I had my final lessons yesterday. 100 lessons in all! I’ve come a long way since lesson 1. I can write my name in the snow now – in katakana. 
I guess I can compare my progress with the SILAC group lessons that are held in the same building. The group sizes seemed to be anywhere from 1 students to 12 or so students, since students are grouped based on Japanese ability, and Yamasa has a maximum group size policy. With breaks, each SILAC week is a little over 19 hours of instruction, which is a little more than what I was getting (due to rest breaks), since some of my teachers started skipping the breaks in later weeks.
My original curriculum started out gentle, but the teaching staff quickly modified it when it seemed like I could handle a heavier load. They also started jumping around among later chapters, pulling in grammar points based on questions I asked.
Going by the SILAC schedule, I think I was able to absorb around 6-7 weeks of material in my 5 weeks, though I paid around 50-60% more. Still, I think it was well worth it, since I didn’t have to worry about tests, I got to go at my own pace, I had my teachers’ full attention, and I was the only one wincing at my lame questions. The timing isn’t bad either, as one of my prime traveling seasons (i.e., all the good kids are in school) has just started.
I might have been able to cover more, had I applied myself more, but in the end, there’s only so much my fossilizing brain can take. My kana reading and on-the-fly conjugation are still slow (just need more practice), and my listening is weak, but not bad for five weeks, I say! Unfortunately, I didn’t do any socializing with other students while I was here, so that was an opportunity for off-hours conversation practice squandered, not to mention the karaoke and food runs.
The regular structure for the past five weeks has been a nice break from all the dashing around. But I guess it’s back to traveling now!
Now, how do I pack my backpack again?
Your photography has really gotten very good since you’ve been travelling. I like the shots you take. Congratulations on completing your Japanese lessons! Where to now?
Thanks! At the moment, I don’t know where’s next…
Uhhh, wasn’t the point of taking Japanese lessons to go eat at an exclusive Japanese- no- English- please restaurant? Another time, but won’t you forget?
Hi,
I heard about your blog from S-sensei.
I’m sorry I didn’t aware that you had been so tired during the Japanese lessons.
You are the most excellent student I have ever seen. You learn everything so quickly and correctly. So I thought you were specially gifted with language acquisition and the class was not so difficult for you. You were so different from the other students with a shorter attention span. Therefore we thought you preferred studying more and more rather than having a break. …To tell the truth, we also needed the break!
It is いい子にしているのに、つかれた, which means ‘I was tired from being a good student’, isn’t it.
And, I should have arranged something for you to socialize with other students. It is important to communicate with other students to improve your Japanese.
Anyhow, good luck in your trip in the big and wide world! I hope our lesson will be of some help to you.
I enjoyed your photos in the blog. I’m looking forward to seeing the other worlds through your photos and blog article.
See you someday!
Thank you for checking my blog! Please don’t be sorry – the pace was excellent, making me work hard (for a change).
Out of all 4 of us children, I always thought Jonathan was the smartest! He’s the one who programmed the classical piece “Alla Turca” on the computer back in the DOS days when he was in high school!!!
“I can write my name in the snow now – in katakana”
The hard part is doing it without hands and attaining the urethra control that will allow you to separate the kana.
Man, there’s always something more to learn when it comes to Japanese. Does it ever end?
it does end… after you die and are reincarnated as a japanese baby in japan. being born in the US doesn’t qualify.
I see. Let me get started on that right away.
I don’t think it ever ends, we forget, we lose a large part of what we learn for lack of use. I guess its a good thing we’re constantly learning.
Heehe, tell other Jay that being born in the US doesn’t make him Japanese… oh yeah, he’s from Okinawa.
I think you just told him that.
It’s surprising how much your brain retains, though.
By “your brain”, I meant “one’s brain”, in general. I didn’t mean to single out your brain, especially in conjunction with being surprised.
Silly, you know my brain doesn’t retain anything, its becoming an empty vessel. You must be referring to your brain.