Language schools in Osaka
 

Hi,

I would like to get any recommendation you could give on language schools in Osaka. Maybe somebody will have a hint that I want something in the area of the Hilton Osaka... It is very difficult to find anything online, I don't know how work the postal codes and the area names. I guess since the Hilton Osaka address is the following :

8-8 Umeda 1 Chome
Osaka-shi, Osaka 530-0001

Osaka-shi means Osaka city, Umeda being the road? At least if somebody you give me the answer I would be better suited to find a language school by myself.

Thank you!

Frank

Osaka-shi does mean Osaka City, but Umeda is an area, not a road.
(All the numbers together do point to a specific address, however.)

Roads/streets frequently lack names in Japan. That's just one of the things that makes it so fun. ;)

Email me, and I can give you more school info, we work with Japanese schools (sending students from Taiwan to Osaka)

Hi Franky -

Are you planning on teaching English in Japan and living at the Hilton at $3 per day including breakfast? That would be too funny.... You will certainly find plenty of places to do that kind of work in the area near the Hilton - since the Hilton is right next to Osaka's main railway station and there are always branches of NOVA and other Eikaiwa chains (a.k.a. English-conversation-gulags) within a couple of blocks of all major railway stations.

If you want to deal with one of those major companies, you might find that they have recruiting offices in your home country. (Certainly they will have an office in the UK). I'm not saying that they are the best places to work, but it might be the easiest way to set something up before you arrive in Japan. I'm pretty sure that those companies will also enable you to navigate the Japanese visa application process.

Good luck to you....

BTW - Has Expedia confirmed that they're honouring that crazy price? Did you reserve all the way to September 2006?

BTW2 - I notice you're in Italy... Since the Umeda area probably has some large "conversation schools," you might discover that they want to offer Italian classes there. I'm not sure if that would enable you to make more money or not, but worth looking into.

BTW3 - I just remembered that that there is a branch of "GABA" language school in the "Hilton Plaza West" building, which is right next to the Hilton hotel.

Gaba in the news
 

OT:

English schools? What they really NEED in Osaka are forced attendance cycling schools.

I loved Osaka, but I got really annoyed at having to be on edge and on guard all the time as the cyclists are such a menace. A significantly worse problem here than anywhere else I've been to in Japan. No wonder they have the longest underground shopping arcade in the country.

Or maybe frankytalia is looking to attend a language school? (I notice he made no mention of it being an English school.) Perhaps as a way of obtaining a visa for a long-term stay in Japan...to make use of long-term Hilton reservation? :D

That's right, I want to attend a language school... I won't need a visa, but I would like to attend a language school part-time for the multi-weeks I will be there. I will be working (that's on his way of being confirmed :D) in the afternoon, so a few hours in the morning would be interesting.

I think you'll be better off asking this at more Japan centred web-sites. Try www.letsjapan.org I'm valve bouncer there as well. The crew there should be able to help you out.

Thank you all for your advices!

I guess this means we're not "Japan-centered" enough here... :D

But seriously, frankytalia, there are a variety of options open to you. It all depends on whether you are looking for more "serious" study (which might be a little difficult if you only plan to be here a few weeks)--the kind which require intensive study and have mottoes like "We have to be cruel to be kind", private lessons (which, while more expensive, are also more open to fitting "your" schedule), the standard kind of "once-a-day" type of classes (usually found in the evenings as they are usually geared for students and businesspeople), or are looking more for informal "drop-in anytime" type of classes.

Many "English" schools here also offer classes in Japanese, so it's probably worthwhile contacting these as well, as they can probably be found in most all locations, unlike purely "Japanese-language" schools.

How about joining a martial arts club...........no faster way to learn the language and customs !

:D Do you know any good kung-fu dojo in osaka-shi?

Isn't Kung-fu Chinese? You could try Kyokushin Karate. Full contact. An associate joined, and was put in the hospital twice in his first year. Didn't understand what the Dojo master was saying at first, but learned to understand very quickly. ;)

I was thinking some shorinji kempo or judo would do the trick ;) ! Frankytalia just ask the concierge at the Hilton and
I am sure they can fix you up .........