Japanese classes aren't always a good idea

Studying Japanese should be a fun and interesting experience, yet as I've found out of over the last 8 weeks, it just isn't. A quick bit of information, I joined 2 Japanese classes at two different places, on two different days but they are connected in helping foreigners to settle and live in Kagoshima without any problems, they started the same week.

Why? they're 2 types of classes, a one to one and a group class, the one to one is good but sometimes during the class my teacher starts talking difficult Japanese at high speed and I just nod along and smile, other times she teaches me something new and after one quick run through we move on and then I forget everything we literally just did but I've learned some things at least including how to write my name in hiragana from memory, along with creating questions, again its difficult to remember but I have the notes to study from.

The group class however is where everything goes down hill, from the very first class the teachers acted incredibly professional, for a group of volunteers i felt it was too much. They spoke fast and difficult japanese, the rest of the group (apart from 4 of us) were intermediate level so understood everything with their 5 years of studying, it made me wonder if it was going to be for me? Every class since the 4 of us were separated and taught in a small group, we practiced together and it felt good, my confidence in speaking grew but then we were forced to speak in front of the rest of the class just for the sniggers and looking down their noses at us for not being as advanced. We were outcasts. The important part, I've learned nothing.

Now there's two classes left, in both sets of classes, the one to one will course will run again from September, the group course i don't really care. But in the group, we have to work with the advanced people, which is pure agony, just an hour and a half of people boasting about themselves.

So, my conclusion, whilst volunteer run Japanese classes and course are a great idea, it's probably better to keep it to levels of ability rather than let people feel bad about their ability, the four of us have jobs, long hours too so studying is the last thing on our minds no matter how much we want to improve. the rest, have every weekend and evening and are alone at home. One to one is a much better idea, get a teacher who will drill words and phrases until you understand, can use them with ease then move on to the next subject.  Until then, people will struggle.