Question # 28. Are Japanese lessons expensive when teaching ESL in Japan?

The short answer – you get what you pay for.

Many times ESL instructors offer to swap lessons. "Hey, I'll teach you English if you teach me Japanese."

It seldom works. The person with the dominant skill, usually the Japanese person speaks English better than the beginner in Japanese, gets the most benefit.

If the Japanese learner will pay someone to teach them, several things happen.

1. The teacher gives devoted effort to the student's progress…better Japanese speaking becomes the goal.

2. Money goes out…if the student doesn't work at the language, money is wasted.

3. Lessons, deadlines, assignments, tests and such become motivators to learn or fail.

And, aren't these the kinds of things our English students want us to do for them, too?

Cheap lessons are available at volunteer places, city halls and such. There are often international centers where you can go to learn Japanese.

The end result – you get what you pay for.

My advice – unless you are extremely motivated, pay for lessons (3,000ish yen/hour) and then find people to swap with for practice.

In that way, the student will make better progress when learning Japanese.

What do you think is the best way to learn Japanese?