I’ve had an interest in Japanese language and culture since I was a child and I was delighted to discover the Tenri School of Japanese Language located within the Tenri Cultural Institute. Tucked away in a nondescript building on 13th Street it could easily be missed, but once inside, the serene atmosphere makes you forget that you’re in the middle of the city.
Tenri School of Japanese Language offers Japanese classes for adults with beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Classes are held in the evenings, which is great for people who work during the day. They also offer classes for children, native speakers and non-native speakers alike. There is also a library where students can borrow books and audio/visual materials to supplement their classroom learning.
Tenri offers a free sample class before each semester so you can get the feel of studying there before committing to several weeks of classes. If you do decide to study there you will find that they have the best rates of any other university or language school in the area. Only $220 for 14 hours with classes held twice a week over a period of about 7 weeks. Other schools I looked into cost more for equal or fewer numbers of classes. Some even cost twice as much! When I took the sample class I was immediately impressed. The staff was friendly and helpful and I felt that this would be a great place to learn.
I was right. The small classes made the learning environment fun and I didn’t feel like just a number the way I did when I was studying Japanese in a university setting. Most people who finished the basic 101 class continued on through the next levels and it was nice seeing the same people as we advanced together.
In such an intimate setting, you also get to know the staff well. After attending Tenri for several months in 2007, I was unable to continue because of work conflicts, but when I came back this year, I was impressed that the gentleman at the front desk remembered me after four years!
Besides the great price, Tenri School of Japanese Language is good for other reasons. Since the classes are small, usually less than ten people, each person gets a chance to speak in class and interact with each other and the teacher. You also get to practice reading and writing Hiragana and Katakana from the beginning levels then you move up to Kanji in the advanced levels, so you learn at steady pace without feeling rushed.
Another thing I like is that the school is located on 13th Street between 5th and 6th, so it is easily accessible for people in most parts of the city. In addition, I like the fact that cultural events take place in the center, so I get to experience a little bit of Japanese culture firsthand.
I recommend Tenri School of Japanese Language for anyone in New York City who in interested in Japanese language and culture because you get so much more than just language there, what you get is the complete package.
