Testimonials
What our students say about our Japanese Courses
“I would highly recommend these classes to anyone looking to seriously start learning Japanese. Rihae is an excellent teacher: organised, clear, and helpful. In these sessions, you will keep progressing, learning about the language, culture, and writing of Japan. There is also a wonderful sense of community, with regular meals out to celebrate the end of each term. If you want to learn Japanese, sign yourself up!”
Sebastian, A1-1
“Brilliant classes! Since joining Japanese classes at YU JLS I’ve learnt so much. There is plenty of variety in the lessons, from speaking with fellow students, listening to conversations, and writing in Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji. The classes are small groups of up to eight (*the big class is up to 16), meaning the tutors can ensure you’re understanding the language well. I love how friendly and social the group is, celebrating Japanese festivities and coming together for social events outside of the class. What a fantastic find!”
Emily, A1-1
“We started learning Japanese with YU JLS two years ago, knowing absolutely nothing. We are now able to read and write in 2 of the 3 writing systems and understand enough to feel confident getting around Japan. The teachers are from Japan, so they are able to bring their knowledge of the language and culture to the lessons. They are very friendly and patient and are happy to answer any questions. Whether you’re thinking of learning enough to go on holiday, or would like to be able to study or work in Japan, YU JLS will give you the support you need to learn not only the language, but also the culture. We’re incredibly grateful for our time with YU JLS having made some lasting friendships during the course and gained a great many memories along the way, as well as a new Language too! Arigato gozaimashita!”
Sam and Sophia, A1-2
“Rihae sensei is an excellent teacher. Her teaching methods are exemplary and each lesson is well-prepared and interesting using textbooks and her own handouts. Students are carefully guided through the two alphabets and kanji, increasingly complex grammar and sentence structures along with cultural pointers and plenty of speaking opportunities. Any queries are readily resolved. The lessons are appropriate for all levels of learning – examination preparation, speaking on holiday and general interest. Optional social events include group meals, cinema events and karaoke. Every week I look forward to my Japanese lesson. I never knew that learning such a complicated language could be such good fun!”
Annie, A2-1
“I’ve been learning Japanese with YU JLS for 4 years so far and really enjoy it! The classes are fun and laid back with a mix of learning styles. I have developed friendships over the years with my classmates and look forward to continuing. Megumi is a great teacher – happy, enthusiastic, patient and clear.”
Becca, A2-2
“I’ve had a fantastic four years learning Japanese with YU JLS. I started with no Japanese knowledge at all, and with Megumi’s fun and well-paced lessons I’ve learned to read, write and speak with confidence. Learning Japanese through YU JLS gives me a great sense of achievement and I’ve met friends for life in my class. I can’t wait to keep learning for many years to come!”
Lydia, A2-2
“I have been attending YU JLS courses at Beginners and Intermediate levels for some years now. They are always run at a good pace, they are good value for each 10 lessons, and well run by Yuko, Rihae and Megumi. There is always a good balance of vocabulary and grammar. You soon learn Hiragana and Katakana characters before going on to learn the more complicated Kanji characters that are gradually introduced to aid their learning. There are always useful written, spoken and listening exercises. Any textbooks, workbooks and handouts are utilised at a manageable pace, and along with the homework’s given, fit well around my busy work schedule. Different conjugations of verbs are also gradually taught, enabling you to use them in many different contexts and conversations. The atmosphere in class is always fun, warm and friendly and the class sizes are good. I would have no hesitation in recommending YU JLS’s Japanese classes.”
Martin, B1-1
“The classes are enjoyed by all and has resulted in a lot of learning in a short amount of time. Rihae is an excellent teacher – clear, organised, perceptive, helpful and inspiring. She is able to make learning enjoyable, while making difficult goals reachable.”
Charlotte Beddoes
“I had been studying Japanese using a language app, but felt that I would benefit further from studying in a traditional classroom setting. I’m really pleased I signed up with YU JLS. The teachers are friendly and professional and each lesson is full of a variety of interesting activities. We always have the opportunity to practise with other students, a real confidence booster. We can ask questions if there’s something we don’t understand, and the teachers are very patient with us! We also get to submit written work to be checked and corrected. An app can’t do this! On top of all this, YU JLS is incredibly good value for money. I have no hesitation in recommending their services.”
Andrew, B1-1
“I started as a complete beginner at YU JLS 8 years ago and have been studying ever since. Armed with the skills I’d learnt, last year I spent 6 months travelling solo in Japan and I was so happy to be able to make conversations with local people, as well as find my way around! Rihae is a fantastic teacher who makes lessons fun. I’ve always been a bit nervous about speaking, but she’s always encouraging and never makes me feel bad about making mistakes. I also really like that Rihae teaches us about Japanese culture in her lessons, which is really helpful alongside learning the language. I think the courses are excellent value for money and I hope to continue learning long into the future!”
Katie, B2-1
“I’ve been studying with YU JLS for almost 10 years now and travel to Japan most years. I can’t say enough how helpful these classes have been in developing my Japanese. In particular, learning Japanese that I can apply in everyday life has meant that I can noticeably understand and be understood better with every trip. My classes with Rihae are fun and engaging both in person and online, and easily fit around a busy work and family schedule. A big thank you for all of the help and guidance along my language journey!”
Luke, B2-3
“Rihae and Yuko have been wonderful guides on my journey through this fascinating language. They’ve shepherded me all the way from the nursery slopes of hiragana to the Advanced C1 class, always patient with my many errors and quick to answer my even more numerous questions. I’ve now reached a level where – although my Japanese still has a long way to go – I feel comfortable in conversation, have Japanese friends, and have even used my Japanese ability in my work. Altogether it’s been one of the most interesting experiences of the last decade and has enriched my life in multiple ways. I thoroughly recommend YU JLS!”
Cathy, C1
”Fantastic Japanese lessons! The teachers, Rihae and Megumi, use different methods that create a rich and colourful learning environment. I also love when they celebrate Japanese festivities in class with us. Very happy with the classes and the management 😊 It was a very straightforward signing up process and they were very supportive when I had issues.”
Daniel, Bristol
“Thank you very much for being an excellent tutor and friendly guide in my starting to learn Japanese. I very much enjoyed attending classes over the past 18 months and hope you carry on inspiring others. I also hope to take up the language again in the future, and if Yu JLS is still around, I will of course look to see if I can continue with you.”
Andy, Bristol
“I signed up for the ‘Focus on JLPT’ course in autumn 2011 and found it incredibly useful for the JLPT N5 exam in December. I had done general Japanese classes in the past but what you need for JLPT is to go through all of the points that can be tested in the exam • especially the grammar. The tutor will draw your attention to specific grammar points that come up year after year, turning marks that you might well have missed into marks that you can be confident of getting. You can also do practice exams which are particularly important for the listening section which has a technique that is best to be familiar with in advance. All in all, I was very happy with the course and would highly recommend it to anyone taking the JLPT”
Dr Simon Davies
