My homestay experience was excellent.
What were the most productive and interesting aspects of the program for you? The least interesting and productive?
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.
What activities or materials did you find most helpful (e.g., pair work, drill practice, tests, small group sessions, textbooks, games)?
I think there was a good balance of various activities. Although I would have liked to move a little faster through the textbook chapters, I understand that everyone learns at a different rate and that the curriculum must take this into account.
Any further thoughts or tips for those considering the program or new KCP students?
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. My favourite extra tools for study are Anki (a flashcard app), Obenkyou (an app to practice writing Kanji), and Akebi (a handy app for looking up words and new Kanji). I highly recommend these to anyone who has a smartphone and is studying Japanese.
Any other comments or suggestions?
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 of class A23, as well as my fellow classmates for making my time here exceptional. I highly and without hesitation recommend KCP Japanese Language School to anyone looking to learn Japanese.
