I felt the most productive and interesting aspects of the program were honestly the teachers' varied styles of teaching.
Which events or activities did you find the most satisfying and why?
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.
What were the most productive and interesting aspects of the program for you? The least interesting and productive?
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.
What activities or materials did you find most helpful (e.g., pair work, drill practice, tests, small group sessions, textbooks, games)?
I felt that the pair work was probably the most productive and helpful work we did in class together, as well as the work we did on our own from the textbooks. Additionally I really liked the reading exercises we started doing in Level 2, and I feel like similar exercises should be introduced even in Level 1. From what I'm hearing from many former Japanese second-language learners, reading voraciously was what helped them to really learn the grammar and vocabulary quickly.
Any comments or tips for prospective/new KCP students?
At times, the workload may be tough to the point where you might question your decision to undertake it; this is normal for any intense, goal-oriented program. 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!
