Japanese Business Course in Fukuoka, Japan with Meiji Academy

Back in 2019 I went to Fukuoka and studied with Meiji Academy for one month. I had a fantastic stay in this beautiful city. I would have loved to go back there this year, but that's not possible... maybe in 2021? I have so many amazing memories from this adventure with Meiji! The business course is great to completely immerse yourself in Japanese culture. You will learn about the language and also about how to behave in a business situation. This course is very useful if you are searching for a job in Japan, or even if you are just curious about the Japanese culture. The classes are small, which is great to stay focus and to practice a lot during the lessons. The other students are also motivated which is amazing because you can practice together and make progress quickly.

It was my second time studying at Meiji Academy. I went there two years ago and I loved it so much that I decided to apply again for a different course. My experience had been fantastic both times. This time, my Japanese level was already quite advanced, so I had a blast visiting Fukuoka with new eyes. We were three students in my group classes and we were all three motivated to improve our skills at most! Also, I decided to try the business course; I went for the standard course the first time. I learnt lots of interesting things and we practiced keigo which was really stimulating. I particularly like the social environment at Meiji Academy because it is easy to meet new people and make Japanese friends. I hope I will have the chance to come to Meiji again in the future and study with them again... and again!!

My stay in Japan was one of the best times of my life. It was short, but intense and memorable. I met inspiring and wonderful people there, I hope we can meet again in the future.
The classes were very efficient and my Japanese level is really good now. I don't want to show off, but I really improved a lot, more than I was expecting, and I am able to speak about many topics now. I would say that the most complicated part is the vocabulary, because you have to remember a lot of new words every day. My teachers suggested buying some vocabulary flash cards that Japanese students often use for school. I found some at the 100 yen shop and indeed, it was a good idea.
The business classes were really cool too. Working in Japan seems very strict but I think I would love to live there.

Studying with Meiji is pure joy!

I studied at language schools in Spain and England before. While they all had their pros and cons, studying at Meiji Academy definitely stood out the most! Not only because it feels really special to study Japanese in Japan, but also because it felt just right. From the first day onwards, everyone was so incredibly nice and warm and it actually felt more like a study group at a friends place rather than attending classes in a school. The other language schools always had these "you're just one in a 1000" feeling to it. So while I learnt a lot, it was not like anyone apart from the teachers knew my name or cared all that much. Meiji is very different. They care. and it shows!

If you consider studying Japanese, trust me, it is soooo worth it to go with Meiji. They really have a special place in my heart now.

And on a side note, I did learn a lot (and in an easier, more fun manner than in other schools!).

The lady from the front desk was so cute and nice. She couldn't speak English very well, but she really tried to talk to us. She seemed very invested in us having enough fun and making improvements in Japanese. It was actually a good thing that she wasn't able to speak English because we could practice our Japanese easily. Everyone at Meiji was nice and open-minded!
The Japanese Business Course was really interesting, I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in working in Japan someday, or anyone with a job relating to Japan. The Japanese classes were fun and interactive, I was attending those classes with great pleasure!

Japan is a wonderful country and I finally visited it! I was a complete beginner in Japanese when I arrived and now I can handle a basic conversation. Studying there was very productive and fun at the same time. We used a textbook called Genki and audio clips as well. We had opportunities to talk with Japanese students during some events and language exchanges, it was very useful for practicing with different people. We also tried to speak Japanese with the other students at the school, even if the conversations were limited lol. The business classes were interesting, too. I understand better the business system in Japan now.
After my stay in Fukuoka, I went to Tokyo because you cannot come to Japan without visiting Tokyo. But I think I preferred Fukuoka!

I had the chance to study in Japan for one semester as an exchange student, but it wasn't enough for me. In Belgium, we cannot apply for the working holiday visa, so all I can do for now is to take classes and try to open new gates. I joined Meiji Academy's Business course to improve my Japanese Keigo skills and to learn how to behave in front of Japanese employers! It was a great experience, different from the one I had during my exchange semester. I used to only care for the pop culture, but now I know a bit more about the business culture in Japan. And I still find it fascinating! Fukuoka is a joyful city, with nice parks (Ohori park, you MUST go there!) and Meiji always organizes lots of funny events. It was a pleasure for me to meet new people while practicing my Japanese! I hope I can go to Japan again in the future because I'm never disappointed with my experiences. I guess the next step is to take the JLPT test to be able to find a job there!

For those of you approaching Japanese for the first time (but also for those who wish to improve their skills), it’s very important to find the right school. Meiji Academy is the place to be!
The teachers are well-prepared and patient and the staff is always down to help you out. Usually, classes consist of 1-4 people, which gives everyone the chance to be heard. I took 3 weeks of Business Japanese before doing an internship in Oita. Knowing the basics of Japanese and the culture etiquette has helped me a lot in day to day interactions. I feel like I could build better connections with customers whenever I started off in Japanese. Even a tiny bit like Konnichiwa, introducing yourself
or knowing how to handle business cards leave a lasting impression. I don’t think my time in Japan would have been as smooth without my language classes. Kudos to Meiji and all the lovely people there!