Intensive studying at KCP International Past Review

By (University of Tampere) - abroad from 07/04/2018 to 09/20/2018 with

KCP International Japanese Language School: Tokyo - Intensive Japanese Language Immersion

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Of course it was worthwhile. I gained good basic language skills + got to live in Tokyo which is one of my favorite cities in the world.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I liked the English Support we had during the program.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I arranged my own rental apartment in Tokyo which was surprisingly easy. You can also opt for KCP arranged housing which I understood was of good quality too, the dorms my friends stayed at where in Ikebukuro and Shinjuku.

* Food:

There were plenty of good and cheapish restaurants close to the school, my favorite was the Korean restaurant.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I had visited Japan several times before this trip so I knew what to expect. In some ways Japan is very similar to Finland and in others not so much.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I'm in good health and did not experience any need to visit a dr during my stay.

* Safety:

Tokyo is really really safe. As everyone knows there is always the risk of earth quake but that's pretty much it. Japan is a well organized society.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I could choose the same program if I wanted to continue my studies at an intensive pace.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I had a rather large budget but I could have easily lived on 15 e / day.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Around 150 e perhaps
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Eat local or Korean / Chinese, it's the Western food that's expensive.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Use the language and talk with the locals. :)

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • N/A
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • You really get results
  • The location of the school is great
  • You can try to find the serious student inside you :)
* What could be improved?
  • Sometimes students who did not understand where made to repeat things - explanation of grammar etc works better.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I would have liked to know that Tokyo had the warmest summer ever, I would have packed less. I don't think I wore a jacket once during the 3 months.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.