Showa Women’s Institute

This review is specifically for the Japanese classes, which are really well run here, affordable, and such a fun learning experience. Registration is easy and low key. The campus is pretty, safe, and has plenty of free parking. Security is really friendly here at the reception desk. My teacher, Hattori-​sensei is fabulous. She spends the time to listen to the students, answer questions, pair us up with Japanese students (all girls campus) to practice conversation in the last 20 minutes of class, etc. I’ve finished the 1A, and just started the 1 B class and we have learned things like:
— how to introduce ourselves in Japanese (obviously)
— state our nationality and occupation
— presenting business cards
— numbers 0 through 12 for telling time, and basic counters
— ask how much something is
— describe things that are here/​there/​way over there
— basic participles to form sentences
— say with whom you are going somewhere
— question words
— by what means of transportation you will get somewhere
— to go, to come, and to return sentences
— location words
— some action verbs
— some adjectives
— to give vs. to receive
— basic vocabulary
1 B focuses more on verbs, but you have to put in the work to learn the vocabulary to help your learning. As Hattori-​san says all of the time, she can’t learn vocab for us! 1A and 1B use the textbook «Japanese for Busy People,» and can be purchased from Amazon cheaply. The overall class mixes up learning with the text book, old video clips, worksheets, conversation with Japanese study abroad students, etc. Overall, I find it to be a great deal, and a lot of fun and low key to learn the language. We don’t go over the writing systems to much in the class, as this focuses mainly on survival conversation skills.
I originally decided to learn Japanese to prepare me for a trip to Japan this past May. However, I decided to keep going because it was a really positive experience and I like learning new things. I definitely felt like this helped prepare me for my trip to Japan. Especially when it came to food/​shopping purchases. Can’t wait to take more classes and go back to Japan to practice more!
Oh, and a few tips for first-​time students:
— Finding the correct building can be tricky because this is a campus with multiple buildings/​schools, including the British School of Boston. For easiest access, once you pass the closed gate, go up the hill and make the second right towards Showa. You’ll know you are in the right place because they have a big Japan flag waving outside, and the building looks like a church with stained glass windows and 3 bells on top.
— Although not impossible to get here via public transportation, it is incredibly inconvenient. Definitely drive if you can.
— Once you get to the reception desk on your way in, you’ll have to sign-​in and get a visitor badge, and sign out when you leave at the end of the day.
— The English classes are held in the academic building, is behind the reception building. They will put up pink signs directing students during the first few classes, but try to remember the route because they disappear after the 2^nd week or so!

Excellent security, Friendly Staff, Clean building.

Son had to go to a workshop here. They wouldn’t open the gate so that we could pick him up at the scheduled (afternoon, full daylight) time as instructed. Make any assumption you want based on the fact there was a person of color in the car.