FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
General
Shibuya Gaigo Gakuin is one of the oldest and most respected language institutes in Japan. We were established in 1970, and we have been a member of the Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education since its foundation.
Location and teaching methodology. We are located in the heart of Shibuya, the lifestyle mecca of Japan, so you will never be bored. We conduct our classes using a Direct Method approach which emphasizes real-life scenarios and practical conversation lessons so that you can start having conversations in Japanese in a relatively short amount of time.
We have cultural events, day trips and excursions in and around Tokyo. We try to provide you with as many chances to immerse yourself in the Japanese culture. You will also have the opportunity to practice Japanese on a daily basis with the many Japanese students who are learning other languages.
We have students from around the globe, our international environment allows students of various backgrounds to enjoy a harmonious study and life experience. You can see our Students Demographic here.
Helping our students make a smooth transition to life in Japan is a priority for Shibuya Gaigo Gakuin. You will never feel alone and can rest assured that we are here to assist you in whatever way we can.
We are located in the heart of Shibuya within walking distance from Shibuya Station.
Yes, at the end of each course, you will earn a Certificate of Accomplishment or a Certificate of Attendance.
One-month students and students with less than a 70% attendance rate will not receive a Certificate of Accomplishment.
Yes.
Of course, you can extend the length of your studies. If you are here on a student visa, please talk to the school staff about the process and related fees for extending the visa.
Yes, it is possible. However, to ensure a smooth start, it is required to learn at least Hiragana and Katakana before the beginning of the session.
Yes, it is possible. Please contact us to discuss your specific case.
Application
There are 4 enrollment periods per year: Jan/Apr/Jul/Oct.
Please visit our Application page.
You have to be 16 years of age or older.
In general Japanese or English are accepted. Please consult with us for other languages.
Proof of graduation from your high school and an official letter indicating your enrollment at the University are needed.
A tax statement showing your annual income is acceptable. Other documentation may be acceptable; please contact us for personal advice
Japan Student Visa
Yes, you can receive a Student Visa if you apply for our Long-term Course.
The maximum length that you can study for with a Student Visa in a language institute is 2 years.
Yes, you can work for up to 28 hours a week with a Student Visa.
Yes, it is possible if you're currently on another long-term status visa ( Working Holiday, Work Visa, etc.).
In general, it is not possible.
Classes and Lessons
Classes are conducted using a Direct Method approach. We emphasize conversational skills above all so that you can start speaking Japanese in everyday situations within a relatively short amount of time.
Depending on the class level, between 6 and 16 students per class.
Morning 09:30-13:00 (Level 4 to 10) Afternoon 13:30-17:00 (Level 1 to 3).
The teacher will only use Japanese during class.
It depends on your class level. Usually between 3000-5000 Japanese Yen per term.
Yes, there will be homework and quizzes in order to retain what you’ve learned during class.
Class level is based on the information provided during the application process and the level check result.
The teacher decides on the most suitable class level. If you, however, feel that your current class level is inadequate, please consult with your teacher.
Financial Sponsor
We do not provide any scholarships. We do however occasionally provide discounts which we communicate through our newsletter.
A bank account balance with the equivalent of 1,200,000 Japanese Yen for a 6 months Student Visa or 2,000,000 for 1 year Student Visa is required.
Other than yourself, only close family relatives can be used as a financial sponsor.
Payment
Not at first but it is possible when extending your course.
Both Flywire and bank transfers are accepted. If you are located in Japan, you may pay cash at the school.
For long-term course, the application fee is due after your application is approved while the admission fee and tuition are due after your CoE is issued.
For all courses, the Tuition fee is due 2 to 4 weeks before the course starts.
You can find our refund policy here
Private Lesson
We make arrangements based on your request.
Yes, you can. We’ll have a free counseling session before starting the lesson and design your lesson plan accordingly. If you are not sure what you would like to study, we will make a proposal based on the purpose of your study as well as your planned study time period, hours per day and frequency, etc.
If you have some study material you would like to use, please let us know. We can also recommend textbooks based on your needs and objectives.
Depending on teachers availability, yes it is possible.
Depending on teachers availability, yes it is possible.
You can have the same teacher for all lessons or a different teacher on different days.
Yes, you can.
Yes, you may change the lesson schedule up to 1 day by 14:00 o'clock before the lesson takes place.
Yes, we do.
If you would like to leave school in the middle of your course, please refer to our Refund Policy.
Before arriving to Japan
Please arrange your flight ticket so that you’ll be arriving the day before the orientation session at the latest.
We have classes for the absolute beginners. However, you should at least know Hiragana and Katakana before coming to Japan.
Living in japan
Yes, if you have a student visa, you have to register your residential address and apply for a National Health Insurance within 14 days of your arrival at the City Office of the district where you reside.
It depends on your lifestyle and type of accommodation. Monthly expenses could be from ¥ 70,000 to ¥ 170,000 in Tokyo.
If you are on a student visa, you can get a mobile phone contract with a telecom provider.
If you are on a temporary visitor visa, you can use a pre-paid mobile phone, WiFi router or pre-paid SIM cards if you have a sim-free mobile phone.
By law, every person that will stay in Japan for more than 3 months, must get the “National Health insurance”. Once insured, if injured or sick, you would only pay 30% of the medical costs, however, when you join Shibuya Gaigo Gakuin under a Student Visa, you are automatically enrolled in an additional health insurance plan which provides coverage for the remaining 30% in order to provide you with a 100% coverage.
However, if you are coming under a tourist visa, you will not be able to get the national insurance. Therefore, it is essential that you have a traveler insurance or other insurance coverage from your home country that can cover your costs in case of illness or other unexpected events.
With a Student Visa, you can work for up to 28 hours a week after receiving your “Permission to engage in activity other than that permitted”.
You are not allowed to work if you are on a temporary visitor visa.
We will provide you an application form that you should fill and give to the Immigration Officer at the airport upon your entry to Japan.