickle on my skin that tells me that at least one person is staring at me. I look up, and a businessman turns away. I look around and two more women pretend to be looking at something incredibly interesting just to my right and left. I am unsuccessful in fighting the urge to roll my eyes, and then wonder guiltily if Japanese also know of this American expression. Here I am, all of my American-Woman-Jewish-Latina-White-Bisexual self, and yet to those around me, I am only known as one thing: gaijin, foreigner—other.
Myself as Other and the Beauty of Internationalism
I sway with the rhythm of the train traveling the forty-five minutes from Chikushi Station to Tenjin Station. I am crammed between business men all holding identical black suitcases and young women in high-heeled boots and short skirts text-messaging to unknown recipients on their cell phones. All around me, men and women sleep in seemingly the most uncomfortable positions, and yet I wonder at their collective ability to wake up right as their stop comes up. “Gojyosha arigatou gosaimashita,” the cool feminine voice rises above the familiar clackaclackaclacka of the train, “Kono denshya wa Fukuoka Tenjin-eki kyuuko desu.” As the polite recording goes on to explain that the next stop is Futsukaichi, I finger the flash cards attached by a ring to my purse, feeling flustered and yet never more at home. As I savor every moment—my third morning, my fourth morning—I feel the disconcerting prickle on my skin that tells me that at least one person is staring at me. I look up, and a businessman turns away. I look around and two more women pretend to be looking at something incredibly interesting just to my right and left. I am unsuccessful in fighting the urge to roll my eyes, and then wonder guiltily if Japanese also know of this American expression. Here I am, all of my American-Woman-Jewish-Latina-White-Bisexual self, and yet to those around me, I am only known as one thing: gaijin, foreigner—other.
02/03: GenkiJACS Facebook Face-Off!
Today we find that students have created not one but TWO competing GenkiJACS Facebook groups! Booya! What other language school can say that, eh? (Oh, right, Yamasa has three...) Whether you already graduated from school, or plan to visit in the future, join one or both of these groups to meet up with other people in the same situation:
Genki JACS Facebook Group 1
"Were you a member of the Genki JACS school in Fukuoka City, Japan? Then you should join this group! Keep in touch, eh? Share photos! Reminisce. Whatevs."
Admin: Stephanie Throssell
Genki JACS Facebook Group 2
"For students or alumni of Genki Japanese and Culture School, Fukuoka Japan. Because what is a day without having fun with the Senseis of Genki? I swear, my Fridays are going to seem lonely as hell without a party going on from here on."
Admin: Eric Detweiler
If you haven't been to the school yet, the guys and girls in these groups are a great resource to give you info on what the school is really like. Have fun!
Genki JACS Facebook Group 1
"Were you a member of the Genki JACS school in Fukuoka City, Japan? Then you should join this group! Keep in touch, eh? Share photos! Reminisce. Whatevs."
Admin: Stephanie Throssell
Genki JACS Facebook Group 2
"For students or alumni of Genki Japanese and Culture School, Fukuoka Japan. Because what is a day without having fun with the Senseis of Genki? I swear, my Fridays are going to seem lonely as hell without a party going on from here on."
Admin: Eric Detweiler
If you haven't been to the school yet, the guys and girls in these groups are a great resource to give you info on what the school is really like. Have fun!
18/02: Summer bookings
Like all Japanese language schools, summer is our busiest period. Courses are filling up quickly for summer this year - much quicker than last year! - so we recommend booking early where possible. Additionally, if it is possible for you to come outside of summer (i.e., from September to May), we would definitely recommend it! Coming outside of summer means smaller Japanese classes, more personalized attention from the teacher. a wider range of accommodation options, and of course avoiding the summer heat! In particular, Fukuoka can be lovely in September/October, and April/May - not too hot, not too cold.
We continue to offer a 10% tuition discount for returning students for study between September and May.
We continue to offer a 10% tuition discount for returning students for study between September and May.
31/01: (Yet Another) Student Blog
The blog of a student at GenkiJACS from December 2007 to January 2008.
http://whiskeymaninjapan.blogspot.com/
Some self-serving excerpts about the school itself:
"...we have been doing a lot of out-lessons. this is where we learn a few things then go to a store, restaurant or place of amusement and fill out a worksheet in Japanese by asking japanese workers questions. it helps in our way of conversing in a real life situation. the people we ask are always cool. They don't speak english and speak as they normally do. they don't dumb it down so it's tough sometimes."
"The school is great. They really help me a lot. I'm actually in two different conversation classes. One is still in the beginner 1 stage where I need to be polite. well, really in my polite form. And the other we get to be more casual and its more of an everyday form. Kind of what you hear on TV and anime. Though not as advanced as anime. From what I was told, anime has a lot of advanced stuff and high vocab. The news is probably the only thing that is really advanced."
"I do like all the teachers in Genki JACS. They all are very helpful and they don't look at you badly if you don't know the word or if you are grammatically incorrect. I feel sorry for them, when they are trying to pull out the word from me. When I get it, they very happy. It's cool. So I make an effort to really study when I get home."
"...they want us to speak only in Japanese when we are at school. This makes it tough for some, but I feel a necessity if you want to learn by total immersion. I must sound retarded sometimes, but the staff there is great. They always find a way to help you with a smile and encouragement. The school is great. We met more teachers which, for me, helps me in my listening skills on different ways the language can be spoken. The ones that are very energetic are Mika and Chihomi. They make it real fun. Yujii is fun too, he's quite young but very knowledgeable."
http://whiskeymaninjapan.blogspot.com/
Some self-serving excerpts about the school itself:
"...we have been doing a lot of out-lessons. this is where we learn a few things then go to a store, restaurant or place of amusement and fill out a worksheet in Japanese by asking japanese workers questions. it helps in our way of conversing in a real life situation. the people we ask are always cool. They don't speak english and speak as they normally do. they don't dumb it down so it's tough sometimes."
"The school is great. They really help me a lot. I'm actually in two different conversation classes. One is still in the beginner 1 stage where I need to be polite. well, really in my polite form. And the other we get to be more casual and its more of an everyday form. Kind of what you hear on TV and anime. Though not as advanced as anime. From what I was told, anime has a lot of advanced stuff and high vocab. The news is probably the only thing that is really advanced."
"I do like all the teachers in Genki JACS. They all are very helpful and they don't look at you badly if you don't know the word or if you are grammatically incorrect. I feel sorry for them, when they are trying to pull out the word from me. When I get it, they very happy. It's cool. So I make an effort to really study when I get home."
"...they want us to speak only in Japanese when we are at school. This makes it tough for some, but I feel a necessity if you want to learn by total immersion. I must sound retarded sometimes, but the staff there is great. They always find a way to help you with a smile and encouragement. The school is great. We met more teachers which, for me, helps me in my listening skills on different ways the language can be spoken. The ones that are very energetic are Mika and Chihomi. They make it real fun. Yujii is fun too, he's quite young but very knowledgeable."
14/12: Link Roundup
Here are a few web resources related to the school that have surfaced recently:
A host family's photos from hanami party with students
Blog in German by recent student, with lots of photos
Blog of another (current) student
A quote: "GenkiJACS has practically been my home in Japan for the past 2 months, and 5 days a week I attend school there to learn Japanese. The teachers are very approachable, fun and loving people, and the quality of the classes are top-tier. We always have a great time there too, both in and out of the classroom. It is a bit on the expensive side, but not deathly unaffordable, and completely worth every penny I think."
A host family's photos from hanami party with students
Blog in German by recent student, with lots of photos
Blog of another (current) student
A quote: "GenkiJACS has practically been my home in Japan for the past 2 months, and 5 days a week I attend school there to learn Japanese. The teachers are very approachable, fun and loving people, and the quality of the classes are top-tier. We always have a great time there too, both in and out of the classroom. It is a bit on the expensive side, but not deathly unaffordable, and completely worth every penny I think."
19/11: Culture Class
 (Custom) (Custom) (2).JPG "Kushida shrine")
 (Custom).JPG "null")
昨日文化クラスで、櫛田神社、川端商店街、そしてふるさと館へ行ってきました。
櫛田神社でお参りしおみくじを引いてきました。さてリーズベスの運勢はどうだったのでしょうか・・・・！？
Yesterday, the culture class took the students to Kushida shrine, Kawabata shopping arcade, and Furusato Museum.
At the Kushida shrine, they bought a おみくじ (Omikuji, a fortune slip). How was your luck, Liesbeth!?
We spent an hour or so yesterday using Google Maps to put together a map of places of interest to GenkiJACS students, people studying at other Japanese schools, and everyone else living in Fukuoka. Click here to jump straight to the Google Maps page, with a listing of all places, or click on any of the marker points on the map below to show the detailed information.
Display full map
Display full map
Every Monday, GenkiJACS runs tours of the local area, to show new students some of the local places (restaurants, banks, cultural centers, etc.) that might come in handy during their time with us. We're also currently assembling a book of the same information at school, so that students can always access it. But, in the interests of getting the information to the greatest number of people, we have decided to publish the info on our site too. Here below, then, is the first of these:
Name: Hokka Hokka Tei
Type: Fast food restaurant
Special point: Very cheap but very delicious food
Location: About 200 meters from the school, on Showa-doori. Walking directions from school here.
Web site: http://www.hokkahokkatei.com/kyushu/index.html
Average price: 450 yen for a big, freshly cooked bentou box.
Recommended item: Chicken nanban (a Kyushu specialty)
Comments: No seating - take-out only
Store exterior:
(Note: photo is not the same shop location, but very similar.)
And finally, just to make it a little easier for you to order, we have prepared an English menu for you! Click here for the full version, with both English translations and pronunciation guides. Print it out and take it with you, or choose what you want in advance! Note that this is the regular menu, and doesn't include any of their special items, of which there are many!
Name: Hokka Hokka Tei
Type: Fast food restaurant
Special point: Very cheap but very delicious food
Location: About 200 meters from the school, on Showa-doori. Walking directions from school here.
Web site: http://www.hokkahokkatei.com/kyushu/index.html
Average price: 450 yen for a big, freshly cooked bentou box.
Recommended item: Chicken nanban (a Kyushu specialty)
Comments: No seating - take-out only
Store exterior:
(Note: photo is not the same shop location, but very similar.)
And finally, just to make it a little easier for you to order, we have prepared an English menu for you! Click here for the full version, with both English translations and pronunciation guides. Print it out and take it with you, or choose what you want in advance! Note that this is the regular menu, and doesn't include any of their special items, of which there are many!
A recent student of ours was kind enough to write a review of the school. It is included below, with no modifications or edits.
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I am very satisfied with my experience at GenkiJACS. After being asked to evaluate the school, the fact that I am taking the time to do so is the evidence to the previous. After scouring the internet for a program that would suit my needs for the summer, GenkiJACS seemed to fit the bill with it's small class size, price, and personal communication. Before we begin, I would like to emphasize that although I do have Cons with the program, they are far outweighed by the Pros, and that, once again, I felt it was an excellent program.
Pros:
-Excellent before arrival communication. Even when I requested last minute directions to the dormitories due to my unpreparedness, they replied quickly and got me the information I needed.
-Small class size. This is probably the biggest selling point of the school. The class size is small, very small, which allows for excellent communication and immediate feedback from the teachers. It also creates a, generally, more intimate environment, and I felt connected to the teachers on a more friendly level than I would have in a large class. Even outside of the classroom.
-Teachers. The teachers themselves are excellent, and prepare appropriate material for the level of class you are taking. They were very personable, and meet the requirements of each student very well. Teaching styles vary among teachers of course, and there were some I enjoyed more than others, but all performed excellently. More on the teachers later in Cons.
-Class Materials. Looking back on the experience, I found my time spent in the Conversation Class more interesting than my normal Grammar class; However with both classes I found the material appropriate, challenging, and a good use of the time spent in the class. Well in conversation class today we have a newspaper article about the water consumption of Japan, let's read it.
-Accommodation. I chose the dormitories as my place of stay, and was mostly satisfied with my choice. The residents of the dorms are, for the most part, very friendly and personable. I had a lot of fun with them, and enjoyed participating in the occasional group activity that they offered. More on this in Cons.
=======================================================
I am very satisfied with my experience at GenkiJACS. After being asked to evaluate the school, the fact that I am taking the time to do so is the evidence to the previous. After scouring the internet for a program that would suit my needs for the summer, GenkiJACS seemed to fit the bill with it's small class size, price, and personal communication. Before we begin, I would like to emphasize that although I do have Cons with the program, they are far outweighed by the Pros, and that, once again, I felt it was an excellent program.
Pros:
-Excellent before arrival communication. Even when I requested last minute directions to the dormitories due to my unpreparedness, they replied quickly and got me the information I needed.
-Small class size. This is probably the biggest selling point of the school. The class size is small, very small, which allows for excellent communication and immediate feedback from the teachers. It also creates a, generally, more intimate environment, and I felt connected to the teachers on a more friendly level than I would have in a large class. Even outside of the classroom.
-Teachers. The teachers themselves are excellent, and prepare appropriate material for the level of class you are taking. They were very personable, and meet the requirements of each student very well. Teaching styles vary among teachers of course, and there were some I enjoyed more than others, but all performed excellently. More on the teachers later in Cons.
-Class Materials. Looking back on the experience, I found my time spent in the Conversation Class more interesting than my normal Grammar class; However with both classes I found the material appropriate, challenging, and a good use of the time spent in the class. Well in conversation class today we have a newspaper article about the water consumption of Japan, let's read it.
-Accommodation. I chose the dormitories as my place of stay, and was mostly satisfied with my choice. The residents of the dorms are, for the most part, very friendly and personable. I had a lot of fun with them, and enjoyed participating in the occasional group activity that they offered. More on this in Cons.
Shermanstravel.com, billing themselves as "Your unbiased guide to hotels and destinations", recently selected GenkiJACS as one of the world's top ten foreign-language class vacations! An honor indeed: they call Fukuoka "the perfect place for full-on Japanese immersion". We're still not sure exactly which one of our students was really a shermanstravel spy, but we appreciate the love!
