Tutoring vs. Juku 101: Which Helps Japanese Students Learn English Faster?

When it comes to learning English, Japanese students often face a fork in the road. Should they go for a cram school, or choose a private tutor? This decision might shape how fast they improve—and how well they actually use English beyond exams.

In Japan, more than 70% of junior high school students say they want to speak English fluently. But in reality, only a fraction of them reach that level before graduation. The system, in many cases, rewards memorization and test tricks. Not actual communication.

That’s where this debate becomes important. Juku (塾)—what many know as “cram schools”—are deeply built into the education system. Around half of all students in lower secondary school go to a juku every week. Many stay as late as 9:00 p.m., grinding vocabulary and grammar rules.

But what’s the tradeoff?

What exactly is juku, and why do parents still send kids there?

Juku focuses on helping students score higher on school and entrance exams. Most offer English as a core subject. They teach in large groups, often using the yakudoku method—a word-by-word translation system that favors passive reading over real conversation.

It’s familiar. It works for test prep. But it’s also rigid.

Most juku use a one-size-fits-all method. Teachers give minimal attention to speaking or listening practice. Students memorize set expressions and fill in blanks on worksheets. In a test-heavy culture, it makes sense. But learning speed? That’s another question.

The key question is: Does this help students speak English faster?

Evidence suggests it doesn’t.

Private tutoring offers a shortcut

Tutoring in Japan comes in many forms. Some parents hire private instructors. Others book sessions through platforms. Some choose small group lessons with native speakers. The options are growing fast.

According to a 2022 study, students who attended individual tutoring sessions 2 or more times per week showed stronger improvements in both reading and oral communication. This was especially true when tutors tailored content to the student’s level and learning style.

That’s a major edge over juku.

In juku, students often work at the class’s pace. Tutoring lets them move faster. Or spend more time on what they don’t understand.

Online tutoring is reshaping how fast students can learn

Online platforms changed the game. Before, private tutors were expensive and hard to find. Now, students book lessons from their room, on their time, and often for lower prices than juku.

Today, many learners turn to オンライン 英会話 to fit practice around their busy schedules. These platforms often connect students directly with native speakers or bilingual tutors. That means more chances to talk, not just memorize.

Students who regularly take online speaking lessons—just 25 minutes, 3 times a week—report faster improvement in fluency than those who attend juku three nights a week.

Why? Because they speak more. Simple as that.

Cram school (英語塾) keeps students stuck in the grammar trap

There’s no denying the role of 英語塾 in test prep. They help students boost their written scores. And they follow the school curriculum tightly. But when it comes to communication, they often fall short.

One study observed that students who studied primarily at English juku had solid reading skills. But they struggled to answer basic questions in English.

That’s not a failure of the student. That’s the system they were put in.

English juku put emphasis on repetition. Lessons follow strict formats. Teachers mark drills and explain answers. But that leaves little room for actual conversation. Or for mistakes, which are essential to learning a language.

In terms of flexibility, tutoring wins by a wide margin

Learning doesn’t always fit into a schedule. Students have clubs. Parents work late. Juku starts at fixed times. Miss one, and it’s hard to catch up.

Tutoring offers more control. Students can choose their tutor, their topic, and their timing. This not only keeps motivation high. It also helps avoid burnout—something not often considered, but critical for long-term learning.

Costs are more balanced than people think

A common idea is that private tutoring costs more. But that depends.

The average price of a monthly juku membership in Tokyo for junior high students ranges from ¥25,000 to ¥40,000. Some high-level ones charge even more.

Meanwhile, many online tutoring platforms offer lesson packages that come out to ¥1,500–¥2,000 per session. That’s cheaper per hour in some cases—and often with more personalized attention.

So while tutoring used to be a luxury, now it’s within reach for many.

We’ve compared structure, speed, and student freedom. But what about the long-term outcomes? What builds real language ability? What keeps learners motivated?

That’s what we’ll explore in the next half. We’ll go deeper into speaking ability, retention, and what real fluency means for Japanese students.

Speaking English well means more than just scoring high

Getting good marks on a test doesn’t always mean you can speak the language. This is where juku falls short. Students can memorize vocabulary. They might ace a grammar section. But when it comes to real-world speaking, they freeze.

A 2023 survey by the MEXT (Japan’s Ministry of Education) found that less than 10% of students who scored over 80 on written English tests could hold a simple five-minute conversation. That’s the gap.

The focus on accuracy, not fluency, delays progress.

Private tutoring—especially with a focus on conversation—doesn’t just speed up learning. It changes the outcome. Students don’t just know the words. They know how to use them. That’s the whole point of learning English in today’s global world.

Learning habits build stronger through direct feedback

Tutors correct mistakes in real time. In juku, that rarely happens. A class of 20 moves on even if 5 students didn’t understand. And that delay in correction causes habits to stick.

Tutors, especially experienced ones, help students fix errors immediately. That improves clarity, confidence, and motivation. It also keeps progress on track.

More importantly, students can ask “why” something is wrong. That single question opens a new level of learning. One that juku doesn’t usually allow.

Real-world application is what tutors can offer—juku can’t

English isn’t just a school subject. It’s a tool.

Tutors often bring in real-life topics: music, news, hobbies, travel plans. These things don’t just improve interest. They anchor the language in daily use. That kind of input speeds up language processing. It makes grammar stick. It builds fluency without a textbook.

Most cram schools won’t spend time on “non-essential” content. That’s a missed chance.

One-on-one sessions let students rehearse situations they care about. Like talking to foreign friends. Preparing for a study abroad program. Even interviews for part-time jobs.

That kind of personalization helps retain knowledge longer.

Student motivation grows faster with private learning

When a student feels seen, they try harder. Tutoring gives students a relationship—not just a routine. That emotional connection makes them more likely to stay with it.

A 2021 education study showed that students who had a “strong personal connection” with their English teacher or tutor were 35% more likely to continue learning past 6 months. That’s big.

Motivation drives speed. Speed drives confidence.

In juku, classes feel anonymous. Teachers rotate. Students follow textbooks. The setup can make students feel invisible, even if they’re doing well.

Tutoring builds ownership. Students feel like their learning belongs to them—not just the school.

Listening and speaking go hand in hand—and tutors know it

The fastest way to learn English is by hearing it. Then responding. That loop—listen, speak, listen again—is the most natural way to build fluency.

Private lessons, especially online, revolve around this loop.

Students speak more in a 30-minute tutoring session than they do in a full week of juku. That’s not just an opinion. It’s what study after study shows.

Even beginner learners benefit. They hear pronunciation from native speakers. They mimic. They adjust. Over time, this builds intuitive understanding—not just rule-based guessing.

A hybrid model might work for some—but tutoring still gives the edge

Some parents ask: should we do both?

For test prep, juku has a role. If a student needs to pass Eiken or a school entrance exam, the structure helps. But for speed, communication, and adaptability, tutoring wins.

Some students use tutoring as a follow-up tool. They practice what they learn at school. They ask questions they couldn’t in class. They prepare for oral tests that juku barely covers.

That mixed strategy can work. But it takes extra time and money. Most families don’t want that. They want one path that moves fast, fits their schedule, and brings clear results.

That’s why tutoring—especially with online options—keeps growing fast in Japan.

Summary

Let’s wrap it all up:

Factor	Juku (英語塾)	Private Tutoring
Focus	Grammar, exam prep	Speaking, comprehension
Speed	Slow but steady	Faster with flexibility
Feedback	Group-based	Personal, real-time
Speaking time	Limited	High per session
Motivation	System-led	Student-led
Flexibility	Fixed schedules	Choose your time
Cost	¥25,000–¥40,000/mo	Often cheaper per session
Outcome	Test success	Real-life fluency

Juku is good for test results. But tutoring is better for language skills.

If the goal is to speak and understand English faster, the data points to tutoring. Especially one-on-one or online. It’s more targeted. More flexible. More effective.