Testimonials

I’d say that the two weeks we got as Summer Short Term students before starting the actual Summer Term with the international students helped a lot. It prepared me for the intensity and structure of the program. I’d say the structure of the program and every day classes were very helpful in advancing my Japanese skills. Switching from some review and practice with my peers, to dictation, to kanji, etc, was engaging. I just think the intensity and structure of the program was ideal, at least for me.

—Haylee

The program as a whole was incredibly productive. KCP is very intensive, but if you do your homework and study and make an effort, you will learn SO fast.

—David

The textbooks and drill practice helped me study, the tests helped me figure out what I needed to study more. I often did small group study sessions outside of class as well, and those helped all involved, I believe.

—Ellyana

KCP is a great school and you can learn a lot here if you put in the work. Expect to study a lot, and expect teachers to be strict when grading, especially in levels 1-4. There will be days when you don’t think you’re getting any better, but that’s usually because the classes are always going to be challenging. That’s a good thing.

—Nelson

I found most aspects of KCP’s approach (some examples: direct method, pace of grammar and vocabulary, conversation practice with teachers, etc.) to be highly effective. They worked very well for me.

—Jonathan

I found tests to be a good indicator of where I was at over homework. The homework only covered one topic usually, but tests would cover a wider variety of them mixed around. I’ve never studied Japanese from a textbook in this style, so the textbooks have been extremely helpful in visualizing Japanese grammar points.

—Joseph

I would tell everyone thinking of attending KCP to jump in with both feet and go to Japan with an open mind. You never know what you’ll experience next!

—Brittany Crouch

I highly recommend KCP for its focused and encouraging program. The opportunity to practice speaking and comprehending Japanese during class, in conversation sessions, and in day-to-day life was an invaluable experience for which I am very grateful. KCP’s staff and instructors are nothing but helpful and there is no question that they are dedicated to the dissemination of the Japanese language. 

—Gabriel Wilkinson

Frankly, it seemed like the best. The other programs I looked at were either heavily geared towards Chinese and Korean students or prohibitively expensive. Plus, KCP has a long history and a LOT of alumni who openly praise the program online — and I hope to be among them!

—Dylan Chapin

KCP is a great choice if you are looking to improve your Japanese language skills while experiencing everything Japan has to offer. The school will make sure that your experience is enjoyable, and they will do their best to accommodate to your needs. If you have never been to Japan and want to experience studying in this country I highly recommend KCP. They will give you the true ‘Japan school life experience.

—Manuel Casanova

KCP is a wonderful program for those looking to, 1) see their Japanese abilities exponentially grow, and 2) to experience the culture hands-on. It’s also a program for those who don’t simply seek to party either. The program’s rigorous and demands attention to your school work, health, and managing time in between. Basically, you live, eat, and breathe a Japanese lifestyle. It’s great.

—Valerie Taylor

I don’t think there was a single moment that wasn’t productive for me. There was something to learn from everything during my time in Japan. Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity!

—Beatriz Gonon

If you want a challenge, then this program in definitely what you’re looking for. I came into the program with very basic knowledge of Japanese and am definitely excited about how much I have improved. Learning a language isn’t instant and it takes a while to sink in, but the longer you’re here you become more motivated to utilize what you learn and to continue to progress in your studies. And all of the instructors and office staff are some of the most friendly and approachable people I have ever met. They really make the whole experience quite enjoyable!

—Brenna Morlock

If you’re looking for an intensive course, then KCP is the place to go! Although it was hard work, it was also a lot of fun and I’m very pleased with my current language skill – and I’ve only just finished Level 1! Going out with the class for a final dinner really showed me how much we’d learnt as we had no problems in conveying our feelings even though our only common language was Japanese. I’d come back in a heartbeat.

—Aleya Thompson

This program has been awesome, and I learned a lot about Japanese language and culture within such a short period of time. The teachers are very patient and they try their best to encourage everyone’s participation by making the class fun. I would definitely recommend this school to other people who wants to go to Japan to study Japanese.

—Anita Lucius

Not only did I have a great time at KCP, but the improvement I’ve witnessed in my Japanese proficiency is astounding. I still can’t quite believe I’ve learned so much in such a short time. Although I’m sad that I’m leaving by the end of this term, I’ll always have fond memories of my time here. I am truly grateful to all the staff, especially the instructors, as well as my fellow classmates for making my time here exceptional. I highly and without hesitation recommend KCP International Japanese Language School to anyone looking to learn Japanese.

—Suhaib Sarmad

I selected it because I wanted a reputable and intensive program that would take a student who’s no longer affiliated with a college. KCP was the only program I found that satisfied this criteria. It also helped a lot that my friend recommended it.

—Jaking Kong

I am really happy I decided to study at KCP. It has been a difficult journey, but I have learned a lot. I would love to come back to KCP to continue my studies.

—Alice Hoglund

At first I thought KCP was too good to be true because I could not find a single negative review anywhere. Every comment I found was positive. Turns out there’s a very good reason for this 🙂

—Louise Hoogvliet

If you’re considering KCP, just sign up. If you have to, save up for it. It was worth it. I continue to learn the language, I continue to make new friends, I continue to find new, unfamiliar and exciting places and all of this was possible because I made the decision to learn at KCP. I have met some really great people (friends as well as teachers) who have helped me grow as a person. I’m thankful for this time I’ve spent here. It really has gone by too fast but I will forever remember the memories I’ve made here.

—Malia Romar

I chose this program because of its well-favored reviews on various sites as well as the intensity provided by the classes. I looked for a challenge and KCP certainly provided that for me.

—Derrick Lieu

Overall, I really enjoyed the program! I’m very thankful to have been a part of it, and I’d definitely recommend it to serious students. Thank you so much for the valuable opportunity!

—Kelly Couto

I am very lucky to have found this program. It definitely did not disappoint, and I would without a doubt, recommend it to anyone who wants to further their skills in Japanese.

—Andrea Li

KCP is a great program because of what it has currently. Great teachers, with a good curriculum, allows for a superior learning opportunity and is the main reason why KCP’s students are great at Japanese.

—Derrick Leong

I enjoyed this summer a lot! Thank you KCP. Unforgettable.

—Jiacheng Yan

Because I am a huge fan of research and spreadsheets, I created an excel worksheet comparing numerous Japanese study abroad programs by cost, housing, length of study, and many other comparison points. Overall, KCP came out superior based on the amount of things that you get for the price. After completing the program, I can say choosing KCP was a perfect decision. KCP is a real school — professional teachers, strict grading systems, textbooks – the whole package. KCP proved to be much more than I expected – the classes are tough, but it taught me how to work harder, build a work ethic, and I am coming out with many rich experiences thanks to KCP. This school truly prepares you for higher levels and entrance into Japanese colleges.

—Rachel Burch

I’m a bargain shopper so I looked at a lot of different study abroad options in Japan before selecting KCP. I was slightly worried because I literally could not find any bad comments about KCP anywhere online, and that made me suspicious. … But the truth is, KCP is simply the best! I have no complaints at all. For anyone seriously interested in learning Japanese, KCP is fast-paced but really fun. I totally recommend it!

—Laura Hicks

KCP’s Summer (short) term program fit my personal schedule very well. It was also the most professional and affordable program that I could find. It also included a cultural aspect to its education program that I appreciated.

—Allison Hoisl

I selected this program because I saw a favorable review for it in my Japanese club’s newsletter, and I had been looking for a study abroad in Tokyo. I also liked how inexpensive the program was and how the offered dormitories, which few other programs did.

—Katie Penvose

The most important reason why I selected the program was for its affordability. As a graduate, I am paying for the program through my own personal funds without the help of any university financial aid or scholarships. Affordability and value of the program were essential in my decision, and KCP has exceeded my expectations.

—Cristina Cano

KCP offered the most in learning experience and was cheaper for me as a college student.

—Deaunna Byrd

It was a very convenient program length/dates and the cost was one of the best I’d ever seen.

—Kay Hood

Choosing KCP was largely to do with the ease of application. A lot of other summer courses required a lot of paperwork and recommendations and transcripts that are a big pain to gather. But KCP’s application process was very easy and self-explanatory! Also, the student life photos looked interesting!

—Sabrina Greene

I selected this program because it allows me to use my student loans to attend, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to have this experience. I also wanted a challenge and to improve my fluency as fast as possible. The pace at KCP is challenging but helps me focus.

—Brittany Crouch

I selected the KCP language program because I wanted to immerse myself in Japanese culture. I wanted to improve my Japanese, and there are glowing reviews of the teachers at KCP. The final verdict was decided when I looked up how much the program costs, and I realized that the short-term summer program is significantly more affordable than many other programs.

—May Leung

Going to class every day, and the workload, gave me a sense of what living in Japan would be like. I was able to learn Japanese daily, as well as have enough time in the day to study and explore the country.

—Shannon Lynch

I loved meeting new people in my classes and being able to practice Japanese almost every day. I loved living in Japan as if I were Japanese and absorbing the culture. 

—Pei Lin

I love that the school is in the heart of Tokyo and that all the classes are in Japanese. Since the classes are taught only in Japanese it pushes me to study more.

—Alice Hoglund

If you are looking to study Japanese in Japan, I highly recommend KCP International. For starters, it’s in Tokyo! (And who doesn’t want to be in Tokyo?) KCP is in an extremely convenient location and using public transportation you can pretty much get around anywhere.

—Lauren Finley

In general, I think the KCP program is really great and I’m very glad I decided to do it. It was a lot of work, but I learned a lot, met many interesting people from all over the world, and got to have a very different experience of Japan than the normal tourist.

—Marc Kwiatkowski

KCP is a really great program and I would highly recommend it to anyone thinking about studying Japanese in Tokyo. Although intense the sense of achievement by the end of just two and a half months is huge.

—Yuna Murayama

I wanted to be in a major city in Japan and learn Japanese, and this program had good reviews online in addition to being affiliated with several universities that I knew of. There was also a decent amount of information available online from non-official sources, which gave me good information on living arrangements and general life as a student.

—Steffan Achtmann

If you are committed to the reasons that brought you to learning Japanese, you can get a great deal out of your time at KCP. Take it a month, a week, a day at a time if you have to. Lean on your support, your fellow students and KCP teachers, and make the most of your free time. This is an incredible opportunity and if your experience is like mine, you can easily go from knowing no Japanese at all, to being near conversational level, in just a few short months. Make the most of it, and always thank your teachers for the gift they’re giving you!

—Garrett

Make the most of your time here in both studies and cultural experiences. There are lots of opportunities for you here at KCP and in Japan, so be sure to seize them!

—Gabriel

Be prepared to work hard, but don’t forget to cherish the time you have, memories and friends you make, and take care of your physical and mental health!

—Moriah

KCP is a great school that has really accelerated my learning of Japanese. The program is tough, but incredibly rewarding. There are regular tests but it has really helped solidify everything I have learned so far. Try your best to polish your Hiragana and Katakana, and if you enter at a level higher than 1, ask your fellow students for tips.

—Matthew DeSousa

The main piece of advice I would offer to prospective students is that they should only attend KCP if they are serious about studying Japanese. Studying here is not as relaxed as studying at many colleges in the U.S. and will require not only a large amount of your time, but also constant effort. Of course the work is rewarded and this program seems to be one of the best ways to improve your Japanese.

—Chris Bagdon

KCP is a fantastic — but rigorous — program. Those considering must be prepared to work hard and put in extra hours to succeed, much more so than most any class in the states. However, it certainly doesn’t feel as though any of my work is going to waste — quite the opposite actually. Because I get to use my newly learned skills regularly outside of class, I feel very satisfied after every lesson and come back ready for more. It’s difficult, it’s fast paced, but in the end it pays off extraordinarily well.

—Katie Penvose

Don’t do KCP if you’re not really enthusiastic about learning Japanese. KCP’s program is rigorous and demanding but if you put for the effort to study and really try to master the material you will be amazed at what you can accomplish here. Coming to KCP was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I did things that I never thought I would do in a language that I had zero knowledge of. Everyone at KCP is willing to help you as long as you are willing to help yourself and put your best foot forward every day. I would recommend KCP to anyone interested in learning Japanese. So sad to leave!

—Andrew Kustodowicz

Be ready for a challenge. KCP is not for people who are just going to want to have fun and smell the roses; it takes time and commitment to have a good experience at KCP. It is definitely not for people who are lazy or who are not serious about improving their Japanese. On a positive note, it’s EXCELLENT for people who are serious. In my nine months at KCP, I went from being able to say, ‘Hi I’m Colette and my hobby is movies and my favorite color is purple,’ to being able to have conversation with relative ease with native Japanese speakers. I went from being unable to speak Japanese to a native speaker without feeling embarrassed to being able to ask strangers for help, or restaurant workers for their recommendations. It’s a great program for people who want to quickly improve their Japanese.

—Colette Kinder

I couldn’t be happier with my experience at KCP, as it has helped me to become better in reading, writing, listening, and speaking Japanese. I couldn’t recommend the program more, as the senseis are all extremely helpful and willing to spend extra time speaking one on one with you if you need help or want some extra practice. The classes really challenge you to try your hardest, and if you work hard you will most definitely improve. Learning alongside classmates that were at the same level as me gave me plenty of chances to improve. Everyone is really encouraging and overall I would say if you are considering going to KCP, do it, I couldn’t speak more highly of the program.

—Benjamin De Angelis

“Your Japanese will improve by leaps and bounds if you study at KCP. Before coming to KCP I studied Japanese for a year at the university level, but even still I felt like I hardly knew anything. While I still have a long way to go, I feel like I learned twice as much material from 3 months at KCP than I did in the entire year that I studied at the university level. The classes are really fast paced and sometimes it gets tough, but if you are really serious about learning Japanese then KCP is the school for you.

—Lauren Finley

The program is very well organized and worth the investment, especially if you take advantage of every opportunity available (and there are many) to practice and reinforce the concepts taught in class. It’s also a great opportunity for general cultural exchange, as students come from several different countries, different backgrounds, and with different goals. If at all possible, consider staying for more than a single term to really take advantage of the immersive experience.

—Cristina Cano

The program is a great experience, one that I wouldn’t trade for anything. But it is very hard work. There’s no escaping it, so just be ready for it.

—Sarah Zakrzewski

I feel like KCP has really helped solidify knowledge that I already had. I’ve not really learned anything new here as such, but I’m definitely in a place where I now have a strong basis to learn a lot more than I could if I hadn’t come. Also I think part of the strong foundation that KCP has given me comes from how finetuned the teachers are. They pick on every slight mistake you make which really helped for me. Because I’m not doing this class for credit I could afford to lose marks and make mistakes, and learned a lot from making slight errors in the exams and tests as I would never get away with being messy. So that really helped to create a strong grammatically correct basis with everything reinforced and such. It also meant that when I got a good mark in a test or got praised by a teacher I really felt like I deserved it which was always a nice feeling.

—Riyoko Shibe

If you are considering KCP, you have made an excellent choice. A total immersion Japanese course in the great city of Tokyo is a truly unforgettable experience. However, be prepared to work hard and focus on your studies or you will fall behind, fast.

—Alexander Courtney

“I enrolled in the KCP program because, at my university, I felt that I was not learning enough and I didn’t have enough opportunities to use my language skills outside of class. I felt that by being in Tokyo, I would have to speak Japanese everywhere I went. And even if I made a mistake or didn’t know a specific word, I would have to keep trying. This experience and my time here have given me a new outlook on Japan and its people, and an enthusiasm for learning that I had lost while I was at university.

—Lissette Aldrete

Be prepared to work hard, and achieve results. You’ll be surprised at how much you improve when you apply yourself. KCP is here to be your partner in education. Have an open mind, heart, and be prepared to put the time in to become fluent.

—Brittany Crouch

Definitely a good choice for anyone who is serious about learning Japanese thoroughly and at a fast pace. I learned more in three months here than I did in probably the equivalent of two years in the U.S. All the teachers I have had thus far have been great, and the students are all nice and very self-motivated. It is a very good atmosphere.

—Seamus Gildner

The most interesting and productive aspect was just how intense the program is to others. The high expectations brought on by the teachers really pushes students to put in their best efforts.

—Taylor Marshall

Be ready to be challenged academically and always be open to try new things! Whether its traveling to unknown area of Tokyo or tasting food you would never imagine eating, give a shot, you’ll never know until you try. And as long as you’re super serious with your language studies, you will definitely exceed and succeed in this program!

—Haley Albin

I like the fast paced, but in-depth way the teachers went through each of the lessons. I felt like I learned so much in my short two months here; much more than I have learned in two years of Japanese classes at my home university.

—Yalimar Pagan

“It really is a difficult program and studying hard won’t always get you good grades in return. I’ve found myself struggling with grades even after studying for hours each day, and it can be really discouraging. Always retake tests when given the option. However, if you’re willing to put in the time and learn, KCP will help you improve! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and learn as many things as you can by talking to as many people as possible. Your teachers really do want you to do well.

—Kelly Couto

It was the longest and most intensive program that I found while searching for study abroad programs. I really wanted to be challenged, and the reviews I read about KCP certainly praised the difficulty level of the classes and the amount of work needed to get a good grade.

—Shannon Welch

I highly recommend the program for those who are considering it. I definitely suggest brushing up on any previously learned Japanese before the start of the program because there is a placement test at the start. During the course of group sessions, the students should definitely continue studying if they wish to be placed in a higher level. The teachers and other administrators at KCP are amazing and the program is definitely what the student wishes to make of it.

—May Leung

Be prepared to really work hard. KCP takes a lot of dedication and time. If you’re going for just a good time KCP isn’t for you. KCP will vastly improve your Japanese but it requires a lot of your time, motivation, and dedication. Be prepared.

—Shanti Francoeur

Hard work will take you far at KCP. Even when you feel like you’re doing terribly, hard work and patience with self is one of the most valuable things you can give to yourself and your Japanese study.

—Ashely Hale

It is intensive and fast-paced. Just in these three months alone we have covered about the same material covered in nine months of classes back home. At this point I am learning new material that I never got to back home in my classes.

—Brittany Murphy

KCP really is an intensive program and will teach you so much Japanese in a short time, however it is doable. I highly recommend making sure you stay up on studying because you can get behind very quick. However, the teachers and staff are all really helpful, especially if you show your hard work and interest. Saitou Sensei especially made learning Japanese enjoyable and kept me interested and working hard.

—Marissa Ford

I picked this program because It is intense and I need to be challenged in order to make progress. Also its one of the few programs that actually give college credit. I truly enjoyed my first semester teachers and overall experience in Japan. I learned so much and improved so much so, I would love to continue with this program.

—Amanda Curry

KCP provided an experience that I will never forget. Thanks to the intense program, I was able to improve my Japanese more in a short amount of time than I ever have before. The summer long-term program was the perfect length of study to achieve my goals within the limited time I had and it was compatible with my academic schedule. If I could stay for one term longer, I would, because I know that with KCP I would definitely improve even more. The program not only allowed me to greatly improve my Japanese, but to live in and explore Tokyo while meeting new people from all over the world who I can now call friends. KCP is a greatly worthwhile experience in more ways than one.

—Colleen Plunkett

At first it was hard to adjust to Minna no Nihongo because I had come from using Genki, but eventually I got used to Minna no Nihongo and prefer it now. Also, the English support class was very helpful and motivated me to do better in class.

—Ryan

The most interesting part to me was the immersive teaching style, I really liked that way of teaching. Even though it requires a lot of studying I really enjoyed that aspect.

— Aponi

Everything was extremely helpful, from speaking to other students in Japanese, asking teachers questions and drill practices were very fun and interesting.

—Venus

Classes were really great. The lower levels were particularly helpful for hammering home the basics of Japanese grammar, conversation and pronunciation.

—Nelson

かいわ practice was very helpful. Going over all the vocab and slowly building up conversation was very helpful. Having to write essays and and create your own conversation was also very useful. Also, focusing on the high and low pitches and intonation for words was extremely useful. I would honestly love to see more of it, even though I honestly disliked it since my American accent would mess up the pronunciation, I understood that it was very valuable in sounding fluent.

—Luis

The most productive and interesting parts of the program were the daily class supplemented by English class. It helped me retain so much of the information. I tried to come up with something that was uninteresting or not productive, but I really can’t think of anything. Nonproductive and KCP don’t fit in the same sentence!

—Megan Comerford

I really enjoyed our small group conversations and working with the other students. We were able to talk to one on another about the topics learned in class, as well as get to know one another after finishing our prompts.

—Shenelle King

I was surprised by how much I LOOKED FORWARD to class every day. Just sign up for it. The earlier the better. This was the best decision I made in my learning of Japanese.

—Grant Willey

I found the textbook, tests, and homework to be most helpful. I learn best from reading and writing, so these exercises really helped me to understand and internalize the material.

—Shannon Welch

I love the way the Minna no Nihongo textbooks were set up. It made finding my weak points in grammar much easier and provided a lot of practice, both in and outside of class. I also really liked the hatsuon readings we would do every day. They really helped improve my speaking and reading ability.

—Katie Penvose

Pair work was definitely helpful, all the textbooks we used were really helpful as well. The way that Minna no Nihongo is formatted really helps students grasp how to use new grammar and how to correctly use it.

—Brian Bergquist

Practice worksheets for the grammar was the most helpful. It allowed me to try and apply my knowledge that I learned in class to make sure I fully understood the way particles are supposed to be applied. Talking in groups in class was also very helpful for becoming less shy with the language, since it can be scary to try and speak a language which I didn’t know very well.

—Spencer Cramm

The materials that I found most helpful was the mini games and pair work. the reason I say this is because with the mini games helps you understand a little more clearer of what going on in the class and for the pair work it makes the Japanese language stick in your head.

—Kevon Martin

I found that the pair work was very effective, as it allowed students to work together in order to overcome obstacles that they would otherwise not be able to overcome on their own. Many students in class were very helpful in explaining concepts to me about the Japanese language that I didn’t understand.

—Zachary Fauquher

I liked how every day we had a three-minute conversation with a classmate, and when we had to craft our own conversations based on a picture using Level 3 grammar points. All of the textbooks provided are amazing at helping learn the language.

—Jordan Gonzalez

It was the most difficult part but writing 作文 was the most interesting and productive thing I did. It really allowed me to see my skill grow and develop really clearly by how well I could express ideas.

—Alexander Santese

I really in enjoyed pair work and small groups because we were able to utilize our language skills. If we did come across something that one student might not understand, the instructor was there to clarify any questions. It also provided a good setting for getting to know my classmates better without the stress of coming up with sentences in front of the class, which can sometimes be a little nerve-wracking.

—Brenna Morlock

I found pair work and small group sessions to be most helpful as I was forced to actually speak in Japanese with others and to learn how to listen to and understand what they were saying. Homework was also very helpful as I was able to discover my weak spots.

—Anna Seim

Pair work was very helpful to me, since it took some of the pressure off of going one by one around the room in front of the class, or even the anxiety of raising a hand to ask the sensei a question. Though there were quite a lot of tests, I felt they were helpful as well.

—Sarah Zakrzewski

I’d say the textbooks were effective, both the ones made by KCP and Minna No Nihongo. They’re thorough and provide a lot of useful information. I use them a lot even when just searching for grammar points or vocabulary. I like the games we’d play in class, too, like role playing about going on trips or eating out at a restaurant and the problems that can or cannot happen. It’s fun and stimulating and gets you thinking on your feet in Japanese

—Valerie Taylor

No matter if you are “悪い学生” or “日本語が上手” [good student or not-so-good student] KCP welcomes its international students and provides an amazing experience for learning Japanese. The class style is just like a Japanese school environment where students have responsibilities to uphold. Teachers are so kind and cool and inspiring. Studying at KCP made wish I didn’t have to go back home.

—Rishab Bhatnagar

The most productive and interesting aspects of the program was actually going to class, which isn’t usually the case —haha. The teachers were very funny and down-to-earth, while also teaching a lot of practical sentence structures and giving us plenty of opportunity to practice spoken Japanese. I feel that I’ve had THE best teachers to learn from and the best classmates to study with at KCP for a language learning environment.

 —Jin Su

I really enjoyed the lectures. Every single one of the lecture guests explained their Japanese culture and history points it was super interesting and informative. I am glad I got to learn about all these interesting culture facts and points through someone who cares and knows a lot about the subject.

—Marissa Ford

Other students may hate me for saying so, but I feel that having frequent, small tests was very helpful. It’s a little stressful, but having frequent tests helped keep me on my toes as far as studying. When tests are spaced apart, it’s easy to get caught up in everyday life.

—Colette Kinder

The lecture we had on Japanese psychology was definitely my favorite because it helped me better understand how and why Japanese people think the way they do.

—Hector Santiago

The first day of class may seem a little intimidating, especially due to the fact that most of your classmates won’t be able to speak English. However everyone is there to learn and have a fun time doing so, so just remember to take it easy and make a bunch of friends! By the end of my quarter here at KCP, everyone in my class were friends and whenever we had presentations it didn’t seem like such a big deal because we all knew each other.

—Brian Bergquist

I enjoyed taking the conversation class because the instructors chose interesting topics that also translated well into real life situations. It didn’t feel like practice without a purpose.

—Brenna Morlock

Tests were actually very helpful. They provide the pressure for me to more extensively study the materials that we were given, and if I get questions wrong those help point out to me which concepts I need to strengthen or have memorized incorrectly.

—Nathan Wong

I thought that the Japanese psychology lecture was one of the most interesting and eye opening into the culture and differences between Japanese culture and my own.

—Mary Davison

Don’t be afraid to explore and always do the homework! The classes are challenging but manageable if you are willing to do the work.

—Stephanie Falsone

The everyday classes are the most interesting thing for me. KCP is a place where many cultures intersect, and learning how to talk about that intersection in Japanese (sharing your own culture and asking about others) is really fascinating.

—Tess Kupel

The tests and daily assignments in Level 4 were very good in helping us prepare for the midterm exam and final. The daily kanji tests helped improve my reading ability immensely.

—Erin Longstreet

The vocabulary and grammar learning I find fun and useful. It is amazing to see one’s progress first hand as you are able to carry out more and more complex conversations. KCP was great and lots of fun I’d love to come back and continue to take courses.

—Alberto Ossorio

Classes were always very informative, active and used plenty of examples to help me remember things. The conversations that were staged with native Japanese speakers were very good.

—Michiel Sikma

I think the best aspect would be how quickly the class moves. Also, activities that allow students to meet native Japanese speakers is a very good idea (i.e. the curry class). I would actually rather have more events like this even sacrificing tour-type excursions because meeting native speakers and befriending them can open up far more opportunities.

—Anthony Patton

The best is definitely the class environment, I always feel comfortable with either of the three teachers that cycle in a week and I look forward to practicing my Japanese every day.

—Alberto Ossori

There was just a ton of information to take in and absorb, and it was all useful to me. It helped me to better understand Japanese culture and it was all very interesting.

—Benjamin De Angelis

The program is pretty amazing. I learned really fast.

—Jessica Hoyle

I loved the fact that teachers cycled out, we weren’t stuck with one teaching style. I also enjoyed the essay writing on Fridays because it allowed me to have a visual of the parts of the language I didn’t understand.

—Brittany Crouch

I found the conversation class to be rather enjoyable as I learned a myriad of terms for specific situations. 

—Daniel Ruiz

I learned not only about Japanese culture but also about Chinese, Korean, Taiwanese and Americans. It was interesting to communicate with different cultures and to learn something new.

—Sigute Bacinskaite

The Japanese business etiquette co-curriculum classes were most satisfying. I was able to learn a lot of words through the material that was given in class, and I liked the chance to discuss and give my own opinions, even if I couldn’t fully express what I wanted to say.

—Marjorie-Fleure Etienne

I felt that class in general was very productive and that everything I learned I could apply outside of class. I found the conversation practice to be particularly interesting since I got to speak with other students from different countries and hear different perspective on topics.

—Terry Chan

I enjoyed being able to participate. I really liked it when my teacher told us to come up with our own examples to share. I thought that was very engaging and very fun.

—Jaking Kong

What I like most about this program is the fact that there are multiple teachers for each class. This enables the students to benefit from each teacher’s style of teaching rather than only being exposed to one. I also like how interactive the classes are.

—Francesca Marino

I liked how classes are divided into sections. So, one day we focus on speaking and reading and the next day it is grammar and new vocabulary. I didn’t feel overwhelmed.

—Jose Mendoza

One of the most interesting aspects of the program was being in a classroom with students from across the world. This forced us to use Japanese and not rely on our native language. In addition to learning about the Japanese culture I was also able to learn a lot about cultures from China, Korea, Brazil, etc.

—Chase Morimoto

I think the emphasis on class discussion really helped my improve both my listening and speaking, and helped me push past my comfort zone in a compassionate environment to get over my fear of speaking.

—Jameson

Of course, when you’re coming into this program, it’s really important to keep in mind that it will be an intensive program, so be prepared to put in the time that you want. Otherwise, try your best to befriend as many people as possible and to use your Japanese as much as you can! I also think it’s important to see as much as you can of the city, too — it helps to get out outside of your studies and to see new things. It really helped me stay engaged/motivated! If you try your best to make the most of it, you WILL get the most out of it.

—Andrea

The most productive aspect of the program is that everything is taught in Japanese but you still have an extra class that you can go to if you need some extra help in English.

—Aidan

There were a lot of real life things learned, we went to the Disaster Prevention center and got to learn about things that I don’t think exist in the US for safety measures, and what to do in case of an earthquake which is something that simply doesn’t happen in Ohio. There were also a lot of historical locations we went to, and I love Japanese history, so I enjoyed that a lot.

—Joseph

I liked learning the history and culture of Japan from a native and going to places and seeing things I would have otherwise missed on my own.

—Christopher

KCP is NOT for people who want to come here to hang out in Tokyo and study a bit on the side. It’s very intensive and requires a lot of work. But if you put in an effort you can get great results. Coming here has taught me so much about Japanese and about who I am, and it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.

—Mallory Icenhower

It’s definitely an intensive program, and you have to be willing to work hard to keep up with the class. It is a program for students who seriously want to put a lot of effort into learning Japanese, but also remember to have fun while you are here as time flies by really fast.

—Jessica Dales

The best parts really are class — sitting there and hearing explanations and having the chance to get nuances explained to you verbally and through written feedback is great, and it being purely in Japanese does wonders for helping your brain think in Japanese. The rotation of teachers is also great since it forces you to learn multiple styles and speeds of spoken Japanese. Some of my teachers were a bit more difficult to understand at first but the process of learning to understand rapid-fire talking styles was invaluable.

—Steffan Achtmann

Being forced to use the language every day expanded my knowledge exponentially. The most interesting aspect was getting to interact with all these international students who were learning Japanese at the same rate I was.

—Sarah Peters

Studying alongside other international students was definitely the best part because there is no option but to use Japanese. That caused for not only more Japanese speaking practice but also many funny situations. Going to class every day and trying to explain your ideas in Japanese to friends was trying but well worth the effort. Of course since the homework load was heavy, it took a while to learn how to balance studying and having fun.

—Sophia Warren

The most interesting aspect of study was the Direct Method of teaching employed at KCP. I have never been taught a language using the direct method of teaching but I found that the complete immersion that it offered in Japanese Language boosted by learning by a large amount.

—Zachary Fauquher

The most productive aspect of the program was the constant reinforcement of the Japanese that is learned in class. Because the teachers spoke entirely in Japanese during class, it required me to pay attention and process Japanese that I was not aware that I already knew. The new Japanese vocabulary and grammar learned in class were also constantly reinforced so that students could better process and remember them.

—May Leung

The Direct Method teaching style and only using Japanese as a common language really forces students to grow and learn. There honestly was no least interesting part of the program for me.

—Elizabeth Brown

The complete immersion along with a good, regular amount of homework and frequent tests allowed me to improve quickly and efficiently. The teachers are very good and I was lucky to be in a class full of enthusiastic and hard-working students, making me want to participate and do my best too.

—Suhaib Sarmad

The most productive part of the program was that the classes were held entirely in Japanese, and that my classmates mostly spoke little to no English, which forced me to really try to understand everyone around me.

—Jillian Woo

I barely knew any Japanese before coming to Japan. I had only taken one semester of Japanese three years ago, so I was really nervous. Luckily, the classes are taught in a way that makes you feel very comfortable as long as you give it your all. When you don’t understand the material, teachers are always willing to help you understand it. Because the classes are taught all in Japanese, it really takes 100 percent of your focus to keep up, so it’s really important to develop good study habits while you’re here. Even with all that considered, I still had enough free time to do things that I wanted in Japan and relax.

—Malisa Nash

If it wasn’t for studying in that kind of intensive setting that forces you to think in the language, I probably wouldn’t have advanced as far as I did in Japanese.

—Valerie Taylor

Having the classes taught all in Japanese was a real confidence booster to be able to understand everything, even though I hadn’t had a class using the full immersion technique before. I think that it was more effective to learn that way, especially at the intermediate level.

—Amanda Haley

I loved that in class, everyone was required to try and speak Japanese. It can be nerveracking speaking a new language in front of people you hardly know. So it enables you to find courage so that you may be able to speak it in any situation.

—Sadao Oka

I find the opportunity to speak with students from around the world to be the most productive and interesting part of the program, particularly since the only language that all parties understand is Japanese. This provides an excellent opportunity to practice language skills while being interesting and fun.

—Adam Clay

I enjoyed interacting with the other students from the Asian programs and meeting people, since we are all trying to learn Japanese we all try to use what we learn on each other as well as teach others about ourselves.

—Meriam Rachidi Alaoui

Having the class conducted in Japanese everyday was very good for my listening. Also, the hatsuon practice was very beneficial to me to hear my own voice and have it judged for accent and intonation. That is not something I have practiced at my university.

—Kelsie Stewart

Speaking only in Japanese is far more effective than partially speaking in both English and Japanese as in America.

—Brittni Hedstrom

I think that having classes with people who couldn’t speak English all the way from Level 1 is really good, it means that you HAVE to use Japanese in order to communicate, which in turn makes you more confident using it outside the classroom. I’ve made some very close friends who I hope to keep in touch with in our constantly improving Japanese language skills.

—Aleya Thompson

The intensive study environment is a very effective way to progress your Japanese ability in a short amount of time.

—Andrew Holmes

The full Japanese immersion taught me more than I could have thought possible. Though sometimes a little guidance was needed, it was easy to pick things up and continue living in Japan without any trouble.

—Ronnie Joseph

The opportunity to talk with other students from all around the world is always the best part of studying at KCP for me. Of course, it’s an opportunity to practice Japanese, but it’s also fascinating to hear what they have to say about all kinds of things.

—Adam Clay

I was really drawn to KCP because of the fact that the classes are completely taught in Japanese. Although it can be difficult at times, the teachers have been so good about getting their point across and trying their best to explain something. I absolutely love the direct approach!

—Laura Hicks

When I arrived at KCP I was one of five or so American students in a classroom filled with Korean and Chinese students with whom I could not communicate at all. Getting to know those people through a shared language while I learned it along side them was an incredibly satisfying experience.

—Joseph Comer

The fact that we had classes with international students. That in itself motivated me to speak and more because there are a lot of partner conversations in class.

—Vinh Nguyen

KCP is great at helping you to greatly improve your Japanese language skills, if you are willing to put time and effort into it.

—Brian Bergquist

After being introduced to the program from a friend, I believed that a school that is only focused on learning the Japanese language would be the best way to learn compared to attending a college.

—Jennifer Campbell

I thought being in a class full almost entirely of students that could not speak English was very helpful, as it forced me to communicate in Japanese in order to make friends. It also forces you to think about all of the things you are learning in Japanese, rather than translating them in your head from Japanese to English. I thought the culture classes were wonderful. I also like how there seemed to be a ton of cool events that people could sign up for (tea ceremony, tickets for baseball games, etc). They provided a good opportunity for additional experiences in Japan.

—Erin Longstreet

The most productive and challenging aspects of the program was interacting with different people in the classroom using only Japanese.

—Christopher Clayton

Being in a class full of students from around the world, learning about their various cultures, and being forced to use Japanese as means of communication were the most productive and interesting aspects. The in-class essays were the least interesting and productive for me as the short time allocated did not allow me to fully incorporate my Japanese knowledge and writing abilities.

—Dhairya Jarsania

The most interesting and productive aspects for me have been with the Japanese-direct method of teaching. Being immersed in the Japanese-only atmosphere of the classroom has helped advance my skills (especially in speaking) faster than at my home university.

—Faiyad Mannan

The most productive part of the program is being involved in class with students who don’t speak English! That way, I’m forced to speak Japanese all the time, and therefore my speaking and listening have improved a lot. The group sessions and actual classes are a bit repetitive though. While it was nice to have a head start, it felt a little bit redundant to cover the same material again once the actual class started.

—Sabrina Greene

Being able to study entirely in Japanese was initially worrisome to me, but I quickly learned that it probably helped me the most, and I’m very grateful for it. I’m also thankful for the variety of resources offered by KCP!

—Kelly Couto

Participating in the KCP program was one of the best experiences I have ever had. I met wonderful people, studied hard, and got to go to Japan, which I had been wanting to do since I was in middle school. KCP is a great way to experience daily life in Japan, while advancing your Japanese learning. If you’re considering doing KCP, I absolutely recommend it. If you’re about to head off to Japan, be prepared to study lots, but also to have the time of your life!

—Shannon Lynch

I thought the heavy course load kept me on my feet. I learned so much in my little time there that I can easily see becoming fluent in Japanese through KCP attainable.

—Marissa Ford

I really enjoyed the way the teachers taught kanji. I’ve never had a Japanese class where we spent time on learning kanji together, and the way the teachers set it up was always enjoyable and interesting. Kanji still isn’t my best subject in Japanese, but after KCP I don’t feel as intimidated! What I LOVED about KCP was the learning environment. The teachers made everything fun and made sure you knew it was OKAY to be wrong! I loved that. We were all able to laugh and learn together and there was never any pressure about being perfect.

—Ava

My favorite part of the program is easily the teachers, I enjoyed their continued enthusiasm for every class. The were always willing to work with me through their busy schedules which I find truly amazing.

—Jack

Culture classes were regularly the highlights of my week. They allowed me to explore new areas with fellow students as well as Tanaka-san and Ryuhei-san as guides. Their knowledge and context was invaluable!

—Gabriel

I felt the most productive and interesting aspects of the program were honestly the teachers’ varied styles of teaching. Each teacher had their own character and input in how they came about explaining things, and it made each new day interesting and fun to experience.

—Garrett

The most productive was the English Support classes. Katou-sensei and her lessons were indispensable to my success in this program. Her explanations of grammar are clear and concise, making them perfect for review before tests.

—Selena

The history and specific cultural information offered by Tanaka-san 🙂 he gave lots of unique stories and cultural anecdotes and really did justice to the Japanese perspective.

—Jonathan

Keep up the excellent work. I would not trade away a single second in KCP nor Japan despite the difficulty. The staff is excellent.

—William Gomez

KCP is great, and if you are serious about learning Japanese then this program is FANTASTIC! I’ve read on previous evaluations that the teachers really do want to help you learn, and I experienced this first hand and can confirm that its true!

—Louise Hoogvliet

The best aspect I believe is learning from multiple teachers. Each one speaks Japanese a little differently than the other. It was good to hear differences using the same topic. It also was challenging because some teachers were more difficult to understand for me.

—Russell Nakishi

The most productive aspect of the program is simply the intensive study method accompanied by the great teachers who are willing to go out of their way to help their students. The teachers seem very enthusiastic about their jobs!

—Andrew Holmes

For new KCP students, I would advise them not to worry about anything. The teachers and staff all care about the growth of their students, as well as their well-being and safety in Japan.

—Jemeene Marson

Hands down, my most favorite thing about KCP is the teachers and staff. The teachers made the whole experience enjoyable. The one thing I hate about school is paying for teachers that don’t teach well. Every single teacher who taught my classes was great. It wasn’t just about getting through today’s lesson; they made sure everyone understood the material. Tanaka, Michiko, and Ryuhei were always in the office to help anyone. Everyone’s kindness would not be forgotten.

—Angela Ng

I was a professor of math in America, but I often went home early after finishing my classes. It is really remarkable that the staff and teachers at KCP stay so late into the night working. It is really inspiring.

—Steven Kilty

It can be intimidating at first to pursue a program like this, especially for long-term study. But while I’ve been studying at KCP I’ve never felt like I couldn’t overcome challenge I was faced with; the quality of the school and instructors is top-notch.

—Adam Clay

My teachers made this program amazing. They were extremely helpful, easy to approach with questions, fun just to practice my Japanese with, and they cared for their students.

—Brian Bergquist

Kato-sensei’s sessions are really useful, I really believe a lot of the credit for my good test results mainly go to her. The regular tests meant that you had to constantly work hard, which is exactly what I paid to do! Even though it was difficult sometimes, I was always glad they were frequent enough that I couldn’t let myself slack off.

—Aleya Thompson

I think KCP does a great job of integrating all of its in-class and out-of-class activities into helping the students grow in some capacity.

—Jemeene Marson

The teachers are all very qualified and the direct-method teaching has been very effective at making me think in Japanese in order to communicate. I hope that KCP continues to be as excellent a program as I have experienced, and that in the future that it offers more opportunities for students like myself to be challenged to learn more.

—Nathan Wong

The faculty and staff are honestly amazing in every respect. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had and I’ve learned a lot.

—Joseph Comer

KCP teachers or staff will always be kind and helpful and will not hesitate to figure out a solution to your problem. My teachers even offered to do one-on-one speaking sessions with me, because I wanted to increase my oral communication and listening skills.

—Emerald Sargent

The teachers are all professional, enthusiastic and work incredibly hard. I am amazed by the long hours they put in and how available they are for questions, re-tests, etc. They really inspired me to work hard.

—Marc Kwiatkowski

I can’t thank Kato-sensei enough for all her help in explaining things that I learned in class, so I could better understand. I hope to come back next year and learn even more. どうもありがとうございます！[thank you very much!]

—Deaunna Byrd

I’m very grateful for the work of Takahashi-sensei, Komine-sensei, and Kato-sensei. They really made the lessons come alive, and Kato-sensei’s English support classes were absolutely invaluable. I also want to express my appreciation for the administration. Ryuhei-san, Okabe-san, and Tanaka-san are rock stars. I can’t begin to imagine how they manage to juggle so many different aspects of the administration with such aplomb. I’m especially appreciative of Tanaka-san taking us to a clinic and helping with communication and forms.

—Yacine Baali

I would really like to thank everyone who goes to work and does their best every day at KCP. Finally coming to Japan has been a lifelong dream of mine and I am glad that it has been such a positive and enriching experience. I hope to come back soon and teach English in the hopes that I will be able to make a similar impact on someone else’s life.

—Brittni Hedstrom

When I came to KCP I was not expecting such a wonderful environment! The teachers are absolutely amazing and the staff is incredibly helpful. The whole place conveys a wonderful, playful sense of humor but also one of serious, hard work. I think it’s a difficult balance to reach, and KCP has done a wonderful job. I want to come back to this program very much! Thank you for a wonderful eight weeks!

—Sabrina Greene

I was very impressed with the teachers at KCP. All of my teachers were wonderful and kept class fun and engaging while we learned a great deal. If your goals are to improve your Japanese, learn more about Japanese society, and enjoy doing it, I think that KCP is an excellent choice for a study abroad program.

—Spencer Morris

I want to thank all my teachers for their hard work, dedication, and patience. I hope to be a teacher one day and I was happy to learn from their example. I also want to thank the KCP office staff for their assistance! They were always available and willing to help us with an array of problems and offer recommendations to make our stay better. I was often exasperated by my fellow students requests or complaints, but regardless of the situation, the staff were always smiling and friendly.

—Breann Goosmann

The teachers and staff at KCP are very helpful and pleasant to work with. The classes were challenging and engaging every day. The program was amazing and I would recommend it to any student that seriously wants to improve their Japanese while getting to experience life in Japan.

—Kay Hood

I was surprised by how helpful the teachers were. They were more than willing to give extra help and that really helped me get more out of the program.

—Shanti Francoeur

Personally, I found the classes themselves to be the most satisfying. The teachers were extremely helpful and motivated and while they taught at a fast pace they did everything they could to ensure the students understood the material.

—Glenn Irish

Any time I had a problem or question, there was always someone at KCP who made time for me and helped me. I only got to study at KCP for 9 months, but it was easily a better experience than my three years of college. Thank you so much!

—Kailin Cannon

I didn’t get a chance to mention them, but my praise goes out to Tanaka-san and Ryuuhei-san — those two work very hard, and are some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. Please make sure they’re well appreciated.

—Dylan Chapin

Having three different teachers with different teaching styles is the most interesting part of my class. I also love being able to get extra help when needed.

—Onjel James

One of my teachers goes around the room and has everyone make example sentences with the grammar we are learning that day and I love it because it gives us practice but also because sometimes we can see the grammar used in ways we might not have thought of yet. Drill practice, pair work, and tests are my next listed for helpfulness.

—Onjel James

The most productive time was probably staying late and talking to my teachers, asking questions about things I didn’t understand in order to learn more and be able to understand.

—Abigail Dunn

The teachers were extremely helpful and skilled in teaching grammar and vocabulary. Having conversation practice in class was also very helpful in practicing new grammar.

—Britny Eberhard

One of the things I like most is that I got three teachers: That’s three different native speakers with three different teaching styles for me to learn from. Like last term, I had three great teachers, they were all amazing, but one of them was my favorite because he always made class fun! Just the energy he brought into class and his teaching style made learning super fun, and that is great! I love that!

—Makaila Puhrmann

The best part of the program was improving my pronunciation and accent. Before KCP, I hadn’t paid much attention to these things. I am very glad that the teachers placed such emphasis on having us pronounce the word to the best of our ability and drilled us with accent practice.

—Alix Kosmala

Teachers are always ready to help with class material. They truly want us to succeed and improve due to a mutual love of the language and culture.

—Bryan ‘Donoghue

The most interesting aspect of this program is how intensive everything is and how much assistance we receive with all of the staff. I have never had so much care from a staff, ever. They are wonderful people and one of the reasons I would return to the program and recommend it to others.

—Kelly Dinh

The staff were all very friendly and helpful. Even though I struggled a lot, the teachers always seemed to have an unlimited amount of patience for me and would walk me through everything.

—Tameka Anderson

Honestly, the 事務所先生 [professors] are the best. Every day after class, I look forward to talking to them and getting to know them better. They need a raise for how genuine they are in caring for me and getting to know me better. In America, even one of these teachers could inspire countless students to do better than they even imagined they could do. KCP has so many great aspects to it, but the greatest aspect is the employees. They are the reason I consider this to be one of the best summers of my life.

—Derrick Leong

English Support. Kato-sensei is extremely helpful! Please treasure her!

—Dylan Chapin

I strongly recommend KCP to students considering the program. The administrative and teaching staff are excellent and friendly. There is a good balance of English support and immersion, but prepare to study hard because the Summer (short) program is (as the name suggests) pretty short.

—Breann Goosmann

For those considering the program, I would definitely encourage them to attend KCP. I made so many friends and noticeably improved all areas of my Japanese studies due to KCP’s amazing teachers. Thanks to the administrative staff, I felt safe knowing that I could ask them for help with any problems I had in any aspect of my life in Japan.

—Jemeene Marson

English Support classes was a life saver for me. There were times when Japanese sentences and particles wouldn’t make sense to me until it was explained in English. Once explained to me in English, everything would make perfect sense.

— Luis

Being able to consult with teachers anytime was really nice and helped me shape what I want to do in Japan. There are also teachers in training, and they’re always around to talk to in breaks and after class.

—Joseph

The English support sessions were invaluable at understanding Japanese grammar concepts.

— Elisabeth

I think KCP is definitely one of the best options a student can choose for a study abroad program in Tokyo. The program throws us right into the Japanese language and living so we have the best chance at success. The staff is friendly and go above and beyond to help you understand class material, see how you are adjusting to life in Japan, and help you outside of class with anything you need. Especially Michiko-san who sat in the hospital with me for over 8 hours to translate and make sure I was all right. She is amazing and is always looking out for everyone. I feel like I can go to her about anything and she’ll help you until your problem is solved.

—Catrin Ramsey

The experience was above and beyond my expectations. The staff and the people were all amazing.

—Darian Lawrence

Balancing schoolwork and exploring Tokyo can be difficult as you’ll want to hang out with friends and discover cool places but also maintain your grades and study for tests. Take advantage of KCP’s resources such as the English support class and be sure to confirm things with your teachers after class.

—Sophia Warren

Amazing. I really appreciate the amount of help and support given to me. I absolutely loved my time here, and I hope that someday I will be able to come back. There are no words to express how much this meant to me, so all I can really say is thank you SOO much.

—William Housel

Go to English support. The chapter-related worksheets are excellent review for the grammar tests (that is, if you make sure to finish the worksheets so they can be corrected before the test time). Then you actually know what kind of mistakes to look out for.

—Tess Kupel

Conversation practice was an extremely efficient form of practice and a reassuring confidence booster. KCP tests are extremely strict so that was a great way to perfect what we learned.

—Allison Hoisl

Drill practices and textbook work were very helpful. Also pair work and group work were helpful for me since I don’t have friends to practice my Japanese on.

—Demarcus Hann

Going over the explanations of the stroke order and different strokes of writing kanji was incredibly helpful. They did not teach any of that in the American schools I went to in the five years I have studied Japanese.

—Brittni Hedstrom

Definitely pair conversations and occasional acting out of actual real life situations was most helpful because oftentimes, it is Japanese I have been waiting to use and enjoy using it out of the classroom daily.

—Alberto Ossori

The grammar notes were extremely helpful for giving examples of new material. Pair work during class was really helpful as well, because it forced me to speak with people. It also gave me chances to catch not only my mistakes but others as well, so we were all helping each other become more fluent.

—Benjamin De Angelis

I found the pair work and games to be most helpful, especially as these activities focused on my weakest area–speaking. With practice throughout this term, I have become much more confident in speaking.

—Cristina Cano

English support with Ms. Kato. She’s has been extremely helpful all throughout.

—Alberto Ossorio

Pair work has been the most helpful for me as within these interactions I can see my Japanese that I just learned come to life as it enters another person’s ear and triggers the desired response. To me that is truly speaking a language.

—Alberto Ossorio

Games made speaking Japanese less intimidating. Many students are embarrassed and stressed about saying things the wrong way or forgetting words and structure, but the games allowed us to laugh at ourselves and feel more comfortable trying new things.

—Catrin Ramsey

I think the pair work was very useful as it had us participating a lot rather than just listening, which I think improves our ability to produce the language rather than just understand it. It also keeps class more engaging.

—Spencer Morris

At the end of my first term, I asked the teachers for conversation help and they sat down with me for a half an hour in the mornings for a week and a half and talked with me in Japanese. That was probably the biggest help I had, and really gave me confidence in speaking. I also bought the みんあの日本語 English grammar books from Kinokuniya, and those really helped me as well.

—Dawson Zimmermann

I particularly liked how the teachers evaluate our pronunciation every week. Very helpful, especially when you are trying to get rid of your own language’s heavy accent.

—Isabela Ronquini de Sousa

I found that drill practice and games were the most helpful. Drill practice required students to truly understand the material through constant memorization and utilization. It was especially useful when the teacher went around the class and asked each student to answer individually. Games were helpful because it sparked a friendly competitive spirit that also encourages students to know the material in order to win.

—May Leung

I really enjoyed the occasional games. [They] really helped reiterate the vocab and grammar points [and] helped break up the day to keep me interested. Group sessions were nice and so were the drill practices. Drilling especially helped make the material click.

—Marissa Ford

English support definitely helped clarify my questions about grammar points. As for in class, I feel the pair work was a good combination of being able to practice our conversational skills with new grammar as well as learning from your partner about their own experiences especially as we are all foreigners.

—Aileen Deleon

The English grammar notes are priceless. However, I also scheduled 1-on-1 conversations with the head instructor of my class three days a week. This practice pushed me to make use of new vocabulary and grammar while allowing feedback on any mistakes I made.

—Larry Vires

I found [the] English support sessions were the best way to get help for questions. Also, group conversation was really helpful because it not only showed my weaknesses, but also gave me an opportunity to improve my conversation.

—Alexander Fu

The English Support classes really helped reinforce recently learned material.

—Anthony Nguyen

The benkyou no oto was really helpful in assessing how well I understood that chapter’s grammar. The in-class drill practices were good for using the grammar and making its use more natural.

—Dhairya Jarsania

Prepare to be very invested in the school! The staff is very friendly, helpful, and really cares about each student!

—Taryn Cusick

KCP has the most caring and dedicated staff. When I was behind in class, my professor met with me every morning until I was able to catch up. When I hurt my wrist, staff from KCP escorted me to the clinic and translated everything. These are just a few examples, but the staff is so supportive it is amazing.

—Lauren Finley

Being in class was always my most productive and fun times. It was a great environment to learn.

—Damien Reed

The amount of experience and knowledge that exuded from the professors was really splendid and I loved learning more outside the classroom with the excursions. I know that the instructors have to take some time out of their weekend but we all really appreciated the guidance and time.

—Brittany Crouch

If you can balance studiousness with some fun on the weekends or after school, then you will have the time of your life. KCP pushes you but offers the best support system (either English Support or talking to your teacher) of any language school I have ever seen. The direct method really encourages you to think in Japanese, rather than try to translate everything back to your native language. Don’t be discouraged and ask questions as soon as you have them – the teachers are all super helpful and try their best to explain the material in different ways.

—Jennifer Wu

I thoroughly enjoyed events which brought together students to aid each other in learning one another’s language. Both Chinese and English teaching sessions provides the opportunity to learn more of another culture while improving one’s language skills.

—Daniel Ruiz

The help that the American program people gave and the events they planned for us to do. Also, I found it very interesting how the classes are organized and enjoyed the challenges it gave me to learn more Japanese. I’m not sure if there was a least productive aspect, most things were very thought out as to help students in their studies and be worthwhile to education. I am very thankful for all the guidance and teaching of Japanese language and culture I have received. Thank you.

—Kara Scharold

I had a great time learning how to play the Koto in Koto Club. I also had the pleasure of participating in doing the omikoshi as well. The Japanese Culture Trips were also a great experience. Being able to participate in activities and events exclusive to Japan’s culture was a worthwhile experience.

— Ryan

I found the debates very engaging and interactive. The school excursions were also very informative and fun.

—Kyle

The speaking activity that we did in class with some regular non teacher Japanese people was very good to have because it gave us the chance to practice our speaking with people that aren’t our teachers, but still have it in a classroom setting.

—Aidan

Koto club was my favorite part of the semester! English support with Kato Sensei is also a both a great help and real delight. The drama club performance and graduation ceremony were also highlights.

—Gabriel

Clubs were a great way to learn Japanese culture and speak Japanese in environments different from those curated in class, as well as meet other students in the school. I regret not participating in more sooner as I was tied up in trying to study so hard!

—Moriah

The speech contest was a good way for me to work on something a bit more complicated and long than the things we normally write for class.

—Michiel Sikm

Participating in the Speech Contest was one of the most challenging and fun things I have done in my life. It was a wonderful experience I will remember forever. The cooking class with the Hosai University students was also a really fun way to experience some Japanese culture and practice Japanese!

—Andrew Kustodowicz

I thought the speech contest was a lot of fun! My class won the 応援 contest, which was really exciting and fun! I thought all of the speakers did a great job and I enjoyed spending the day watching all of the various events and performances.

—Brooke Rappaport

I really enjoyed the speech competition. It showcased a wide variety of speech topics and it allowed for newer students to implement their new vocabulary.

—Ean Smith

I also found the speech contest very fun! As a speaker, I was shocked when the class had to create a special cheer just for me, since this not customary in America. It really showed a sense of camaraderie among the classes, and all of the cheers and speeches were very fun to watch. The club performances at the end of the contest were also very funny!

—Rachel Burch

The speech contest was extremely fun and energetic. I feel all of the students had a chance to try hard, perform for each other and the Sensei, and bond. Also, the group sessions and activities offered to the Summer (short) U.S. students was a great help!

—Elizabeth Brown

I loved the speech contest! It brought the class a lot closer together. I also really liked mixing in with the Asian students and getting to know them.

—Ziye Wang

I enjoyed the speech contest, but truthfully, mostly for the skits and performances the classes did. They showed how close all of the students had become to each other, and it was fun to watch.

—Shannon Lynch

The speech contest was fun, and I enjoyed the fact that the whole class was involved. As the speech representative from my class, it really helped boost my confidence to have my classmates’ support and to see them perform before my speech.

—Emily Cole

I went to the speech contest and was amazed with how classes bonded with each other to make sure everyone did their part. I was really happy that I would make friends from other countries in my class because of these events.

—Alexander Fu

At first I was hesitant about participating in the undoukai [sports day] as I thought it was going to be slightly boring. However, it turned out to be one of my favorite experiences I’ve had in Japan thus far. The staff was really into the event and gave it a great atmosphere which in turn made the students very energetic.

—Brian Bergquist

The spring term undoukai [sports day] was so much fun! I particularly enjoyed how all of the classes in the school were brought together to experience this uniquely Japanese event. I think it produced a sense of unity throughout the school, which made the event incredibly fun and a nice little break from studying while still being immersed in Japanese culture.

—Brenna Morlock

I really enjoy all of the classes at KCP. The main class can be challenging at times, but I learned so much from the class. The Road to Kanji Master class and the undoukai [sporting] events were also very fun.

—Alexandre Loi

I very much so enjoyed the undoukai — such a big event that included the whole school was not only fun, it helped me feel much closer to my classmates and teachers. I’m not fond of sports at all, but I still really enjoyed myself and by the end of the day I felt disappointed that it was ending already.

—Katie Penvose

The bus trip to Fuji Q [amusement park] was extremely fun and the scenery was amazing. The sports event was pretty fun, particularly because my team scored first place in the relay race.

—Sacandar Badri

The Fuji Q Highland [amusement park] trip was the most satisfying because it allowed me to try and speak with my fellow classmates in a non-structured conversation.

—Dustin Smith

The most satisfying activity was the Fuji Q Highland [amusement park] trip. I thought it was a great way for everyone to interact and especially a great sightseeing tour for those who have never seen Mt. Fuji.

—Sadao Oka

I really enjoyed the post-midterm trips that I went on with my class during both semesters that I attended KCP. The barbeque during the fall term really brought my class together, I think, and the trip to the Fuji-Q Highlands during the winter term was really fun!

—Dawson Zimmermann

The school barbecue gave me an excellent opportunity to try my enhanced Japanese with the higher level students. It was a very comfortable environment to learn and better my Japanese.

—Ronnie Joseph

The barbeque event along with the Kanazawa trip after midterm tests were very nice events. They allowed the students to mingle with the teachers and with each other despite being in different classes.

—Syedali Khan

The school barbeque was most enjoyable. I was really able to have fun and relax with my classmates while getting to know them better all while using Japanese to communicate.

—Melanie Rasich

The sports day event was fun. We were able to become closer to our classmates during the event.

—Shayla Jarman

The barbecue was a satisfying event because we got the chance to interact with our classmates and teacher in a more casual setting. It also allowed us to showcase food from our home countries and share ideas. I also like the culture class trips because it made traveling around Tokyo less stressful while seeing popular sites and learning more about modern and historical Japan. The Kanazawa trip was amazing!

—Catrin Ramsey

I really enjoyed all of the events. However, I really enjoyed the cooking classes because I love Japanese food and learning how to make it. It was a great opportunity to talk to Japanese students and practice my own speaking.

—Hector Santiago

The tea ceremony was very authentic and interesting. Teachers explained exactly what we were learning and it was a beautiful experience.

—Livia DeSanctis

I learned a lot in the history class, and the tea ceremony. And I quite liked all the excursions, but especially the one to the Edo Tokyo Museum.

—Shana Border

The club activities were very fun. It was the best opportunity to actually utilize the Japanese skills learned in class in addition to making friends. The Tea Ceremony club was a lovely glance into traditional Japanese culture.

—Celena O’Brien

Aside from the 100 percent Japanese classes themselves, I really enjoyed the cultural experiences (such as the tea ceremony). I ventured out a lot on my own, met many people, and have grown a lot because of it. Because I love Japan, it was a very rewarding experience for me (since I wish to work here some day). I don’t think anything was boring.

—Kyle Corter

The most satistfying event was when the American program went to the Yamanashi/Hakone trip! It was so fun and I learned so much about the countryside of Japan that I didn’t know of before. I will never forget that day.

—Erika Beachum

The cooking class with the Hosei University students was most satisfying. I could practice my Japanese and make tasty food, all at the same time!

—Katie Penvose

I thoroughly enjoyed the cooking class. I liked talking to Japanese college students and having a meal with them as well.

—Nathan Wong

As always I very much so enjoyed the cooking class as it gave me invaluable experience talking to native Japanese speakers. While it was very hot, Toshimaen was fun as it brought me closer to my classmates as we enjoyed the park together.

—Katie Penvose

I really enjoyed the curry class. It was fun and we got to speak with Japanese students. I also enjoy cooking and haven’t been able to do it while I was here.

—Gregory Smith

I loved the curry cooking class! I can’t wait to cook curry for my friends and family back in America.

—Amanda Clayton

I enjoyed cooking curry with other college students because it gave me a chance to talk to Japanese people my age.

—Thomas Akers

I most enjoyed the cooking class at the library, because I had a chance to speak with Japanese people my age. I think that having more extracurricular events wherein one can speak with Japanese people would be very beneficial; speaking with one’s classmates is certainly helpful, but speaking to someone who uses natural Japanese speech is much more effective when learning Japanese.

—Adam Mally

I really enjoyed the course on kabuki, mostly because the lecturer had very interesting anecdotal stories to tell alongside the historical lesson.

—Adam Mally

I enjoyed the Kamakura and Kawagoe trips immensely, but enjoyed the other cultural excursions that we took together too. The guidance we received both before and during the trips was as practical and informative as it was fascinating.

—Garrett

I appreciated the excursion portion of the culture classes the most. The ones that involved participation in an activity, such as the tea ceremony and Life Safety Learning Center, were the most valuable in my opinion. The participation aspect is something that can’t be experienced outside of Japan so having that opportunity made for a great learning experience.

—Selena

I particularly enjoyed a trip we took to the waste management facility here in Tokyo. It was a bit smelly, but a wonderful experience to see just how much has to go into keeping a city of so many people clean and functioning.

—Nelson

In the Winter term the class and myself all went to Yokohama, I was able to make friends with people in my class and get a better understanding of my peers and teachers.

—Venus

I felt that the bus trip was the most satisfying activity. It gave students the chance to go to places that they may not have previously been aware of or may have had a difficult time finding. I think it may have also helped students to form friendships at the beginning stages of the program. I made friends on the trip that I now talk to every day.

—Jemeene Marson

I think one of my favorite experiences was going on the Kamakura trip. If we hadn’t gone, I never would’ve gotten the chance to experience sleeping on tatami mats or eating a Japanese-style breakfast. Also, it was wonderful to see all of the temples and the Japanese traditional wedding that happened to take place during one of our outings.

—Mary Davison

I found the Kamakura trip the most satisfying due to the fact that I got to experience a more rural Japan rather than bustling Tokyo. I enjoyed seeing the new culture and interacting with the people there. Also, being able to stay at a traditional royokan on tatami mats is a nice change to the bed I sleep on every day!

—Jason Chang

The culture class for the U.S. program was wonderful. It gave me an opportunity to visit many interesting sites that I may not have otherwise visited on my own. My favorite was the overnight trip to Kamakura; it provided a much-needed getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.

—Erin Longstreet

The overnight trip was extremely fascinating, informational, and a good way to unwind from classes for a weekend. I was able to experience a small bit of more traditional Japanese culture and see the large difference of Japan’s geography from America’s (the narrow and winding roads, mountains, types of trees, etc.).

—Jennifer Campbell

Yamanashi Overnight Trip! This trip provided an excellent opportunity to experience a more rural Japanese environment and bond with classmates.

—Kelby Lawson

The overnight field trip was a fantastic opportunity to see and experience things that I otherwise wouldn’t have had the chance to. The 運動会 [sport day] was another really fun event. I feel both not only allowed us the chance to take part in different kinds of Japanese culture, but it also strengthened the bonds between classmates.

—Sarah Zakrzewski

I found the overnight trip at Yamanashi Prefecture to be the most satisfying. We stayed the night at a traditional ryokan, went to an ancient village with a spectacular view of Mt. Fuji where we were able to dress up as a samurai or in yukata, see several beautiful, clear springs that come from Mt. Fuji, make our own noodle hot pot, explore a gorgeous temple, and experience Zen meditation there. The trip was extremely fun, and I learned a lot from it.

—Shayla Jarman

I enjoyed the overnight trip with all the U.S. program students. KCP did an amazing job with the planning and execution of the entire trip. I felt safe, saw things I never thought I would, and interacted with staff in a relaxed environment.

—Kelly Dinh

The bus trip was incredibly enjoyable. KCP did a great job of scheduling great places that show off Japan’s culture what we wouldn’t normally get to experience in the hustle and bustle of Shinjuku/Tokyo. Everything was well-organized and planned, and we all had a lot of fun!

—Rachel Burch

The bus trip to Yamanashi Prefecture was definitely the most exciting and informative! Otherwise, I would never have had the chance to leave Tokyo. I got to see some really exciting cultural sights, even Mt. Fuji! Also, I got to bond with my classmates and the activities on the bus ride were a little silly but charming. An excellent experience overall, although a bit more time at each site would have been nice. Also, the speech contest was definitely amusing!

—Sabrina Greene

The Kamakura field trip was an event that I will remember for the rest of my life. It was a wonderful experience!

—Brittni Hedstrom

The trip to Kamakura was amazing and stands out to me as one of my favorites. It was very immersive and I believe if the goal is to put students in a Japanese situation I believe this event accomplishes that well.

—Alberto Ossori

I really enjoyed the bus trip to Yamanashi Prefecture, not only for the fun of the excursion but also for the great experience of trying out unique things in Japan that you normally wouldn’t be able to, like zazen and peach farm visits.

—Tyler Sadoff

The Yamanashi trip was the most memorable for me. A lot of the traditional Japanese culture and scenery was packed into that trip, and it was an excellent time to socialize with the other short-term students and spend time mutually appreciating our surroundings.

—Stefan Divic

The Yamanashi excursion was very fun and insightful. To escape the bustling life of Tokyo for once to visit a rural and quiet place really resonated with me.

—Anthony Nguyen

I loved the excursions we took as a group, as well as schoolwide activities. I made some lifelong friends because of this.

—Brittany Crouch

The trips were most satisfying: Kamakura and Enoshima. You get to experience Japan, the culture, history. We stayed at a Japanese style hotel and we were able to wear Japanese clothing and experience the shared bath. It offered insight into Japanese culture and habits.

—Isabela Ronquini de Sousa

I really liked our trip to Yamanashi and the speech contest. It was so nice seeing a new side of Japan I’ve never seen before and I’m so glad I challenged my linguistic skills during the contest.

—Haley Albin

I really enjoyed the field trip during the group session to Yamanashi and the tea ceremony. Both of these events exposed me to Japanese culture, and allowed me to learn new vocabulary through experiencing it.

—Shannon Welch

Class field trips to cultural sites and Yamanashi Prefecture were satisfying because they give us a critical perspective on Japanese culture outside the classroom and outside Tokyo. The speech contest was a demanding but fun experience that stretched my Japanese language capacities in new ways.

—Joseph Seeley

The Yamanashi bus trip was really amazing and gave me the opportunity to visit other parts of Japan outside of Tokyo. Visiting Asahi Shimbun was also interesting because it was something that I most likely wouldn’t do on my own.

—Kay Hood

The class trip to Yamanashi at the beginning of the program was very enjoyable. It provided an opportunity for the students to bond and appreciate the beauty that Japan has to offer.

—May Leung

I really enjoyed the overnight trip. I never had a chance to travel outside of the city before. It was the best mini-trip of my life. Being able to see Mt. Fuji was a magical experience!

—Shanti Francoeur

The U.S. short program trip to Yamanashi Prefecture was probably the most satisfying part of the trip, as it allowed me to experience an area farther away from Tokyo that I was likely not to visit due to time constraints. It brought me into special areas (such as the recreated traditional village, and the peach farm) that I might not have found on my own, and I shared an experience with friends that are more memorable than if I had tried to go about the journey either alone or with a select few.

—Ashley Pascual

The trips to Yamanashi and the jinja during the first two weeks of review were most satisfying. I would not have explored those places on my own and missed out on great experiences.

—Dhairya Jarsania

I really liked the Odaiba trip because my class was great! I loved spending more time practicing talking to them outside of the curriculum, it was a really helpful way to practice conversational Japanese, and just hanging out with them was great!

—Makaila Puhrmann

I enjoyed the Yamanashi bus trip because it provided opportunities to practice regular conversation with the teachers and staff who accompanied us, something which is harder to do during a regular school day. Things such as the peach eating and zazen practice also aren’t things one would usually do on a personal sightseeing trip.

—Kevin Woolsey

I found the Yamanashi Trip to be extremely enjoyable and informative. The opportunity to spend a night at a traditional Japanese inn was an invaluable one, and the many stops on the trip gave an excellent impression of Japanese culture and history. Tanaka-san was an informative and amiable guide during our travels.

—Gabriel Wilkinson

The Kamakura trip was fascinating, I really enjoyed seeing all the shrines and temples, and getting to stay at a ryokan. I loved the Edo Tokyo Museum, and would have like to go back (and will, if I get a chance to return to Japan).

—Shana Border

I enjoyed the trip to Sea World. The shows were very entertaining and cute. I was able to spend quality time outside of class with my teachers and classmates and got to know them better.

—Shayla Jarman

My favorite activity was the trip to Kamakura and Enoshima. It was very beautiful and informative, and staying at the traditional Japanese inn was a wonderful experience. My only regret is that, to keep up with my studies, I had to bow out of the other activities. I understand that the workload is intensive for the purpose of covering as much material as possible in a short time, so I feel that it was worth it.

—Yacine Baali

The Kamakura trip was one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ experiences. It was amazing.

—Grant Willey

Class trips were always good team-building experiences. In my class, with so many students whose native language I don’t understand, class trips were fun opportunities to chat with fellow students in Japanese and get to know them better. I feel this made class time more productive because we felt comfortable with each other and were better able to offer support when needed.

—Steven Brogan

I believe that the trip to Yamanashi was the most satisfying because it gave all of the Summer (short) term students a chance to talk to each other outside of class. And we all got to do really fun activities together as well. It was also the most interesting because we went to a place outside of the city and learn about the different places we visited.

—Lissette Aldrete

The culture trip to Kanazawa and Gifu Prefecture was the best trip, I thought. It was great to be able to visit a place that most Japanese people living in the large metropolitan cities don’t go to visit very often or at all. The scenery was gorgeous.

—Ryan Kao

I found the bus trip to be the most satisfying. I spent the whole day talking in Japanese with classmates which is important to me.

—Darian Lawrence

The Kamakura trip was great because we got to experience a Japanese ryokan and learn more in depth about both Enoshima and the history of Kamakura.

—Sophia Warren

The trips to Kamakura and Kabuki were excellent. There was a solid amount of information provided prior to the event. This helped with understanding the experience. The events themselves were well planned and seamlessly conducted.

—John Sheckler

I really enjoyed the Kamakura trip. I got to know the other U.S. program students a little better which was really nice! It was also fun to stay a night at a ryokan with everyone. I liked the speech contest as well because it was fun to work with my classmates to come up with and practice our skit. Seeing the other classes’ skits was really cool!

—Sarah Kunz

Participate in class!!! It makes all the difference and the teachers will get to know you better. Also it is easier to make friends when you are active in class.

—Milla

My teachers were really supportive and I made some great friends while at KCP ! One of the best experiences of my life! I’m so happy with the time I had at KCP !

—Michael

I found the school bbq to be a very memorable and satisfying experience. I was able to bond more with my classmates while learning a little bit more about there own culture through the food they prepared. I also found talking with the teachers in a more casual setting was very enjoyable. overall, a very great experience.

—Sabrina

You will love Japan and it will be a hard goodbye once it ends, it happened to me. With that said, the hardest goodbye won’t be to the country, but to the people you will bond with. So make the best of it and cherish the moments.

—Néstor

Study is the reason you’re here, but be sure to make friends too. Being in a foreign country can be stressful and having friends you feel “have you back” really helps when you feel home sick. It’s also a great study motivation to study together It’s easy to feel isolated so be sure you have someone you can talk to.

—Nicole

As I’m nearing the end of my time here and look back at the people I’ve met and the memories we’ve made I tell myself that if I hadn’t pushed myself to the limits of my Japanese capabilities I wouldn’t have had the chance to experience them. And these are memories that I will be carrying with me forever.

—Aileen Deleon

I say KCP is totally worth it! The things that I’ve learned, as well as the friendships that I’ve made with classmates are priceless. I am so thankful for this experience.

—Amanda Clayton

Pretty much anything that was done as a school. I love the other American students, but hanging out with my classmates was a great chance to make new friends and practice Japanese. If possible, I think there should be more schoolwide events.

—Colette Kinder

The most productive aspect was speaking Japanese in and outside of class. It helped cement the information for me so that I could think on my feet quicker in situations where I needed to respond quickly. Also, every cultural excursion was a great insight into the Japanese way of life.

—Benjamin De Angelis

I enjoyed visiting the National Diet Building because I was able to see inside where the House of Councillors resides. I also enjoyed going to the Sakura Gates near the Diet Building and learning about its historical relevance.

—Christopher Clayton

I found the games most helpful, because it engaged our minds and made us learn in a fun way!

—Amanda Clayton

The 朝日新聞 [Asahi Shimbun] field trip. It was fascinating to get an inside look on how a rigorous company in Japan works from day to night to day again, along with the methods and messages that need to be passed from department to department in order to get the perfect story out for the rest of Japan to know about as soon as possible. It was really eye-opening to see the passion in a Japanese workplace.

—Aileen Deleon

I enjoyed some of the Japanese history and culture lectures before going on excursions. I specifically liked how KCP would provide a lecture and then have a field trip that would demonstrate what was explained in the lecture.

—Alexei Rekow

Although it’s not necessary for the program, I’m an active member of the ACG [anime, comic, games] club. While communicating outside of class in daily life is important, the clubs provide an opportunity to use your language skills to discuss something you enjoy in a more relaxed setting. Those more open, less outlined conversations really allow for use of the language rather than just following an outline provided in class.

—Larry Vires

I really liked visiting Hosei University to visit and interview other college students. Everyone was very nice and I genuinely had a great time. It wasn’t awkward and the tour around the main campus buildings was fun. I liked seeing college life in Japan.

—Kayleigh Ward

The walking trip we took around Shinjuku was very fun and really helped me feel more comfortable walking around the city on my own. I wasn’t used to big cities, so I felt without this initial guided tour, I wouldn’t have been as confident in my solo explorations.

—Kayla Vincent

The visit to Hosei Daigaku was an excellent opportunity to practice conversation skills as well as meet Japanese friends who are in a similar age group.

—Alexander Courtney

Making friends with the other international students is one of the most fun parts of KCP as you’ll not only practice more Japanese, but learn about other cultures and have friends worldwide once you return home.

—Sophia Warren

Have fun and work hard. If you do these simple things then you can enjoy KCP to the fullest and make some great memories.

—Alberto Ossori

Time goes fast, and your schedule is packed during the term. Make sure you start planning early to exploit every second of free time to experience Japan while you have the chance. In particular, your few long weekends will likely be your only chance to leave Tokyo (to see, for instance, Kyoto, Hokkaido, etc) especially if you are in the culture class.

—Joseph Comer

Know who you are, budget your money, and don’t be afraid to try new things! And get ready to go on a voyage that will greatly impact your life!

—Janet Mingo

I think the most productive part of the program was all of the international students that I was able to befriend and communicate with that I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. It really made me feel like I was using Japanese in more than just a studying aspect, but also as a means to make friends and have fun.

—Mary Davison

Once you are able to make friends from your class and outside of your own country, it really helps you learn the language better when you’re forced to use it in order to have fun and communicate. It helps a lot in class and outside of class.

—Mary Davison

I found that all of my time was productive at KCP. Both inside and outside of the classroom I was learning Japanese. Whenever I would go out on the weekends I would always try to use at least a little of what I had learned in class. Class itself was challenging and extremely interesting.

—Andrew Kustodowicz

Tokyo is FULL of things to do and places to go; I was practically out every day experiencing new things! Plus, you can practice speaking to locals. Most if not all have loved trying out their English with me and were surprised to hear me speak Japanese.

—Andrew Kustodowicz

Even if you’re shy, try your best to interact with fellow students. Everyone here has some mutual interest (the Japanese language), and although I didn’t expect to, I’ve made friends here that I plan (hope) to keep for a long time. You’ll meet some amazing people here, from many different places, which is an opportunity you rarely get.

—Maggie Cruz

Take full advantage of the environment. Everyone is friendly and willing to help so if you ever encounter problems, don’t hesitate to ask.

—Marilou Torres

I liked the picnic at the park because it gave me a chance to hang out and talk with my new classmates.

—Britny Eberhard

I really loved going out with classmates where we could only really communicate in Japanese. That was a lot of fun.

—Charles Madere

The most interesting aspect is that students are from all over the world and we can only communicate in Japanese to understand each other. Living in Japan in itself is a great experience overall.

—Stephanie Peng

While I found class as a whole to be informative and interesting, the best part for me was what happened outside of class. There are a lot of really great people from all over the world studying at KCP, and many opportunities to make new friends through the Japanese language. I liked living in a place where I could use what I was learning at any time and the opportunities KCP offers to try new things while using your new language skills (cooking classes, etc).

—Sarah Zakrzewski

I think the most productive part of the program was all of the international students that I was able to befriend and communicate with that I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. It really made me feel like I was using Japanese in more than just a studying aspect, but also as a means to make friends and have fun. There wasn’t really anything that I found uninteresting. I thought the entire experience was great.

—Mary Davison

The most productive and interesting aspect was the chance to practice my Japanese with fellow classmates from different backgrounds and getting to know some of my good friends that I would have never otherwise met.

—Derrick Lieu

Studying is important, but do your best to make friends, too! With the American program students and the other students at the school, even if you only speak limited Japanese. It will make your experience so much more enjoyable and when you finally are able to have conversations in Japanese and see each other outside of class, it will feel good. Also, if you can, join a club! The more you get involved, the more Japanese you will use and learn! So don’t be scared!

—Onjel James

Dedicate plenty of time to study before and after class. However, also make sure you are going out, exploring, and having fun! Don’t study so much that you aren’t able to experience the Japanese culture by not going out. I would suggest attempting to speak only in Japanese while you are abroad in Japan, even with your English-speaking friends. The more you use it, the more fluent you will become. It’s hard to not use your native language with your English-speaking friends, but it’s worth it in the long run.

—Shayla Jarman

I really liked the dorm that I stayed in. It was clean, well kept, air-conditioned, and the staff was always super friendly. I also personally liked the area where I was staying in because there was a lot of shops and restaurants nearby that you could check out if you needed/wanted to.

—Andrea

My dorm was conveniently placed, and the space was adequate. I liked living alone and the freedom that gave me. I would recommend the dorms to anyone, personally.

—Bryce

I liked living with other students in Ikebukuro Dorm. This was really helpful for studying and exploring together and it was easy to ask questions about living in the area.

—Selena

Natsue-san is a tremendous housekeeper, she goes above and beyond! I appreciate how close the Ikebukuro dorm is to school.

—Gabriel

When I return in the future to KCP, I would love to be placed at the Kasai dorm again. The stay was phenomenal and the dorm manager was very pleasant. I just wish my Japanese was more advanced to I could conversate with him more.

—Luis

I loved the dorm (Ikebukuro) experience! Due to the fact that I was living with other people who are from where I am from, it made it far easier to transition into Japan, because the dorm felt like a home away from home.

—Tyrone Harmon

I really like the Ikebukuro area, and how easy it is to commute back and forth from school. I like how quiet the room is, and I’m glad that nearly everything was provided for me in advance (utilities, internet, etc.). I wish I had more cooking space, but that can’t be helped! In general, I enjoy living here and look forward to continuing to live here in the fall.

—Brooke Rappaport

I was pleased with the living arrangements in Ikebukuro. It was nice to live next to the Tokyo Metro/JR Line. The commute to school is easy and reliable.

—Vinh Nguyen

I loooooooooooooooooved the location of Ikebukuro dorm. It was in proximity to lots of really great and convenient things. The size was a bit of an adjustment, but that doesn’t outweigh the location.

—Ashely Hale

I love the neighborhood in Ikebukuro. The location is very close to many places by train and the commute is short. The school is also only about an hour walk away which is great for nice weather. It is also very close to lots of stores. When I first got here, I worried that the room might feel kind of small, but it actually is quite enough space.

—Onjel James

At first the accommodation seemed small but in reality it had everything I needed on a daily basis. The location of the dorm (Ikebukuro) also played a big role. We had access to convenience stores, the station, a grocery store, and it was even close to main shopping and entertainment areas. I am very pleased with everything. The dorm manager was friendly and extremely helpful.

—Jasmine Rivas Corado

I loved the Kasai dorm. It is spacious and has a beautiful view. Also, the dorm manager is amazingly nice and she always greets me very warmly whenever I see her.

—Alice Hoglund

The whole apartment complex of Azeria Kasai is phenomenal. Even though I originally signed up for homestay, I’m really glad I was put in this dormitory. It has a homestay feel to it because the dormitory manager is extremely helpful and interesting to talk to. The meals here are also delicious and worth the price. The only inconvenient thing is the commute, but it’s worth it to live in such a beautiful and interesting place.

—Jennifer Campbell

Although Kasai is a little far from the school getting used to the commute was very easy. The city is nice and quiet and very close to Disney. The fireworks offer a nice view at night.

—Ronnie Joseph

The dorm (Azeria, Kasai) manager and the women who prepared the meals were very nice, and I always enjoyed talking to them. They always asked about my life in Japan, and always made sure that I had everything I needed. The food was delicious as well.

—Emily Cole

The dorm manager and staff were the best. They made my experience extremely memorable and a lot more fun. Even though the commute is difficult I would stay here again because Kasai is a beautiful area due to the proximity to large parks and the water.

—Gavon Byrd

The rooms were very comfortable and the atmosphere was pleasant. The cafeteria was very affordable and the food was well prepared. The dorm managers, Shiraishi, are extremely nice, caring and friendly. I had a wonderful experience in Azeria Kasai.

—Allison Hoisl

Azeria Kasai 2 was great! Shirashi-San is by far the best dorm manager I have ever had (including the dorms I’ve stayed in at my own college in the U.S). He had events, was very nice and attentive, and treated us all like grandchildren.

—Elizabeth Brown

I have been enthralled with my living arrangement in Kasai. My apartment has been very quiet, clean and overall convenient place to live despite being an hour away from school. I love how spacious my room is! Thank you very much for allowing me to stay here!

—Brittni Hedstrom

I really liked the living arrangements at Kasai dorms. They were spacious, I had my own bathroom, and it was very private. The dorm managers were extremely nice and cooked excellent dinners. I would recommend anyone to stay in the dorms.

—Christopher Clayton

I am absolutely, completely in love with Azeria Kasai and the adorable people who run it. My dorm will probably be the thing I will miss most about this summer. My favorite part of every day is eating dinner together with everyone in the dining room. The KCP students who live here together get along extremely well, and Shiraishi ojii-san and obaa-san are the most generous, friendly people ever! They always talk with us (which is great Japanese practice) and we’ve even had a bunch of parties together. Last weekend we all watched fireworks on the roof. The other tenants in the dorm are friendly enough too! Plus I love the single rooms, which are well-equipped with everything I would ever need. If I had the choice, I would never leave this place.

—Sabrina Greene

I’m very pleased with the Kasai dorm. Everyone was very nice. The rooms were fantastic. I loved being able to see the Ferris wheel from my balcony!

—Samantha Butler

The living arrangements in Kasai were perfect for living by oneself. I would absolutely stay in this dorm again if I were to choose dorm housing. Its proximity to a grocery store is also a huge plus.

—Adam Mally

The distance from Azeria Kasai II wasn’t what I expected at first, but because there were tickets and a train pass that passed through many interesting and useful stations it ended up not being a problem at all. In our dorm the manager and his sister were especially welcoming and helpful, which was really really good in soothing my way into living in a foreign country, I’ve experienced no problems whatsoever, and I really like the atmosphere of our dorm, where everyone is almost like family.

—Ziye Wang

The Kasai dorm was excellent. The manager was also nice. There were no problems and the rooms were perfect.

—Syedali Khan

I really enjoy my dorm Kasai itself. The manager, Shiraishi san, is welcoming and very helpful. He has thrown a rooftop party and has taken us to a local fireworks show in his free time. The kitchen staff is also very nice and welcoming. The food is excellent! And instead of resorting to English, they consistently speak to us in Japanese, which helps us develop our conversation skills. My room is also very nice, with a balcony and a tiny kitchen. I really enjoyed my stay at this dorm.

—Breann Goosmann

I loved that I didn’t have to pay for my laundry at Azeria Kasai II and the food they would prepare was great.

—Scott Kallaus

I chose KCP because compared to the other programs offered by my university, this one had the most to offer for me. Most other programs seemed to be centered outside of Tokyo, and those that were in Tokyo had very poor housing options and could be rather pricy. KCP was in my price range, in Tokyo (where I wanted to study), and had the option of living in a dorm – quashing my worries for finding an apartment in Tokyo.

—Katie Penvose

The managers of the dormitory I stayed at were so so so nice! They were always warm and inviting and really helpful. Plus talking to them was really really good practice.

—Andrew Kustodowicz

The dorm manager and all dorm staff were pleasant and eager to help the residents with any query. The cafeteria chef, especially, always made a point of conversing in Japanese with the residents, which was helpful to learning Japanese.

—Emerald Sargent

I was very pleased with my living arrangements. The faculty far exceeded my expectations with their warm hospitality and the room itself was superior to what I had expected. Also, the view is wonderful.

—Donovan White

The dorm room itself is really sensibly designed. It’s a lot larger than I thought it would be, there’s a good amount of storage, and the bathroom is ridiculously easy to clean (there’s a drain outside and inside the shower, the floor is lightly sloped toward the drains, and the whole thing is plastic–you can pretty much spray everything down with the shower head).

—Tess Kupel

I am overwhelmingly pleased with the dorm. While it is fairly far from the school, the dorm manager has been extremely kind and generous with all of us here, holding parties and interacting with us whenever we see him.

—Charles Sy

The room is perfect for a single person in my opinion, and has all the amenities you would actually need. It’s definitely better than dorms in college. Our dorm manager was a very awesome guy who genuinely liked to help everyone out, and he went way above and beyond his responsibilities, hosting parties for the students and firework watching with plenty of food and drink provided. By far the best landlord to exist.

—Steffan Achtmann

I love having a private room, shower, kitchenette, fridge, etc. It is ten times what you get normally. Arriving in Japan, you have no idea how great a comfort the blanket was. Here we had arrived and we’re feeling overwhelmed and isolated and sleepy. That comforter was and is my most favorite part of my room. It’s comforting and warm in the winter. Everyone respects the rules and is quiet. The bed is a bit firmer than my American bed, but no complaints.

—Brittany Crouch

The dorm itself is absolutely gorgeous, and my room itself was the biggest I’ve ever had in a dorm setting! Everything was absolutely fantastic, and I would definitely live here again if I could.

—Maggie Cruz

Overall, I was pleased with the general living arrangements at Tokugawa dormitory. The rooms were spacious and included a bathroom and a mini fridge. The living quarters were very clean and comfortable. The [owners], as well as the other caretakers who worked in the dorm, were very accommodating. They deeply cared about all of our well-being and always greeted us with a smile. The dorm managers arranged a welcome party when we arrived as well as a festival in July. Both were bonding experiences for the dormmates as well as a chance for the American students to participate in Japanese culture.

—May Leung

I am extremely satisfied with the living arrangement I have been provided. The dorm manager is very kind and helpful. The breakfast/dinner plan is very cheap, yet the meals themselves are large and very healthy. The rooms are huge compared to most dorms and come with many useful things like a stove, bathroom, and refrigerator, and the building itself is very clean. I could not ask for a better dorm.

—Glenn Irish

I actually really like where I am currently and have enjoyed myself in the dorms immensely. I may have gotten lucky coming here when I did because the people I live with are fantastic and I am very happy to have met and gotten to know them. [The dorm manager] does a great job of taking care of this place and has been very helpful when I needed it.

—Brittany Murphy

I was pleased with the dorm. The room was the perfect size for one person, and everything was clean when I arrived. The dorm manager immediately helped me whenever I would have a problem with something in my room.

—Shayla Jarman

The room was small but the perfect size for living and studying. The laundry area was convenient. I appreciated the community with the other students and the use of the common space on the first floor where we could talk and study. The TV was also nice, I could view Japanese television programs for listening practice.

—Colleen Plunkett

I enjoyed the experience of living in a small one room apartment, but the best part of my building were my landlords. They are a lovely elderly couple who warmly greeted my friends and I when we returned home and gave us cold melons to eat amidst the summer heat. The day we departed from the building, they were kind enough to offer to drive us to the station since it was raining.

—Ashley Pascual

Tanashi Dorm is fantastic — the food is delicious, the accommodations are nice, and the dorm managers are kind and helpful.

—John Bertinet

I liked having my own room as it gave me a good place to relax after a long day of school and hanging out with friends. I really enjoyed the flexibility and autonomy of living in a dorm like Tanashi as it made the experience of living in Japan feel more authentic. As silly as it may sound I felt like a true Japanese citizen walking down the street to get a convenience store bento.

—Chase Morimoto

Without a doubt, your Japanese will improve while attending KCP, but the extent to which it will depends on you. Those who choose homestay invariably will improve speaking and listening comprehension as living with Japanese speakers is a sure way to improve.

—Sophia Warren

I found my Japanese improving significantly through living with my host family, since what I learn in class could be practiced right away. Not only could I have a closer look at the Japanese culture and people, we made unforgettable bonds.

—Thu Nguyen

My homestay experience was excellent. I highly suggest first-timers to do a homestay for one term, especially if they already have a basic level of Japanese. Talking with my host family every evening I got the chance to practice what I’d learned in class over the previous few days. Not only would they correct me whenever I made a mistake, but I’d also learn a lot of new things from them too.

Come to KCP! It’s a great way to get immersed in the language and practice it every day. I would also highly recommend doing a homestay, as it’s a great way to ensure you are able to practice your Japanese on a day-to-day basis. It can be pretty difficult to make friends outside of class so having a host family who can make you feel connected to the society is pretty important.

—Brian Bergquist

Staying with a homestay family was the most interesting aspect of the program for me. I got to see and live firsthand with a Japanese family and also got to practice what I learned in class that day.

—Jason Chang

Learned a ton from my host family, I really enjoyed staying with them.

—Charles Madere

The most productive aspect of the program was living with a host family, because I was always practicing what I learn in class at home. And I believe that it has given me more confidence in speaking and not being worried about making mistakes.

—Lissette Aldrete

The homestay was the most productive in terms of improving my speaking and listening skills. I feel like more activities that encourage friendships between students of different nationalities may aid Japanese skill acquisition and retention.

—Joshua Lozensky

If you are in doubt, don’t be! KCP has far exceeded my expectations. Also, spend the little extra to be in a host family. I received so many more invaluable experiences and more chances to practice my Japanese than those in the dorms.

—Rachel Burch