Job Discussion Forums

[gittelbug]

I know this is mostly a jobs forum but I really need all the advice i can get.

I'm having some problems with my language school and would like any advise i can get on this issue.

Here's the background info:

I started this school 6 months ago and have had to repeat the beginners class as I didn't understand anything that was being taught in the class. I spoke to the school about it but they kept dismissing it as jitters of learning the language. But as my grades in the class represented I didn't understand anything. I spent 4 hours everyday in class and 6 hours outside of class with tutors, all of whom remarked how this class was too hard for a beginner.

Although I never did understand most of that first class I started to understand what my tutors were reteaching me. So without much surprise I failed the 1st class and had to start again. Now the end of the semester is ending soon and although I have a much better understanding of the class, thanks to my tutor, I will not pass this class. So instead of taking this class for a 3rd time I went out and found another school which teaches at a slower pace and is a better fit for me. This new school actually explains the grammar usage unlike my current school which as far as the teachers and book's explanation goes かいます、かえます and かいってます may as well have no difference. Thus I feel like taking the class for the 3rd time is silly. So I've told my current school I want to transfer and a refund for the time I wouldn't be using.

Current situation:
When told i wanted to change schools the administration woman first told me that they couldn't do that. I replied with that all they had to do was send over a copy of my CoE, attendance records and grades. I then talked to my teacher (at the admin woman's insistence) I explained to her the trouble I was having as the grammar points aren't explained well and I would have to retake the class for a 3rd time which said to me this school wasn't right. How much of this she understood i'm not sure as I don't really have the vocab to express all that in Japanese. A classmate of mine also told me the teacher had sent her a text message asking why I wanted to change schools and was telling her things to tell me to make me stay at the current school.

Of course the teacher didn't mention any of this to me. My teacher told me that she knew I could understand a bit of speaking (personally i think my reading is better) and could move me up to the next level even if I didn't pass the final text. Seeing as I haven't gotten above a 70 on the two tests we have had in this class I don't think my understanding of the material is at the next level thus it would be way too hard for me. I conveyed this to the teacher who said she was going to do more explication of the grammar on weds in class. But she seemed to understand that I was set on changing schools. Then I get an email from the admin woman who tells me "We, Japanese language schools have rules, and students cannot make a decision to change school". Which is interesting as the school I wish to attend and several other language schools who sites i've looked up have said you can transfer by getting your current school to send your COE, attendance, and grades.

Today I met with them again for over an hour. I stuck to saying I wanted to change schools and although this school has been nice it's not the right environment for me. They kept saying it was against the rules to change schools. I said I had spoken to the school i wish to attend and they didn't have a problem as all i needed were the things listed above. They said they've never done it and have never taken in a transfer. I told them I had found a few examples of schools online that had info about taking transfers (which is true) and again they just said the school one is transferring from needs that info. I've asked to see the rule they keep talking about but have yet to see it.

Please help with any advise you can give. I really want to get this resolved.

[Glenski]

They just want your tuition. Perhaps they have spent it already. Talk to immigration.

[gittelbug]

[pnksweater]

What is the name of your language school? If it's the one I'm thinking of, they are major tighwads when it comes to getting money refunded.

[gittelbug]

It's fairly small but it's called Tokyo Central Japanese. They're saying no refund which of course doesn't surprise me.

[Mr_Monkey]

As far as I understand the law, a language school can not refuse to refund money for tuition that has not been received. Maybe you should contact the Japanese equivalent of trading standards.

[gittelbug]

[Mr_Monkey]

I could well be wrong - it's a half-remembered comment from about seven years ago.

[gittelbug]

It certainly sounds about right. There's no real clear law that i can find or example elsewhere. I've been looking up NOVA stuff and laws that were made/revamped due to some of their issues. I know refunds had a lot to do with it. It's just a matter of trying to find that law which isn't wanting to be found.