Japan Switch FAQ
Schedules
We are only open on weekdays.
- Monday - Friday
- 9:30 - 1:30 PM
We are closed on national holidays
Looking for Afternoon or Evening or Weekend Lessons?
We recommend our partner Coto Language Academy who provide high quality Japanese lessons throughout the day at their schools in Iidabashi and Azabu.
Do you offer makeup lessons?
Yes, we offer one bonus free make up lesson monthly for our students 🙂
If you are taking 1 class a week, you will receive 1 make up class for the month. If you are taking three classes, you receive 3 classes.
Please note that you would need to be flexible in your schedule and that we cannot guarantee a make up lesson at the exact day and time you want it.
We unfortunately do NOT offer flex schedules for both group and private lessons at Japan Switch. Fortunately, this is why we are able to charge 30 - 50% less than our competitors 🙂
At Japan Switch, you would need to commit to a fixed schedule for the entire month, but we do offer make up lessons and please refer to Schedules > Make Up Lessons.
If your schedule is busy and you really need flexibility, we highly recommend you attend our sister school Coto Language Academy who provides both flexible schedules and the best quality lessons in Tokyo.
Yes, you can 🙂
You can take 1, 2, 3, or 4 lessons or more a week. The amount of lessons you take is your choice. However, please note that you would have commit to a specific amount of lessons each week for the whole month.
Ex. You would be unable to take 4 lessons one week and 1 lesson another week.
Please check Schedules > Make up lessons for how our make up lesson system works.
Yes, you can!
Lesson Fees & Payment
Initial Costs at Japan Switch
- One month of lesson fees
- Textbook
We do not charge an entrance / registration fee nor do we charge any other fees like other schools.
Initial Costs Example :Â 1 private lesson a week
- 1 month of lessons = 12,000 yen + tax
- Textbook = 2100 yen + tax
Total initial payment of around 14,100 yen + sales tax for your first month of lessons.
※ Please check FAQ > System > Minimum period of enrollment as well.
1 : Schedule a level check and school consultation at our Shinjuku School using the contact form here.
2 :We will do a Japanese level check for you in person
3 : We will look at our schedule for the right lessons that match your goals and availability. You can check our group lesson schedules on the group lessons page.
4 : You enroll and make the payment by debit or credit card for your first month of lessons and textbook.
5 : You start taking lessons at Japan Switch.
You can calculate your monthly lesson costs using our monthly lesson fee calculator here.
Please note that you would be on a monthly membership plan and your contract would be continuing automatically.
Our textbooks books are very reasonably priced.
Beginner 1 : 2090 yen w/tax included
- Beginner 1 Drill Book - 250 yen w/tax
Beginner 2 : 2200 yen w/tax included
Pre-Intermediate : 3300 yen w/tax included
Payment Methods
We only accept payments from credit or debit cards. We do not accept cash or other forms of payment.
For more information on getting a debit or credit card, please refer to this article from BFF Tokyo.
https://www.bfftokyo.com/life-in-tokyo/how-to-make-a-debit-or-credit-card/
Automatic Deductions
Your monthly lesson fees will be automatically deducted from your credit & debit card for your second month and onward.
AwesomeNess
What do most schools provide?
Most Japanese schools only provide lessons and homework. They do not teach you how to study and most teachers do not understand how tough it is to learn Japanese.
For Japan Switch, the owner of the school is an American who has passed the highest level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test and had learned Japanese from zero.
We have written extensive articles on how to self-study while taking lessons at our school.
We also send you a study reminder / short newsletter every week for the first three months to help you develop a routine.
For those who are unable to commit to an intensive course financially or schedule wise, we are the perfect option because we want to help you to develop a Japanese learning routine and become an independent Japanese language learner and speaker.
You can learn writing at home or one of the many apps out there, but you can't practice speaking at home.
You definitely can't practice speaking to the apps, because it will drive you insane! Trust me, I have tried and won't again until 2030.
Our goal is to help you work on the things you can't through self-studying and apps.
System
Student Visa
Please kindly note that our school is not a government authorized language school that can help you with visa issues.
Tourist Visa
We are also unable to provide documentation for your tourist visa.
We have been able to reduce your lesson fees by around 50% by providing a fixed lesson system.
This means that you commit to the same amount of lessons each week at the same day and time.
We do have a free make up lesson system, which you can check Schedules > make up lessons.
The minimum enrollment is one full month at Japan Switch. If you are unable to attend for one full month, you may join for several weeks, but you would have to pay for the entire month.
※ For students who join after the 15th, you would have to pay for the current month and the following month (about 1.5 months).
You have the option to leave and terminate your monthly continuing membership plan. You would need to come in person and sign a request to terminate the contract in person by the 15th of the previous month or previous school day in the case we are closed on the 15th.
For example, if you would like to cancel your lessons from June 1st, you would need to cancel your membership by May 15th of the previous month.
For group lessons, you have to be 18 years and older. For private lessons, you have to a be 16 years and older.
Lessons
We do not directly assign homework for our classes. However, we have created a guide on how to learn Japanese outside of class using learning apps and other resources.
Here is an example of a guide we created for our students on how to learn Japanese vocabulary both inside and outside the classroom.
We do not offer JLPT lessons at Japan Switch, but our sister school Coto Language Academy offers special lessons specifically designed to help you pass the JLPT test and they have had a good amount of success at that.
We conduct our classes primarily in Japanese, but use English in our basic course to facilitate comprehension.
Yes, they are Japanese native speakers.
There is a maximum of six regular students per lesson. However, the maximum number per lesson are seven students.
Since we offer group lesson students 1 make up lesson monthly, the seventh student slot is left open for make up lesson students.
Sorry private lessons are only for one person.
You would not be able to split the cost of a private lesson with your friend nor would they be able to join the lesson.
Still finding reasons to not start? Start today.
Japan Switch
Japan Switch provides affordable morning and noon Japanese lessons in Tokyo. Centrally located, relaxed environment and quality textbooks. Japan Switch is your alternative option to a Japanese language school in Tokyo.
Â
Opening Days :Â Monday - Friday
Â
Shinjuku Branch
Opening Hours : 9:30 - 1:30 PM
Â
Gotanda / Shinagawa Branch
Opening Hours : 9:00 - 1:00 PM