I went to Tokyo last month for a tech
conference and had a hard time, even though I have used language apps for
years. Hiroshi, one of my coworkers, saved me at a business dinner. He said,
"Apps help you learn new words, but talking to people helps you speak more
fluently." This new understanding completely changed how I learn Japanese.
Most people who are learning a language have
the same problem: the pace of the classroom is either too fast or too slow. Private Japanese lessons can help with
this basic issue by adapting to the way you learn and the speed at which you
learn. I would like to share what I have learnt about teaching and learning
Japanese over the last ten years.
The
Benefits of Personalisation
In traditional classrooms, there is only one
set of lessons that everyone follows. I once heard from a senior developer at
NTT, "Group classes made me learn business Japanese at the same time I
needed technical words for database documentation." This problem is solved
by private lessons.
Your teacher makes each class fit your needs
and goals. Need to learn keigo (honorific speech) for a meeting with a client?
That is where your teacher looks. Want to know how to read technical books?
They will stress important words and grammar rules.
Feedback
Loops in Real Time
When students take private Japanese lessons, teachers notice mistakes right away. This
keeps you from picking up bad habits that are hard to break later on. Their job
is to pay attention to your specific problems and come up with exercises that
will help you solve them.
From teaching engineers from Silicon Valley to
Singapore, I know that correcting someone right away builds neural pathways
that reinforce correct language use.
Schedules
that are flexible for busy professionals
In group classes, you have to be there every
time. Instead of the other way around, private Japanese lessons fit into your
schedule. Not able to go because of a new product launch? Change the time so
you do not miss any important content.
An engineer from Microsoft told me, "I
could not commit to Tuesday nights for six months straight." "My
private teacher worked with my flexible schedule and kept me moving
forward."
The
Point of View of an Investor
It costs more for private lessons than for
apps or group classes. But think about the efficiency factor. Focused private
study for three months can often do in one year what other methods take a year
to do.
Do you want to save time or money? For workers
whose time is worth money, the maths is easy to understand. The investment pays
off in the form of faster career growth and deeper cultural connections.
It is not like climbing a mountain to learn
Japanese; you need personal guides who know the shortcuts to get around. You
will be able to speak Japanese with ease sooner than you think if you take
private lessons.
Resource...
Comments
Post a Comment