Learn Japanese in Tokyo, Japan

I recently studied Japanese at KCP International for six months. In that time my Japanese improved considerably. In just six months I went from struggling with simple sentences to being able to hold long conversations. The students and teachers at KCP helped me push my self everyday to get better at Japanese. The faculty at KCP were always there if I needed extra help with class or anything in my day to day life in Japan. KCP places a strong focus on speaking and essay writing, two parts of Japanese I struggled with the most when I studied on my own. Every week I could tell that my Japanese skills had progressed from the previous week. I had a wonderful time at KCP and I am hoping I will get the chance to study there again in the future.

Japanese is often considered one of the most difficult languages for native English speakers to learn. After studying it seriously for several years, while I agree with that assessment generally, I think taking the plunge and studying Japanese is one of the most rewarding challenges you can give yourself. It is a beautiful language that in many ways is completely different from English. Towards that end, if you have chosen to study Japanese seriously, I think KCP is the best choice for building a stron g foundation for your Japanese. KCP is incredibly rigorous, in the Beginner and Intermediate levels there is a lot of homework and class prep. But you will realize that that is what's necessary in order to learn Japanese. However you won't be trudging through all this on your own. KCP has an excellent faculty who do their best to best support and challenge you on your way to understanding Japanese. Also the English speaking support staff are always ready to help if you need a hand with anything from finding an English speaking doctor to navigating the visa process. I highly recommend KCP for anyone who really wants to learn Japanese

I attended KCP International after my first year taking Japanese at university. In the beginning, I was nervous about attending a language school, but I ended up enjoying the program. I will say with full confidence that your Japanese will improve immensely. With the Summer short-term program, I could grasp conversational Japanese, and my skills are still utilized today. What sets KCP apart from other programs is its dedication to teaching its students and the fully immersive environment that it creates in the classroom. First, the textbook they use is completely in Japanese so you learn to think in Japanese, and you don't immediately associate it with an English equivalent word. Secondly, they give you a proficiency test a week or two after the program starts which makes it so you're comfortable at the level you were placed at. Lastly, your classmates usually come from all over the world, so the language your classmates share is Japanese. You will leave the program with new friends, new experiences, better conversational Japanese, and confidence in yourself. The people I met during KCP and the program truly unlocked my new chapter in life. I will always be thankful for this opportunity to study at KCP. So if you're on the fence about whether to choose this program for either the start of your language journey or to further improve your Japanese, then please choose KCP International.

I have made life long friends that I would have never expected. And besides staying in Tokyo I had the opportunity to travel to Hokkaido, Osaka, and Kyoto which has brought even more core memories for me to look back on everyday.

KCP International did an amazing job of not only improving my Japanese language ability, but also providing a great opportunity to make new connections. Over the course of the program, you will be challenged according to your skill level and will have many chances to practice Japanese with your international classmates and native Japanese professors. All of the faculty members at the school are extremely helpful and truly want to see each student succeed. If you are attending as a US Program student, you will have access to English support classes and other extracurricular opportunities that will improve your proficiency. The school also provides plenty of housing and travel assistance, so don't stress about your trip to or from Japan! All of my apprehension before going to a new country for the first time was quickly alleviated once I discovered just how attentive and supportive everyone at this program is, including your fellow classmates. If you are interested in elevating your Japanese skill level, making new friendships, and seeing the world then don't hesitate to apply to KCP International!

Great memories and lasting friendships up ahead! This program is the best way to learn Japanese while getting a feel on living in Japan. If you are trying to learn Japanese in a fast and effective way, then this program is for you! I studied for 3 months in the KCP program and was very grateful for the staff there, they make sure to accommodate you the best they can! Living situation was superb, the dorms had everything you needed and were located 40 minutes away from the school. Not to mention the cost of the program, dorms included, was incredibly affordable compared to other study abroad programs. Do not worry if you have no background in Japanese language. The school will place you in levels pertaining to your skill and will teach you everything from grammar to Kanji. Everything is pretty fast so I encourage people to do their best at studying. After two months I assure anyone that you will have developed an understanding of the language of some kind. Not to mention the many friends you will make from all over the globe! Overall I am very grateful for the teachers and friends I met at KCP!

For the 8 week program, I learned a lot about Japanese culture and language. This was the most intensive language class I have taken and I loved every minute of it. Also in the first two weeks, the program took us on a bus trip to the next prefecture over to visit shrines and a peach farm! The classes were intensive. In the beginning, I was unsure and not confident in speaking Japanese despite learning for 2 semesters already. In the end, however, I was able to even converse at a local thrift store with the salesperson!

Going to Japan absolutely changed my life for the better. Through KCP and Tokyo, I learned plenty of Japanese and was immersed in the culture. But even further from that, I learned about myself and others and gained a whole new perspective on life. KCP is an excellent school and an amazing opportunity. The school work is rigorous but absolutely worth it, and though there's much to study, there's also plenty of time to go on many amazing adventures. I will remember this experience for the rest of my life. If you get the chance to go to this school, do it!

I had a fun experience in Tokyo balancing between experiencing the city and studying at a fast pace at KCP International Japanese Language School in Shinjuku. I liked a lot of things about the program, the main one being that you really learn during it. You have to put a lot of effort in into the school if you're at beginner's level like I was. I put in something like 3-4 hours of studying the first month per day on top of classes but after that I managed with around 2 hours / day on top of class. Another plus for the school was that they make you talk every single class so ghosting on that front is not an option even if you are the shy type or you've prioritized free time activities the day before instead of a night of studying. I also liked the culture course that was linked to the language course.

I feel like I learned more refined Japanese at KCP than 3 years at American school. KCP teaches you grammar that is useful in daily conversation and since it's located in Japan, you can use what you learn in class literally right after is school is over. Since the main classes is only in Japanese, it forces the mind to start thinking quickly in Japanese to only respond in Japanese. It sounds scary at first but I am honestly grateful for this style because the rest of the country is in Japanese so it's realistic. Everyone at the school from the teachers to the office staff were willing to go above and beyond to make sure any problem was 100% addressed and solved to the best of their ability. There was a point where everyone started to become like friends or even family and I found myself enthusiastic every single day - even on weekend classes - to spend time with them. I'm so sad that I was only able to spend a short time at KCP but so happy for the long-lasting memories I'll have of it!

KCP is a wonderful place. One of my favorite things I got to do in my time as a foreign language student was travel to Yamanashi, Japan and see Mt. Fuji from a short distance as well as visit some shrines and a village. This trip is organized by the school and I had a blast with my friends and learned so many things about Japan’s history and current cultural values. KCP is a clean school, with helpful, kindhearted staff and the students are fun, too. I made friends for a lifetime that I will visit from China, Korea, and other parts of America. If I have the chance, I would like to come back and study at KCP again. I have learned a great foundation of Japanese in my 6 month study abroad duration and I can’t wait to take it home so that I can continue improving my Japanese.

KCP is not only an immersive Japanese language program, it is incredible teachers, unlimited support, opportunity, and lasting relationships that span beyond just the school time. For me, KCP gave me the opportunity to live in Japan and really choose if Japan was really where I wanted to be in the future and if Japanese was really one of the languages I would choose to pave that future. I lived in an apartment/dorm for three months and every morning went to the station pretty easily to get to school. School was a blast, I made so many friends in and outside of class and the lessons were more beneficial than any program or class I’ve ever seen personally in America. Every lesson, and as a matter of fact in the whole school, you are only to speak Japanese. That alone helped more than I realized at first but instantly was grateful towards it helping my comprehension and speaking skills. Most every weekend, there were culture excursions that taught me more about Japanese culture, society, and history. Learning a language is not only about the language but about the society it comes from and KCP gives that opportunity to every student besides being able to live there in general and explore for yourself. The work was challenging and definitely showed me where I need to improve to become fluent in Japanese as well and ALWAYS the teachers and staff were so eager to help. Even during our first school trip out to the park for a BBQ, everyone was so helpful and being shy wasn’t a problem at all. It actually gave me more reason to push myself so that I could make the memories I have today and will forever hold with me. I’m so grateful to KCP, so grateful for everyone I met and who helped me along the way, I’m excited to go back and actually live in Japan after I earn my bachelor’s degree. Anyone who wants to learn Japanese honestly, you wil not regret KCP and what it can teach and give to you for life.

The course is definitely as challenging as everyone is making it out to be. All classes are completely in Japanese and your classmates are mainly from other Asian countries so you're in a place where you've got to use everything you've got at your disposal. This makes it challenging, but you'll quickly find yourself understanding more and more through the immersion offered. There is English support available should you need it and the supplementary classes and clubs available have a lot tailored to what you may be keen on. The school events including school-wide bbq and the American program weekend trip were especially great to spend time with fellow classmates and learn more about the local culture here in Japan. The workload is high, but try not to get too discouraged, what you'll learn is very useful for your Japanese goals.

Though I’ve only studied abroad with KCP, I have my own experiences with Japanese education in the United States to go off of, and within the program I met other students who had participated in other programs, and we both came to the same conclusion: you can’t get a better Japanese education than through KCP International. Through all my Japanese study in the United States for five years, I have never had so rigorous and thorough an education as I did through KCP. For instance, in the US there is little emphasis on intonation, of which is an integral part of language. Only at KCP did I learn of these intonations, but I didn’t just learn about them- I was tested and got opportunities through lots of feedback to improve on this aspect of Japanese. As well as intonation they also practice Kanji, pronunciation between similar words, grammar lessons, particle practice, and much more. There are such a variety of class exercises that you get to see where all your strengths and weaknesses are. They also give you the chance to take the JLPT, which is excellent if you intend to get a job based on your Japanese. Don’t be intimidated by the full immersion, though; throughout the week an additional English help lesson is provided outside of class that goes over everything you learn in class but in English, and the teacher available for that is always willing to help students wherever they need it. KCP International is also committed to helping students outside of academic matters as well. They understand that students have a variety of needs when they study abroad, and they are committed to providing whatever services they can and then some. For me, I had to ship an instrument case back to the United States, but I wasn’t familiar with how the post in Japan worked, so one of the KCP staff personally accompanied me to a post office and helped me through the process. In another case, I wasn’t sure where to buy a pocket Wi-fi (a necessity in Japan), and one of the staff did research on my behalf to help me find an affordable deal. The cultural trips as well were beyond anything I would ever have the chance to do in my own time. I was able to get “insider tips” about many places around Tokyo, Kamakura, and Enoshima, and I got to go to places that would otherwise be difficult to reserve (such as a Kabuki theater and a traditional Japanese inn). The teachers that participated in the cultural trips were like well-educated tour guides, and they did their best to cater all activities to the students, whether those activities were historical or contemporary in nature. KCP doubly cares both about giving you an intensive Japanese education, but they also want you to enjoy your time in Japan, so they are flexible in accommodating for their students’ needs and do their best to provide fulfilling experiences.

KCP is a wonderful program if you are looking to 1) see your Japanese abilities grow exponentially and 2) experience Japanese life and culture hands-on. Also, it’s really a program for those who don't want only to party. The program's very challenging and demands that you focus on your schoolwork, health, and managing time in between. Essentially, you eat, live, and breathe a Japanese lifestyle. It's fantastic. The most interesting, effective element, in my opinion, is the fact that the classes are taught in all Japanese. There is no instruction in English, really. I mean, every now and again, you have to switch to your mother tongue—it’s unavoidable. But that is kept to a minimum. If it wasn't for studying in such an intensive setting that forced me to think in the language (not just translate in my head), I probably would never have improved as much as I did in Japanese. I think it's very important to be aware of the essentials of Japanese culture before immersing yourself in it, and that's exactly what happens in the culture course. Not only do you learn necessary history and important events, but you get the chance to peek into how the Japanese think and feel. It's indispensable for living in Japan, I think.

Takatsu-sensei is my best kanji teacher, by far: he draws all kinds of little pictures to help seal the meanings of the kanji into our memories, and it works! His kanji practice method is highly effective for me. Takatsu- sensei's pictures illustrate many important grammar points in a very interesting and unforgettable way. Many people consider Suzuki-sensei to be kowaii (tough), but I like her approach very much: she doesn’t let us get away with being lazy, and she is very kind and patient when help is needed. What a great way to develop discipline in studying. She radiates strength, and I respect her very highly. I enjoy her sense of humor. Komae-sensei is as sweet as sugar, if not sweeter! When I was having a hard time and becoming frustrated, she was always reassuring and very patient with me. I felt very comfortable coming to her with questions. She has a very motherly way. Class was absolutely fabulous; I learned a lot, very quickly, and I learned along with people from completely different cultures. It felt so international.

I think KCP’s greatest strength is its teachers, and that’s the most important thing to get right. The professors truly care about each student's improvement in Japanese language skills. The classes themselves were very productive, but I was really surprised by how readily available the teachers made themselves to us before and after class. I was able to practice fairly long conversations regularly with teachers, and that kind of dedication to teaching was critical to my improvement in Japanese. It was just what I needed. Of course, students need to contribute equal amounts of effort in order to to reap the full benefits of such a dedicated collection of faculty. Also, the administrative staff were very prompt and quite helpful in answering any questions I had, everything from how to get somewhere to buying gifts or what some foods were made of. The only thing I would do differently is to look for my own lodging, rather than stay at the dorm. I like my independence. All in all, however, I enthusiastically recommend KCP to a student hoping to improve in Japanese by leaps and bounds.

All of my teachers were very good at what they did. Kamisaki-sensei was one of my teachers during the week-long preparation/review period, and even then she always made class interesting. We were totally involved. Konno-sensei was my Wednesday teacher. I enjoyed her every class every time, thanks to the way she brought her great sense of humor to us and let us have fun with the Japanese language points we were learning. When you tie fun to learning, it stays with you better. The pair work was most helpful, because it gave us an opportunity to practice our new grammar structures in a smaller environment. We were all at the same level, so it was less intimidating. The one-to-one is a great, very focused way to practice things. I expected to improve my Japanese communication skills in an immersive environment. My expectations were hugely exceeded. I learned far more than I could have imagined learning in any other setting.

I was astounded by the quality of all my professors here at KCP. Their high level of ability and professionalism is really exceptional, and it’s the most important thing in a language program. Kikuchi-sensei is great at explaining things or acting out scenarios to make them understandable. Horikoshi-sensei is especially good at getting all of us involved and interested in what we were learning. Konno-sensei uses her fine sense of humor to make learning fun and is especially skilled at drawing pictures that help us understand the language concepts in a visual way. Things like humor, acting out, and drawing make use of more styles of learning. That helped me a lot. The dorm was neat and clean, the food was excellent, and my dorm mates were very friendly. The dorm was a great way to practice speaking Japanese with native speakers, since most of the other people living there were college students.

The three instructors I had, Tozawa-sensei, Suzuki-sensei, and Sugimoto-sensei, were all excellent in their different ways. They were able to involve the whole class in every session, creative in explaining meanings, and very patient with us when we needed time to understand fully. I had never experienced a class of Japanese in the direct method (only Japanese is spoken) in America; KCP’s method of teaching required us to think in Japanese all the time, which is extremely important here. Because I had to speak Japanese every day to get around, thinking quickly in Japanese was imperative. Having someone continually translate things into English in class would not have helped me. The direct method was a great help. In Culture Class, I enjoyed learning from experts about cultural topics as they shared their knowledge, in addition to the excursions. The excursions were valuable, fun, and very interesting—but hearing the culture analyzed by those who really know was also important to me. I grasped insights on Japanese culture that I didn't understand before coming to KCP.