Kyoto Institute of Culture and Language — Local services in Kyoto

Before coming to KICL, I had already studied Japanese for 2 years but forgotten most of it since I had never practiced or used it outside of my classes in college. After taking the placement test and interview, I ended up placed in Beginner Level 1. I felt the placement was fair and wanted to refresh myself on the basics. My teachers and classmates made the semester really fun and enjoyable! I also learned a lot and ended up passing the N4 in July during this class. I skipped a level afterwards and ended up in Intermediate 1. The beginning of this class made sure to review the contents from the previous classes but also provide a base for new incoming students that start in Intermediate 1. Passed the N3 with little to no studying in December during this semester! The school also provides resources to help prepare for the JLPT, but you’re expected to study on your own time. Currently, I’m in my third semester in Intermediate Level 2 class preparing to take the JLPT N2 this July.

As for the classes themselves, I like the structure of classes and how immersive it is. We read from a short passage and then study the grammar. For vocabulary and kanji, you’re expected to learn them on your own and will be tested on the chapter quizzes. (Side note: I’m from America so I’m not expected to know kanji before coming to KICL. However, I did learn kanji prior to coming here through my previous lessons.) There are homeworks that help you learn them but we don’t go over them as a separate lesson in class. My teachers were all very patient and helpful with me, especially because I felt like I was willing to learn even if I struggled. When there was something I didn’t understand, I was able to rely on my teachers or even my classmates. Some of my classmates don’t speak English, but since we’re all here to learn Japanese, I’m able to converse with them easily in Japanese. There’s also opportunities outside of meeting other foreigners in Japan such as joining clubs at the connected university and making friends with Japanese people.

There are elective classes and support systems based on your goals after graduating from school. The school will help you prepare to find a job or enter university in Japan if you want to continue living here. Because of this, it can feel like your teachers are strict, but it’s from a place of care. I appreciate that they give you honest feedback on your progress and how you should approach achieving your goals.

For those curious, I didn’t stay in the dorms but got an apartment with a friend from my hometown. We came to KICL together and are roommates. It definitely made the study abroad experience a little easier and I’m grateful they came with me.

I feel that my Japanese has definitely improved while attending KICL!! I’m really happy that I came here and chose to learn at this school. The teachers and staff really care about you, so if you have any problems (outside of school as well) you can go to them for advice. I don’t think I could ever stop talking about how great the school is. I have...

I went to another language school years ago, but I felt that it was just a structure to teach Japanese and make money, so when I wanted to come back to Japan I asked for the recommendation of a friend and ended up here. I liked it so much I recommended it to my friend who is now currently attending!

I graduated after 1.5 years. I started at intermediate 3 advanced 1 advanced 2. Before I arrived in Japan I could already speak and read Japanese, but I didn’t feel that I was anywhere near fluent, so I wanted to learn more. I had a bit of worries about how much more I can actually learn at a school from my level at the time.

First of all, this is a real school. Unlike my previous school, this one is an educational institution, situated in an actual university. The teachers are passionate and strict, the classes and the lessons are carefully thought out. I learned a lot.

What I really like is that since many of the students at this school are aiming for art schools, we are allowed to get pretty creative with our assignments. As someone whose career will never be art, but loves it anyways, this was a really great fit for me!

I had to study a LOT to keep up. Especially because I joined with good speaking but pretty poor kanji ability. I spent hours a week studying, but no complaints there. My goal was to get better at Japanese, honestly if there was no tests to pressure me, I probably would never study on my own. I thought the classes were perfectly paced so that I always had to challenge myself. It’s not like I had to study every single day, but I definitely did several days a week.

My favorite part of the school is that it’s on a college campus, I joined the dance club in the university and made such good friends that even after finishing KICL I still go back once a week for dance! Plus it’s been a huge help for my Japanese and making friends.

I seriously can’t praise this school enough. When I joined I was cocky about my Japanese ability, but I soon got humbled. Im seriously impressed how my classmates had only been at the school for only 6 months or a year and how well they could speak. When I graduated I couldn’t just speak Japanese, I can express myself in Japanese, and talk about a range of subjects.

If you make it to advanced, you basically study Japanese university texts, so you get exposed to Japanese useful in history and science, not just every day conversation.

Im now at graduate school in Japan and I have to say I miss the office staff of KICL. They were really on top of everything from making sure we had the right documents, and even helping us to eliminate our medical expenses. They helped me when I had trouble making a bank account and also when my health insurance costs suddenly shot up. I don’t even know where to go for help at my current school.

I joined many of the cultural events they offer at the school and my favorite memory is still meeting a geisha! I could keep going about how great of a decision it was to study at this school, but I think you...

I don't recommend this school at all (unless you just need a way to stay in Japan). One of the pulls is that it is on the art campus. However the school doesn't help you integrate with the university, and in my case I didn't get to join any clubs there.

If you want to learn to converse in Japanese, tough luck! Their main focus is kanji, yet they don't actually teach you how to learn it. They mix the European/American/Thai students into classes that are roughly 50% or more Chinese or Taiwanese students. So you are already not equal in your abilities because most people already know kanji.

The textbooks are 20 years old and not updated. The teachers even mention that some grammar points are not relevant anymore. Lots of things at this school just seem incredibly lazy and outdated which I think is unacceptable when students are paying such high fees.

Other bad things are lack of support (especially in English) once you actually arrive and start the school. For important information (like medical or apartment info) I would want to ask them in English but they'd just say to speak Japanese. (I was a beginner and they'd hardly taught how to have a conversation in Japanese, so how can I do that...?)

The admin staff also treat students like children when we are straight up adults...

One good point is that all my teachers were nice and seemed good at their job. However, it becomes kind of redundant when the materials/syllabus they are using are awful. (I also heard tell of one teacher who was being very mean to students, but luckily she was not one of mine).

Apartment support and correct information about visas is also lacking. Don't expect help from them if you want to stay in Japan after leaving the school because they won't help you with that (unless maybe if you're in the top class at that time).

In summary, a disappointing school in many aspects and certainly not worth the high fees...