Keep going at it. You guys are doing great! I loved the time I've spent in KCP!
Which events or activities did you find the most satisfying and why?
The speech contest was the best event out of the ones I experienced at KCP. I wasn't particular fond of the speeches themselves (thought the process were too long and there were too many of them), but the ouen part was very fun to watch and to prepare for. The preparation phase for the ouen allowed me to experience a strong sense of unity and I took a lot of pride in my class. It gave me the chance to get to know my classmates better during my short stay, and for that I am very thankful.
Why did you select this program?
To be honest I didn't do much research to compare KCP with other programs, however I was very satisfied with my choice. I've always been interested in Japan and enjoyed its inventions, so for me it seemed like a perfect opportunity to explore this country while picking up where I left off with the learning of its language.
What were the most productive and interesting aspects of the program for you? The least interesting and productive?
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. The worst part of the program was the commute, spending 2 hours on the road for 3 hours of class wasn't very appealing, especially in the hot and humid weather of summer Tokyo.
What activities or materials did you find most helpful (e.g., pair work, drill practice, tests, small group sessions, textbooks, games)?
Anything involving the chance to speak Japanese, e.g. participating in class discussions, talking with classmates in Japanese, creating scenarios to apply newly-learnt grammar/sentence structure, etc
What did you find most valuable in the Culture Course?
It was a curry cooking course (I think it's considered a culture course?). The most valuable part was the chance to interact with a local person that's close to our age.
Any further thoughts or tips for those considering the program or new KCP students?
Get something you can do on a train, since the commute takes quite long everyday (for those living in dorms that are far). Be open minded and don't stick to your own language-circle, it's a good way to practice your Japanese, and also make interesting friends who might share very different perspectives.
Any other comments or suggestions?
Keep going at it. You guys are doing great! I loved the time I've spent in KCP!
