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gittelbug
Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 43
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Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 9:54 am Post subject: Help in changing language schools |
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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. |
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Glenski

Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 11:37 am Post subject: |
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They just want your tuition. Perhaps they have spent it already. Talk to immigration. |
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gittelbug
Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 43
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Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 11:52 am Post subject: |
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Glenski wrote: |
They just want your tuition. Perhaps they have spent it already. Talk to immigration. |
While I don't doubt for a moment they are money hungry. I had to pay for my year in full so there's nothing more for me to pay. I wasn't even asking for a partial refund today either just trying to get them to send my stuff over. It seems like immigration is the way to go after all. I really hope they'll help me out. Thanks for the reply Glenski I appreciate it. |
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pnksweater
Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 173 Location: Tokyo, Japan
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 4:12 am Post subject: |
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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. |
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gittelbug
Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 43
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:11 am Post subject: |
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It's fairly small but it's called Tokyo Central Japanese. They're saying no refund which of course doesn't surprise me. |
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Mr_Monkey
Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 661 Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:50 am Post subject: |
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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. |
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gittelbug
Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 43
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 12:30 pm Post subject: |
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Mr_Monkey wrote: |
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. |
really? I'll look into that for sure. This school has given me nothing but false info until i told them, today, that immigration OKed me changing schools.
ETA: I just did a quick search although not anything about trading standards other schools are putting on their website that tuition cannot be refunded after having started. I've gone about 6 months in this school as of now. |
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Mr_Monkey
Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 661 Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 1:18 pm Post subject: |
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I could well be wrong - it's a half-remembered comment from about seven years ago. |
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gittelbug
Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 43
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 1:26 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 1373 Location: Way, way off course.
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 5:51 pm Post subject: Re: Help in changing language schools |
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gittelbug wrote: |
I know this is mostly a jobs forum but I really need all the advice i can get. |
I assume you're not 10 years old. Don't ask them. Tell them. You're leaving for another school. Please prepare the paperwork. EOS.
Whether you get a refund for the prorata amount of tuition is up to the terms you signed, but there are precious few schools anywhere on the planet that offer refunds on tuition after you've started classes. |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 1373 Location: Way, way off course.
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 5:53 pm Post subject: |
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Mr_Monkey wrote: |
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. |
Only tuition for terms not started though, IIRC. If you pay for a term and start it and then decide to wander off then that's your problem.
All comes down to the agreement that was signed. |
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gittelbug
Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 43
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 3:08 pm Post subject: Re: Help in changing language schools |
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G Cthulhu wrote: |
gittelbug wrote: |
I know this is mostly a jobs forum but I really need all the advice i can get. |
I assume you're not 10 years old. Don't ask them. Tell them. You're leaving for another school. Please prepare the paperwork. EOS.
Whether you get a refund for the prorata amount of tuition is up to the terms you signed, but there are precious few schools anywhere on the planet that offer refunds on tuition after you've started classes. |
I had to ask them to send my new school or immigration a copy of my CoE, attendance records and grades. They told me it couldn't (as was never done). Maybe i should have been more firm but I wasn't expecting them to just tell me it was against the rules to change schools. The refund or lack thereof I expected. I looked over what i signed when i paid to enter the school and didn't see anything about a refund or anything stating no refunds would be given. My teacher texted me this evening asking "what are you doing now?" they also want to have yet another meeting with me Monday after class. |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 1373 Location: Way, way off course.
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 2:33 am Post subject: Re: Help in changing language schools |
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Ah, that makes it clearer. Time to play the gaijin card then because from what you're describing they're just trying it on. I'd just tell them that they can explain to Immigration why they're not passing on the paperwork. Immigration have said you can change schools. EOS. If they don't like it then they get to tell Immigration that Immigration is wrong.
Should be entertaining.  |
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gittelbug
Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 43
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 4:11 am Post subject: Re: Help in changing language schools |
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G Cthulhu wrote: |
Ah, that makes it clearer. Time to play the gaijin card then because from what you're describing they're just trying it on. I'd just tell them that they can explain to Immigration why they're not passing on the paperwork. Immigration have said you can change schools. EOS. If they don't like it then they get to tell Immigration that Immigration is wrong.
Should be entertaining.  |
Yes I'm quite annoyed with them bothering me. There's a week left in this semester and I'm very ready to leave this school. I do look forward to Immigration calling them and asking them why they haven't sent the paperwork. |
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gittelbug
Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 43
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:58 am Post subject: Re: Help in changing language schools |
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G Cthulhu wrote: |
Ah, that makes it clearer. Time to play the gaijin card then because from what you're describing they're just trying it on. I'd just tell them that they can explain to Immigration why they're not passing on the paperwork. Immigration have said you can change schools. EOS. If they don't like it then they get to tell Immigration that Immigration is wrong.
Should be entertaining.  |
So this is what I did today when they pulled me into yet another "meeting". I walked out after my teacher kept talking about how it's against the rules to change. Yet immigration approved it. Her English sucks and my Japanese is worse so I have no idea what she was trying to tell me behind the reasoning why immigration and i are wrong. I told her to call Immigration but honestly I don't want to deal with this school anymore. I'm so frustrated! |
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