Q & A of KCP Teachers (Part 3)
Here’s Part 3 of our Q & A from KCP teachers as they share their thoughts and experiences about the students, the program, and more. Read on!
What kinds of support are you providing in order for students to adapt well to Japanese culture?
- We offer not only Japanese language learning but also cultural lectures (annual events, manners, typical Japanese styles of conversation, and so on). We also offer language support of their native languages.
- When some troubles happen or students get depressed, I try to figure out where the problems come from and why they happen by listening to details from the students.
- I try to make students realize they don’t have to immediately conform to the Japanese culture but rather to understand the meaning of why the Japanese have been doing a particular thing for generations.
- I try to listen to students’ thoughts and perspectives in order to let them accept Japanese traditions on their own and not forcing my own opinions.
- I introduce the reasons behind the cultural activities, and then I let students summarize the similarities and differences from their home countries.
- Especially for US students, I introduce useful phrases and situations that students may come across in their daily lives in Japan in my conversational class.
- I provide various advice on living in Japan.
- I provide practical advices to these students on how to improve their study methods.
- I introduce patterns of Japanese ways of thinking during my classes.
- Orientations in their own languages, providing counseling, emergency responses, and so on.
What does KCP do so that students have a safe study abroad life?
- We provide the information at the orientation before each program starts and also during breaks. We also provide emergency onsite translators for each language and support whenever students come across problems.
- Our staff responds immediately to emergency situations and also provides chaperones to doctor visits, the school nurse room, AED set up, and emergency drills.
- We always know where students are staying and provide the system to contact students immediately. We quickly respond when troubles happen.
- We make sure that students know helpful tips about living in Japan and understand what to be careful about.
- We stress to students that they are learning not only the Japanese language but also its culture and way of life.
- We explain about Japanese laws and regulations and important rules in their own language. We also teach them what to do in order to avoid trouble and what to be careful about before each break. As for maintaining their health, we let them decide each week’s personal goals, provide helpful tips, and also take them to their doctor visits when they need someone to help them translate.
Any special stories from graduated students?
- A student decided to come to KCP because a stranger whom the student met on the street was a KCP alumnus and the person suggested the student to go to KCP.
- They participated in the Olympics!
- It is rewarding that my former students visit me when they graduate, return to their countries, get jobs, marry, and visit Japan on their business trips.
- When I heard the following comments: “KCP programs were tough, but I was able to make my dream come true because of KCP”!
- An old lady they met in Japan bought them dinner for their graduation.
- I just get amazed that they make their own living in Japan without problems and blend in Japanese society.
- They got employed by Japanese companies.
- A student was bullied, but KCP changed his life.
- It’s really memorable that a student said to me, “I didn’t study much in my home country and even I was not able to structure good sentences in my native language, but because of you, I am now are able to speak some Japanese.”
- The self discipline I learned from KCP helped me find a job in Japan.
- When I heard that a student who was at the same age as me when I started working at KCP married with a Japanese person and then had a child and was working in Japan.
Stay tuned for Part 4!
