Post by Jembru on Oct 24, 2013 12:12:24 GMT
I ran out of space to put English in the title, because I worded the Japanese so awkwardly. I'm wondering if anyone has taken lessons through nihongo-pro? I'm tempted, because the price is way less than 1:1 lessons face-to-face, but I have a few questions (I may just email them if no one replies here).
-> Are the teachers natives, or will I get some skinny little charisma man who spent a gap year in Japan and has N2?
Never mind. I just looked into it properly and all teachers are native speakers!
-> Do they adapt their lessons to the requirements of the student? So for example, will I be able to focus mainly on speaking skills, or will they tell me what I have to learn and waste my time telling my how to write kanji (I'm fine with reading and writing so long as it is set as homework.. I feel pretty strongly that unless the student requests reading and writing lessons, this should always be done in the students time, ideally via email and not during valuable face-to-face time with a native teacher).
I'm still not sure about this one, but they do claim to be flexible.
-> Will they trap me into buying lessons in bundles? I think I already know the answer to this, having been a language teacher myself, I know how the business works, but I don't want to be forced into massive costly bundles. Up-front payments for a 10 lesson block is perfectly reasonable. Once they start heading towards the 100 mark, I smell a rat!
Turns out you buy 'tickets' with which to purchase lessons and can buy as few as 5, althouhg of course it works out cheaper to buy more.
I just think with my impossible time schedule, this could really work for me and help me move to the next level. I just want to know what I'd be getting, before I spend our hard-earned disposable income on this.
I'm still interested to hear what people think of this. I'm very tempted now though and think I'll probably go ahead and book up with them in the New Year (or after Christmas).
-> Do they adapt their lessons to the requirements of the student? So for example, will I be able to focus mainly on speaking skills, or will they tell me what I have to learn and waste my time telling my how to write kanji (I'm fine with reading and writing so long as it is set as homework.. I feel pretty strongly that unless the student requests reading and writing lessons, this should always be done in the students time, ideally via email and not during valuable face-to-face time with a native teacher).
I'm still not sure about this one, but they do claim to be flexible.
Turns out you buy 'tickets' with which to purchase lessons and can buy as few as 5, althouhg of course it works out cheaper to buy more.
I just think with my impossible time schedule, this could really work for me and help me move to the next level. I just want to know what I'd be getting, before I spend our hard-earned disposable income on this.
I'm still interested to hear what people think of this. I'm very tempted now though and think I'll probably go ahead and book up with them in the New Year (or after Christmas).