Specializes in teaching Japanese Language since 1985

What is the difference between Elementary 1, 2 and 3?
Elementary 1 is the most basic level of Elementary classes at Bunka.

How big is the class size in Bunka?
There are around 5 to 15 students in every class.

How many lessons are there in each course?
There are 10 lessons in each Elementary course, 9 lessons in each Intermediate course and 16 lessons in Pre-Advanced 1 to Business Japanese courses.

How long is each lesson in Bunka?
Each lesson is 3 hours long for Elementary 1 to Intermediate 4 courses, 1.5 hours long for Pre-Advanced 1 to Business Japanese courses.

If I miss out one class, will I be able to make up for it?
You may sign up for a replacement class after logging into our system by clicking here. After you have entered that page, you may book a replacement lesson based on the lesson number that you have signed up for.

What do I have to bring for class?
You may like to bring along writing materials and a notebook (if you’re the type of person who likes writing in one)!

Will I be able to get a certificate after completion of the course?
You will only be able to get a certificate from us after completing Elementary 3 and Intermediate 4, provided you pass the in-house examinations of these levels upon request. For the other levels, you will be entitled to a Letter of Attendance upon request.

I would like to skip levels in Bunka. How do I go about doing it?
First, you should check out our Evaluation Test page here. On that page, you will be given a set of guiding questions to determine your level of Japanese. After you have ascertained your Japanese level, you may book a placement class here.

I would like to join a course that focuses on conversational Japanese. Does Bunka offer any of these such courses?
At the moment, we do not offer basic conversational Japanese classes. Conversational Japanese classes are only available at higher level; Our Pre-Advanced and above, classes are focused primarily on conversational Japanese.

I would like to join the Business Japanese course. How do I go about it?
Our Business Japanese course is the most advanced level in our school, requiring at least a JLPT N2 or equivalent proficiency. To join the course, you would be required to do a conversation placement test with our Academic Director. Kindly drop her an email to express your interest at mizusaki@bunkalang.com.

I have taken JLPT before and would like to continue studying Japanese at Bunka. Where should I start from?
First, you should check out our Evaluation Test page here. On that page, you will be given a set of guiding questions to determine your level of Japanese. After you have ascertained your Japanese level, you may book a placement class here.

If you have obtained JLPT N3 and above, you may want to consider taking up our Pre-Advanced and above courses instead. You may arrange an oral placement test for those courses by e-mailing our Academic Director at mizusaki@bunkalang.com.

I have studied at Bunka many years (>1 year) ago. Can I continue from where I left off?
No, you will not be able to do so. You may wish to book for a placement test here in order to continue from where you left off (provided you pass the placement test).

I studied Japanese in another school and I was in Intermediate level. How do I register for a class?
Please note that new students are required to take the placement test if they are joining any of our courses from Elementary 2 and above.

How much do the courses at Bunka cost?
Courses for Elementary 1, 2, and 3 are $390, Intermediate 1, 2, 3, and 4 are $380 and Pre-Advanced 1, 2, 3, Advanced and Business Japanese are $370.

How do I register for a course?
All individuals must apply online.

Am I able to use a single e-mail address to sign up for two individuals or more?
No, you will not be able to do so. Presently, the system that Bunka uses only recognises one unique e- mail per individual.

If I sign up for a Monday class at Bunka, does this mean that I have to attend classes every Monday or I can choose when I want to attend?
If you sign up for a Monday class, you will be expected to attend classes every Monday. You will not be able to join any class as you wish. You may like to consider booking replacement classes.

I have signed up for a course at Bunka. When do I have to make payment by?
Please make payment within two days after you have registered for the class or your registration will be removed.

How do I make payment?
You can make your payment over the counter; cash, NETS, cheque, GrabPay or DBS PAYLAH

Online payment; Internet Banking, PayPal(Credit Card), PayPal, PayNow, GrabPay or SkillsFuture credits.

You can make payment to DBS Currents 065-901938-2. Please indicate your name under (limited to 12 characters) in your i-Banking page. After which do call us or drop us an email once you have transferred your payment so that we can verify that the payment has been received.

Is there an age requirement to register for a course in BUNKA?
Yes, the minimum age of individuals that we accept is 13 years old and above as our syllabus is designed for adult learners.

Can I make payment on the first day of my course?
We do not accept same-day payments. You are advised to make payment early as your registration is not confirmed until payment is received. Also, your registration will be automatically deleted by the system if payment has not been received within 48 hours after registration.

Do I have to pay extra costs for textbooks?
Textbooks are free-of-charge after you register for a course.

How do I sign up for the next level?
You may sign up for the next level by logging into our website using your account and click on the button that states the next level. For example: if you’re currently in Elementary 1, the button will state Elementary 2.

Can I register for a class with the same day, time and teacher for the next level?
There is no guarantee that there will be a class with the same day, time and teacher for the next level. It is recommended that you try out classes conducted by other teachers.

Can a student register for a class that is full?
No. Class sizes are fixed to maximise class conduciveness.

When will new Elementary 1 classes be available for sign ups?
New Elementary 1 classes are often uploaded either during mid month or the end of the month. There is no specific date where classes will be available as classes are scheduled once a teacher is available.

Is there a waiting list? Can you contact me when a class opens?
No, we do not have a waiting list. However, we do have a mailing list which you can register for here.

Can I be late for class?
Punctuality is strongly encouraged to avoid missing important parts of the lesson.

Can I use my mobile phone in class?
Students are advised not to use mobile phones in class as it may be rude and disruptive to others. Kindly switch them off or set them to silent mode. Should you have an important matter to attend to on your phone (e.g answering a call), please do so outside the classroom.

How is my attendance marked?
Students are required to sign on the class list when they arrive at the classroom. Failure to sign on the class list will result in your attendance being marked as “absent”.

Are there any refreshments in the class?
There are drink dispensers located in most classrooms. We also have coffee sachets and tea packets available! If your classroom does not have any drink dispensers, you may also find them at the reception area or the tea room.

Can I bring food and beverages to class?
Food and beverages are not permitted to be consumed in the classroom. You may consume them at the Tea Room located beside Classroom J.

When do we start learning Kanji?
At Bunka, Kanji is first introduced in Intermediate 1.

How many classes do you recommend that we take before signing up for JLPT?
As the lowest level of the JLPT exam, N5, does consist of Kanji, we would recommend that students take the JLPT N5 upon completion of Intermediate 1 as Kanji is only introduced then.

How can I get a certificate after completing Elementary 3/Intermediate 4?
You may request for a certificate by informing anyone on the Bunka Admin team: either by phone, email or over the counter.

I find it difficult for me to catch up with the pace of the class. Is it possible for me to withdraw from the course?
Please drop an e-mail at course@bunkalang.com to let us know. The Management will consider your request on a case-by-case basis.

Can I transfer to another class or get a refund?
Course fees are strictly non-transferable and non-refundable once the payment is made. There will also be no refund even if you withdraw from the course. You may like to drop an e-mail at course@bunkalang.com for the Management to evaluate your request on a case-by-case basis.

For which courses can SkillsFuture be used?
SkillsFuture Credit can only be used for all of our group courses. It is not applicable for individual lessons.

How do I go about using SkillsFuture Credit for my course in Bunka?
Upon signing up for our class, please drop us an e-mail requesting for a SkillsFuture invoice. We will e- mail you an invoice that contains the proper breakdown of fees and the total amount that may be claimed by SkillsFuture. With effect from 19 May 2017, the default payment mode for all courses is for individuals to pay their SkillsFuture Credit directly to the Training Providers within 60 days of the course start date (date inclusive). You will only be able to choose the "Pay to: Training Provider option in MySkillsFuture.

Can Bunka apply for a SkillsFuture claim for me?
We are terribly sorry but we are unable to do so as it involves handling your personal information (e.g. your SingPass account details). You may like to apply for the SkillsFuture claim through www.skillsfuture.sg/credit.

It’s my first time logging in. What is my password and username?
Your username is the e-mail that you have registered with and the password has been sent out to you by e-mail.

How do I reset my password?
You may reset your password by clicking here.

How can I change my password?
You can click on the option to reset your password by clicking here or letting the Admin team know.

How do I book replacement classes on Bunka?
You may sign up for a replacement class after logging into our system by clicking here. After you have entered that page, you may book a replacement lesson based on the lesson number that you have signed up for.

How many free replacement classes am I entitled to?
You are entitled to 3 free replacement classes for every course level.

I have used up my 3 free replacement classes for my course level. Am I still able to book replacement classes?
You will still be able to book replacement classes at an additional cost of $40.00 per replacement.

How do I cancel my replacement classes?
Please inform the Admin team either through call or e-mail as replacement classes can only be cancelled by the Admin team.

Please note that if replacement classes are cancelled on the day of the class, it will be forfeited. Replacement classes have to be cancelled at least a day in advance.

When can I start booking replacement classes?
You can only book replacement classes at least 5 to 7 days before your original class commencement date.

Are replacement classes in sequence?
No, they are not in sequence. Replacement classes are subject to the availability of ongoing classes. You may have to attend the next lesson before attending a replacement class of the lesson you have missed. For instance, you have missed Lesson 5. However, you may have to attend Lesson 6 before your replacement class for Lesson 5.

Can I still book replacement classes even if my course has ended?
Yes, you can as long as it is within a year after your final lesson for that course level.

Once I sign up for a replacement class, do I continue lessons from that class onwards?
No, replacement classes are purely a one-time event and you will be expected to re-join your original class.

How much are individual lessons?
Individual lessons are at $90/hr. However, it is a requirement to purchase by blocks of 4 hours, amounting to $360.

When can individual lessons be arranged?
Individual lessons are conducted only on the weekdays between 10 am to 5 pm, at our school premises in Delfi Orchard.

How do I request for an individual lesson?
You may request for an individual lesson by clicking here.

How often are cultural events held at Bunka?
They are held every seven weeks.

How do I sign up for a cultural event?
You may sign up for a cultural event by purchasing a ticket over the counter.

Can I bring a non-Bunka student along?
You may bring your friend along but Bunka students will be given priority over booking.

Do you have any courses conducted in Chinese?
No, we do not have any courses conducted in Chinese. The primary medium used is English.

Are the teachers native Japanese?
All our teachers are native Japanese.

How long must I study Japanese until I can be fluent in Japanese?
Approximately 2 years of study is advised. Learning a language is dependent on oneself’s own effort and the amount of practice that one puts forth.

Is Bunka’s certificate recognised?
Our certificate is an in-house certificate which is not recognised. For a more recognised certificate, we encourage students to sit for the bi-annual Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) organised by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services.

What is JLPT?
JLPT refers to the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, which you may find out more about here.