Studying something completely foreign like a new language is difficult enough but much more so when pitted against 40 other students in class. The law of average would dictate that the fast learners will set the pace for the instruction to the detriment of those who aren’t as quick to learn. If you compare this to a small group where the overwhelming attitude is supportive teamwork, then it is a “no contest” situation. Small group classes are always more effective and result-driven for everyone involved.

The Benefits of Small Group Classes

With a small group class, each and every student in the group is able to take advantage of the following benefits:

– Students are less likely to procrastinate and are more likely to be self-motivated.

– Students learn faster as everyone is given a chance to speak or ask questions.

– Strong friendship bonds are established.

– Study habits improve and anxiety levels are reduced because of a strong support system.

Combining Small Groups with Immersion

While small group classes are optimal for learning a language, students have an even greater opportunity for internalizing what they have studied by fully immersing themselves in the language. Taking the next step by enrolling in a language school located in the country the language is spoken, whether it is a short-term program that fits in with your vacation schedule or an intensive full-time program, gives you the opportunity to not only experience the language but also the traditions and culture that accompany the language.

Japanese conversation-based language schools, like NILS in Fukuoka, specialize in providing foreign students with an optimal setting for learning-small classes combined with total immersion. By pairing the teacher’s detailed feedback with real-life experiences that happen outside of class, students strengthen not only the core language skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing, but are also better able to pick up on the accents, mannerisms, and nuances of the locals they interact with.

Final Thoughts

Of course, there are still the usual challenges in learning that are present in both small and large class sizes such as the demand to keep up with the learning pace, finishing the assigned work on time, and the possibility of not getting along with classmates. That being said, there are definitely more pluses to participating in a small class especially when you consider the steep learning curve in studying a new language under a set period. In the end, the students in small classes usually gain fluency much quicker whereas in big classes that is not the case