Pair work was helpful in speaking and figuring out conjugations.

—Lenamarie Rodgers

Being forced to use Japanese only with no English to help me along truly made me use the language in a way that two years of studying Japanese in college back home didn’t.

—Kaylyn Dicksion

Class was absolutely fantastic; I learned a lot at a fast rate, and I learned with people from completely different cultures.

—Erika Trnka

The opportunities KCP offered beyond the class experience, like school trips, interaction with people from other countries (in Japanese!), and living in Tokyo, all contribute to a great learning and living environment.

—Benjamin Pachter

Being taught entirely in Japanese and having non-English-speaking classmates really helped me develop my Japanese beyond simply grammar, vocabulary, and kanji.

—Joseph Bandy

When I started at KCP I could not speak Japanese, although I had a rudimentary understanding of grammar. I applied myself, and now I can carry on complex conversations with a variety of people. The difference is amazing.

—Sara Sumpter

Don’t hesitate to sign up for KCP. You’ll have many good experiences, and it’s well worth your money.

—Michael Mazack

Most helpful were the English support sessions. Speaking with patient feedback on what I am doing wrong or what doesn’t make sense was helpful to me.

—Patrick McInerney

This program is intensive! Do not expect to spend your semester partying and having fun because you are in a foreign country. Be prepared to study.

—Tavainya Smith

I found the grammatical notes to be helpful reviews of the lessons, and the English translations were well done.

—Tavainya Smith

The study notebook was especially helpful for test preparation—it focused in on the important points in each lesson.

—Lester Martin

Group presentations are fun and beneficial: we get to act out real scenarios.

—Lester Martin

The English support sessions outside class were extremely productive. Before I came here, I hardly knew all the hiragana and katakana. By the end of the first week, I had mastered them, increased my vocabulary tenfold, and increased in my reading and writing skills dramatically.

—Nathaniel Downes

The most interesting, productive aspect of this program was interacting with the culture and people. I loved walking the streets and trying out the new Japanese I had learned that day—a wonderful experience that I will always remember.

—Daniel Huber

I really enjoyed the speech contest. It brought all the classes together in a vital way.

—Amanda Le

The pair work was most helpful, because it gave us an opportunity to practice our new grammar structures in a smaller environment.

—Ryan Easterling

The connections I made—professionally with experts in my field, personally in my many new friends, and creatively with many brilliant artists and inspiring mentors—have shaped my life.

—Tyler Fry

The opportunity to apply my knowledge outside of class right away every day is something I will truly miss and won’t be able to experience often when I return to America.

—Amanda Wang

I recommend KCP to those who are serious: willing to learn and apply Japanese every day! It gets frustrating at times but everyone at KCP makes sure you are heading straight toward your goals. It’s worth all the time and money spent!

—Amanda Wang

The pair work is very useful for improving conversational skills; in the hatsuon (pronunciation) drill practices, we learned how to correct ways of saying words and phrases.

—Amanda Wang

Drill practice in front of the entire class gave me the confidence to speak Japanese all the time.

—Matthew Green

The program exceeded my expectations—I learned much more Japanese that I had anticipated.

—Laura Gonzalez

If you are willing to dedicate yourself to learning Japanese, KCP is the place to be. The courses are very intense; the teachers really push you to do your best. KCP focuses on all aspects of language: reading, writing, speaking, and listening, plus the social context. Plan for lots of practice outside of class!

—Corinne Joo Coffey

The most valuable aspect of the program was bringing the class together as a group. Instead of just studying on our own during class, we interacted very frequently with each other. Sitting in a semi-circle really helped that.

—Corinne Joo Coffey

I expected to improve my Japanese communication skills in an immersive environment. My expectations were vastly exceeded. I learned far more than I could have imagined learning in any other setting.
—Ryan Easterling

Having classmates from all over the world and using Japanese as our common language was very enriching.

—Rachel Lanahan

I studied on my own from a book before I got to KCP, so I learned grammar rules and how to write, but when I was immersed in the language in and out of class, my language fluency exploded.

—Rachel Lanahan

The lectures on the deeply candid topics were incredibly insightful and offered me knowledge of Japanese society I did not previously have.

—Tanya Smagula

I learned more than just school-Japanese, but also Japanese for daily life.

—Renee Disney

Being in a classroom where only Japanese is spoken has greatly improved my understanding and listening skills.

—Nancy Castro

Just living here has been valuable. Living like a normal person, taking garbage out like a normal person, commuting, bathing, living like most Japanese people has been incredibly valuable both to my interests and to my perspective on the world.

—Andrew Prowse

I found the pre-class English support sessions both enjoyable and helpful. I liked learning with a small group, and the games we played (like holding cards above people’s heads) were both fun and great practice.

—Timothy Gagnon

The lectures on the Japanese way of communication were most helpful in helping me understand the culture as a whole. As a result, I now have a great opinion of my ability to live and work in Japan.

—Ying Xue Chen

I found pair work and drill practice the most helpful. Pair work allows students to be creative; drill practice is all about memorizing the conjugations or grammatical forms in question.

—Brian Walker

With 15 classroom hours a week, new kanji and grammar daily, and entire chapters completed in the blink of an eye, KCP clearly provides an intensive route to studying Japanese. I needed serious determination; at times, I questioned whether I could master this difficult language. Ultimately, all this was needed to develop enthusiasm for the Japanese language—and to make me stronger.

—Brian Walker

I never learned Japanese in the direct method in America; KCP’s method of teaching required us to think in Japanese constantly, which is extremely important here. Because I had to speak Japanese every day to get around, thinking quickly in Japanese was imperative. The direct method was a great help.

—Jessica Funtanilla

The KCP teaching staff is phenomenal. Without question, this is THE best group of Japanese instructors I’ve yet come across in my years of grappling with the language. The staff go above and beyond to make our experience smooth. My experience with KCP from start to finish has been nothing short of fantastic.

—Alexander Brickler

I came knowing almost nothing of the written language. In two weeks I learned hiragana and got a better grasp on katakana. The teachers and staff did their best to help us; they gave extra help to people like me who were slow to learn. One-on-one attention and class activities helped me begin communicating. That’s when the fun began.

—Ian Melton

Be prepared to study a bunch, but studying gets easier with practice. I used the long train ride to school to study kanji. Writing them in my head (without moving my hand) was a great way to learn—it really made me see the characters.

—Cybelle Smith

Don’t expect your experience back in the States to translate immediately into an ability to function in Japanese society or guarantee placement into a high level at KCP. The KCP program emphasizes many important cultural usages of the language not taught in the American curriculum. Come with an open mind and accept the challenges that come your way.

—Loribeth Gregory

After being immersed in the language, culture, and life of Japan, I was hooked! I am now a double major in Japanese and American Ethnic Studies. After graduation, I will teach English in Japan while I complete a masters degree in education.

—Catalina Tiamson

If your goal is to become better at Japanese, and not just to mess around in Japan, there’s no place better than KCP. Through hard work you can get better at Japanese, understand more about Japan, and in the long run experience Japan profoundly.

—David Dial

Studying at KCP was the best experience of my life! All of the staff at KCP should be proud of this study abroad program. Thank you.

—James Hwang

If you put your best into this intensive program, you will be speaking Japanese faster than you thought possible.

—Ryan Conner

There is no better place to study Japanese than where you are immersed in it, day and night; so, where better than in Japan’s capital? KCP’s classes are in Japanese, because most of its students come from non-English speaking countries like South Korea and China. Tests, textbooks, grammatical explanations, and even school announcements are in Japanese.

—Brandi Potts

I am very happy with my progress, and I recommend KCP to anyone serious about reaching a higher level of proficiency in Japanese.

—Brandi Potts

The KCP program was terrific! When I first arrived I really couldn’t speak Japanese, but with all the support from KCP (especially Tanaka-san and Nakajima-san), I felt comfortable. They did everything possible to help us; everyone genuinely cared. I recommend KCP to anyone, whether absolute beginner or almost fluent, who is considering studying language in Japan.

—Phillip Buschang