Comments on: Why I’m Not Attending Doshisha University’s Center for Japanese Language http://regex.info/blog/2006-09-03/237 Not a photo blog, but sometimes I play one on TV Sat, 05 Jul 2008 11:33:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.12-alpha by: Michael Menichetti http://regex.info/blog/2006-09-03/237#comment-9020 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:43:38 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2006-09-03/237#comment-9020 I recently finished collecting a very similar collection of documents for Keio University's language program. Chest X-Rays, AIDS tests, and academic records back before I can remember. Here is the kicker, there is only one week in October when they will accept the registration documents. I will be in Europe for the entire month of October. I called to ask if I could send the documents early, its not like they have to do any extra work just let it sit there until they are ready to review it. Nope not acceptable! So I have to bring all the crap to Europe and then find a DHL office while I am in a small Belgian town with less than 4000 people. I am expecting this will require a drive to Luxembourg or Brussels. I tried to explain this to Keio, and they said people who don't follow the application procedures properly will have their applications discarded. So wish me luck... I recently finished collecting a very similar collection of documents for Keio University’s language program. Chest X-Rays, AIDS tests, and academic records back before I can remember. Here is the kicker, there is only one week in October when they will accept the registration documents. I will be in Europe for the entire month of October. I called to ask if I could send the documents early, its not like they have to do any extra work just let it sit there until they are ready to review it. Nope not acceptable! So I have to bring all the crap to Europe and then find a DHL office while I am in a small Belgian town with less than 4000 people. I am expecting this will require a drive to Luxembourg or Brussels. I tried to explain this to Keio, and they said people who don’t follow the application procedures properly will have their applications discarded. So wish me luck…

]]> by: Jonathan Rockway http://regex.info/blog/2006-09-03/237#comment-2441 Wed, 13 Sep 2006 22:38:57 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2006-09-03/237#comment-2441 I would call that "traditional Japanese paperwork". I had the same nightmare to go through when I was filling out my monbukagakusho scholarship application. It actually took a significant amount of time to track down all the irrelevant data they needed (and pay for expensive blood tests so they could know what type I am; apparently that's not a normal test anymore because it's so meaningless). After that, I was kindly informed that the deadline had been moved back a month (with no notice to anyone, "blame Tokyo"). *sigh* beauracracy. Personally I would suggest writing to them mentioning that you have cash, a visa, and that you're over the age of 30. They will probably be able to handwave some of the paperwork (or you could do it yourself, how are they going to check). Anyway, interesting article :) I would call that “traditional Japanese paperwork”. I had the same nightmare to go through when I was filling out my monbukagakusho scholarship application. It actually took a significant amount of time to track down all the irrelevant data they needed (and pay for expensive blood tests so they could know what type I am; apparently that’s not a normal test anymore because it’s so meaningless). After that, I was kindly informed that the deadline had been moved back a month (with no notice to anyone, “blame Tokyo”). *sigh* beauracracy.

Personally I would suggest writing to them mentioning that you have cash, a visa, and that you’re over the age of 30. They will probably be able to handwave some of the paperwork (or you could do it yourself, how are they going to check).

Anyway, interesting article :)

]]> by: Peter http://regex.info/blog/2006-09-03/237#comment-2440 Wed, 13 Sep 2006 22:23:21 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2006-09-03/237#comment-2440 My first thought was to wonder if all the paperwork has something to do with the number of Chinese "students" who enrol and then dissapear into the work force, never attending classes and overstaying their visa. But then I realized this sort to paperwork fetish is quite typical in Japan. The certificate of health, including x-ray results, is pretty much standard I thought. I have had to do one each time I changed jobs in Japan. I guess that, being self-employed, you don't have to do the mandatory yearly health check. Every year us salary-men are subjected to the blood/urine/chest xray/cardiogram, etc checks. And the old buggers past their mid 30's get optional extra checks, like a camera down your throat. My first thought was to wonder if all the paperwork has something to do with the number of Chinese “students” who enrol and then dissapear into the work force, never attending classes and overstaying their visa. But then I realized this sort to paperwork fetish is quite typical in Japan.

The certificate of health, including x-ray results, is pretty much standard I thought. I have had to do one each time I changed jobs in Japan. I guess that, being self-employed, you don’t have to do the mandatory yearly health check. Every year us salary-men are subjected to the blood/urine/chest xray/cardiogram, etc checks. And the old buggers past their mid 30’s get optional extra checks, like a camera down your throat.

]]> by: Marcina http://regex.info/blog/2006-09-03/237#comment-2376 Tue, 05 Sep 2006 15:19:06 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2006-09-03/237#comment-2376 What? They left out the critical Navel Lint Inventory, certified under notary by a Licensed NLI officer, and posthumously signed by your Great Grandmother on your mother's side. Shheesh. Talk about loosening standards and letting just any schmoe who has enough money to pay for lessons learn! What? They left out the critical Navel Lint Inventory, certified under notary by a Licensed NLI officer, and posthumously signed by your Great Grandmother on your mother’s side. Shheesh. Talk about loosening standards and letting just any schmoe who has enough money to pay for lessons learn!

]]> by: dan (also in kyoto) http://regex.info/blog/2006-09-03/237#comment-2372 Sun, 03 Sep 2006 12:17:30 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2006-09-03/237#comment-2372 What are your goals for learning Japanese? Figuring that out will go a long way in helping you decided what kind of course -- and therefore *which school* -- you should choose. Kyoto really does have quite a few, but each one seems to have slightly different focus. I have first-hand experience with the "Japanese Class for Students from Non-Kanji Background" course at the YMCA (Sanjo building), and recommend it highly. Our instructor was phenomenal. It's primarily designed for getting your kanji up to speed for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test in December (the application deadline for this test on Sept. 5, BTW). From what I've heard, the YMCA's 'daily' classes are targeted toward students looking to matriculate at Japanese universities. When I was looking for classes, I originally visited the Kyoto Japanese Language School (www.kjls.or.jp) since it's right near my house. It's a five-minute walk from the Doshisha's Imadegawa campus (I assume that the kindergarten is located there). While I haven't heard any really negative comments about the school, when I visited there, I was quite turned off by the drab atmosphere (think: very typical Japanese school) and the difficultly I experienced trying to get the staff to supply me with a good reason why they would be the best choice. I've talked to a few other people who believe that my experience was an isolated incident -- the result of a lackluster staff member. I've heard other comments from acquaintances that the curriculum seems to ramp up too quickly from the beginner-to-intermediate level. The last comment I've heard is that much of the assigned work is reading/memorization-based, which makes the classroom/instructor presence seem moot. The same person wished that there were more opportunities for discussion and strengthening of verbal conversation skills. Like I said, I have no first-hand classroom experience there, and all of my information is hearsay, so take it all with a large grain of salt. While I don't have the time to be taking lessons every day, if I did, I'd choose the Kyoto Japanese Language School, and that's given all of what I've just written. Even after my previous experience, I think that they are probably quite professional. You're at a little bit of a tricky time -- it seems that most schools are starting in about a week. You might have to move on this faster than you feel comfortable. Side note: Standford's Kyoto Center for Japanese Studies has been restructured/moved/merged into Columbia's Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies. Their campus has been moved to Doshisha Univ.. I'm not sure how/ if it's related to the Doshisha program you've mentioned above. What are your goals for learning Japanese? Figuring that out will go a long way in helping you decided what kind of course — and therefore *which school* — you should choose. Kyoto really does have quite a few, but each one seems to have slightly different focus.

I have first-hand experience with the “Japanese Class for Students from Non-Kanji Background” course at the YMCA (Sanjo building), and recommend it highly. Our instructor was phenomenal. It’s primarily designed for getting your kanji up to speed for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test in December (the application deadline for this test on Sept. 5, BTW). From what I’ve heard, the YMCA’s ‘daily’ classes are targeted toward students looking to matriculate at Japanese universities.

When I was looking for classes, I originally visited the Kyoto Japanese Language School (www.kjls.or.jp) since it’s right near my house. It’s a five-minute walk from the Doshisha’s Imadegawa campus (I assume that the kindergarten is located there). While I haven’t heard any really negative comments about the school, when I visited there, I was quite turned off by the drab atmosphere (think: very typical Japanese school) and the difficultly I experienced trying to get the staff to supply me with a good reason why they would be the best choice. I’ve talked to a few other people who believe that my experience was an isolated incident — the result of a lackluster staff member. I’ve heard other comments from acquaintances that the curriculum seems to ramp up too quickly from the beginner-to-intermediate level. The last comment I’ve heard is that much of the assigned work is reading/memorization-based, which makes the classroom/instructor presence seem moot. The same person wished that there were more opportunities for discussion and strengthening of verbal conversation skills. Like I said, I have no first-hand classroom experience there, and all of my information is hearsay, so take it all with a large grain of salt.

While I don’t have the time to be taking lessons every day, if I did, I’d choose the Kyoto Japanese Language School, and that’s given all of what I’ve just written. Even after my previous experience, I think that they are probably quite professional.

You’re at a little bit of a tricky time — it seems that most schools are starting in about a week. You might have to move on this faster than you feel comfortable.

Side note: Standford’s Kyoto Center for Japanese Studies has been restructured/moved/merged into Columbia’s Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies. Their campus has been moved to Doshisha Univ.. I’m not sure how/ if it’s related to the Doshisha program you’ve mentioned above.

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