Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long has Able been in business?
A: Able Language Services was formally incorporated in June, 1999.
Q: Is Able really that cheap?
A: Yup. Our price for a one-to-one, 50-minute private lesson during regular business hours is ¥2400. Other schools in the Hiroshima area range from ¥2700 to ¥3500 for the same service. Our group lessons are similarly inexpensive. Although other schools (whose names we won't mention...) will sometimes run a group lesson "campaign" that offers a discount that is lower than our price, once the campaign ends you'll be paying more. And those "group lessons" are generally very large groups - six people or more.
Q: Okay, so you're inexpensive. But I can get a lesson for ¥2000 at a coffee shop, which is even less expensive! So why should I study with you guys?
A: It sounds like a better deal, doesn't it? The problem is, if you go to a coffee shop you have to actually order something. Even the cheapest thing on the menu is usually at least ¥350, so you actually end up paying about the same amount. And that's just if you order one small drink - anything else and your tab goes up. When you think about the tiny tables, the fact that you have a lot of ambient noise during your lesson, the lack of immediately available secondary teaching materials (should they be necessary), whiteboard and so on, lessons at a school start to seem like a much better alternative.
This isn't to say that studying at a coffee shop isn't a good idea. It's certainly better than not studying at all, and some students actually prefer the atmosphere there. But if you're making your decision on purely economic grounds, things aren't as clear-cut as they might seem at first.
Q: But...I like having coffee with my lessons...
A: Hey, it's cool. You can bring drinks in if you study here.
Q: Where are you, anyway?
A: We're located in downtown Hiroshima, about ten minutes' walk from Hiroshima station and about one minute from the Kanayama-cho streetcar stop. Here's a map to show you exactly.
Q: I went to Kamiya-cho, but I couldn't find your school. What gives?
A: Okay, that's KANAYAMA-cho, not Kamiya-cho. Most foreigners are familiar with Kamiya-cho (where Sogo and DeoDeo are located), but we're further down the streetcar line towards Hiroshima station. Be careful not to get confused.
Q: Are trial lessons a full 50 minutes?
A: Trial lessons generally last about half an hour - enough time for the teacher to get an idea of your Japanese level, talk with you a bit about what your study goals are and teach you a point or two. Since they're free, they basically exist so that you can get an idea of the instructor's teaching style and check out the school.
Q: Can I come by for a trial lesson any time I feel like it?
A: Well, no. While we always try to accommodate prospective students, if you drop by without an appointment we may not have a teacher free right then. Please call or email us and set up a time if you'd like to take a trial lesson.
Q: I heard about this "anti-jet lag diet" of yours. Does it really work?
A: Much as we'd like to take credit for it, it's not really ours. It was developed by a very smart guy named Charles Ehret, and yes, it does work if you follow the guidelines correctly. So the next time you travel outside of Japan, give it a shot. You can read about it here.
Q: Can I get a discount if I buy a lot of lessons at once?
A: No. Able's prices are set to be as low as possible no matter what sort of lesson or lesson schedule you sign up for, so we don't give discounts beyond this price. If for some reason you'd like to buy a lot of lessons at once, we'll be very happy to take your money up front. But it's not necessary.
Q: I want to come to Japan to study full-time/quit my current job in Japan/stay here for some other nefarious reason. Can you sponsor my visa if I become a student of yours?
A: Unfortunately, no. The Japanese Government has several very onerous restrictions regarding which institutions can sponsor student visas, and frankly we're too small to qualify. However, if you work for us as a teacher then we can, of course, sponsor you.
Q: Am I going to be locked into a year-long contract or something if I want to sign up?
A: Not at all. Students generally pay month to month. If you have to leave suddenly and have lessons left over that you haven't used yet, we'll cheerfully refund the remainder, minus a small processing fee. Just let us know.
If you want to set up a special intensive summer course or something, we will ask for a percentage of the course fee to be deposited in our account before you start classes. This deposit is non-refundable. The reason for this is that people often change their plans at the last minute when it comes to Obon and so on, and we need some sort of security in order to be fair to our teachers. Without the deposit, our experience has (unfortunately) been that last-minute cancellations are the norm, leaving the teacher with a very large gap in her schedule and no easy way to fill it.
Also, the deposit can be a nice bit of leverage if your school or workplace suddenly decides that it wants you there during the summer after all. ("But, I've already paid the deposit...!" works much better with Japanese bosses than "But, I was really looking forward to going...!")
Q: What happens if I'm late paying for my lessons?
A: We cut off your thumbs.
Q: Was that last answer serious?
A: No, no, just kidding. Really. All that happens is that you get assessed a late fee (¥2000). Nobody here wants your thumbs.
Q: Got any free tips for learning Japanese? (Yes, I'm shameless.)
A: Sure. If you're from an English speaking background, learn the katakana first. This will enable you to read menus and the like without having to know any Japanese at all, and many foreign loan-words (like rajio) as well.
James Heisig's Remembering the Kanji, Vol. I is the best thing going for, um, remembering the kanji. Even if you have no interest in kanji per se, his memory techniques can really make things simpler for you. Volumes II and III aren't as useful, but Volume I should be on everyone's bookshelf. (He also has good books for katakana and hiragana, and no, I don't get a kickback from him.)
Q: I've studied Japanese before, and all they teach me is what's in textbooks. Consequently, I sound like a dork when I talk and I can't understand what the people around here are saying. Actually, this isn't a question. I'm just venting.
A: We feel your pain. In order to help out, we've just put a page up here to help introduce you to the Hiroshima dialect (called Hiroshima "ben"), which is very different from the standard language. Our page is still something of a work in progress, so if you have any suggestions for additions, please let us know.
Oh, and we do offer instruction in "real" Japanese. Just let your teacher know that you'd like to learn a little bit about it. ;-)
Q: I keep hearing about this okonomiyaki stuff that's supposed to be so good. What is it, and where can I try some?
A: Okonomiyaki is good. It's a local specialty food kind of like a cross between a pizza and a pancake. Here's a link that will hook you up with not only a restaurant but a little culinary history as well. (No, we don't get a kickback from them either.)
Q: Man, Japan is expensive. Any tips on making life a little cheaper?
A: Yes, but this is a big topic. Why don't we move it over to another page...