learning Japanese
I started going to intensive Japanese language school in my local university in 2009 after high school as preparation to attend Japan university for engineering degree. Went there for 2 years, took heaps of exams and finally flew to Japan in 2011 after the big earthquake to start my university life. Every lectures, lessons and exams are fully in Japanese so I had no choice than to learn the language even after arriving here. I took Korean class too for one year but gave up halfway because learning 2 languages at the same time was tiring huhu. I did a lot of part time jobs while attending university to practice speaking more formal language. I did translation jobs for a year and few more other jobs. I'm in my final year now and finally returning home next year after 6 years living in Japan. Learning new language is very hard but it's really worth it. My schedule when I attended intensive Japanese language course was class from 8am to 6am everyday Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday. Tests every Monday and exams every months. Very very hard, I almost had no life for 2 years outside Japanese. But it was fun because all of our Japanese senseis were very funny and kind. I had zero basic in Japanese when I started but after almost 8 years of learning, I can say I'm pretty fluent in speaking and writing now. So everyone out there who wish to study Japanese, don't give up!!! It will really be worth all your time. Now I can watch Japan dramas, animes, movies, tv shows, mangas etc without translation or sub :D Feel free to ask me if anyone have questions to ask about Japanese ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶
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you can learn at home but it needs a lot of hard work and courage to not give up halfway. I'd recommend going to institute if you wish to learn formally so the teachers will be able to guide and explain for better understanding. The kanjis especially and Japanese grammar are tricky and confusing, I wouldn't be able to understand if not for the lectures I attended. Regarding school, I got an overseas scholarship from my government to further study in Japan so everyone in my case were sent there to learn for 2 years. We couldn't choose which language school we wanted and everything was already prepared beforehand by the government. I think there's a lot of private Japanese language schools around beside ours. I'm sorry if I couldn't be much help in this (><)
Do you think it's a language one can learn at home or is it better to go to an institute? What was the school you went to (if you don't mind me asking)?