KCP Student Views 2013, Part 1
2013 was a fun, memorable year for KCP students. They share with us their takeaways from the language and culture program as well as life as a study abroad student in Japan. In this first installment of a 3-part series, students describe their experiences with cooking classes, dormitory and homestay life, the Speech Contest, and KCP’s beloved teachers.
Cooking Classes
The cooking clubs were a fun way to practice Japanese with some of the higher classmates while learning about Japanese culture.
–Michiel Sikma
I really enjoyed the cooking classes and excursions we did with the students of the university. I thought they were a great chance to meet Japanese students and hold natural conversations.
–Rebeka Jessee
Housing
I enjoyed the dorm and room itself. The room was the perfect size for a single person living/studying in Tokyo. And the dorm manager was more than glad to help with anything we might need.
–James Brown
The homestay was the most productive in terms of improving my speaking and listening.
–Alexander Courtney
The dorm manager and all dorm staff were pleasant and eager to help the residents with any query. The cafeteria chef, especially, always made a point of conversing in Japanese with the residents, which was helpful to learning Japanese.
–Emerald Sargent
The dorm manager and staff were the best. They made my experience extremely memorable and a lot more fun.
–Gavon Byrd
I was very pleased with my living arrangements. The faculty far exceeded my expectations with their warm hospitality and the room itself was superior to what I had expected. Also the view is wonderful.
–Donovan White
The living arrangements were highly satisfactory; I experienced no problems with them whatsoever. I really liked how cheap the meals offered at the dorm are. For students on a budget such as myself, a cheap but nutritional dinner is something incredibly nice to have available.
–Nathan Wong
Speech Contest
The speech contest was very interesting to me. Being forced to create a coordinated dance with the other students really put my Japanese abilities to the test. Overall, it was a fun and rewarding experience.
–Alexander Courtney
Being a speaker made the speech contest a very rewarding experience, especially because it meant I got extra instruction on my pronunciation.
–Justin Grubbs
Teachers
The teachers are all very qualified, and the direct-method teaching has been very effective at making me think in Japanese in order to communicate.
–Nathan Wong
Something I found enjoyable was the attentiveness of the Sensei. They were always willing to practice with, listen to any issues we may have had, and help us through anything that we found difficult to understand.
— Jason Rott
Stay tuned for more student views!
