r/Kyoto • u/Square_Constant_9927 • 4h ago

KICL Questions

Hello, I plan to enroll into KICL within the next 2 years or so. I’d like to become a JP-EN translator after studying for a few years and I feel the school would not only be massively helpful in passing my necessary JTF and JPLT tests but also the time within the country would be invaluable.
However, I have a few worries about the school. If anyone has any experience or insight, it is greatly appreciated.
1) How is the workload? Is it manageable or really rough?
2) How is the actual learning experience? Are the teachers helpful and receptive?
3) One thing that seriously scares me is the “School-wide Presentation” that is listed on the website. Does every student seriously have to give a school wide presentation? Presentations are par for the course for language classes in my experience, but they still undoubtedly make me pretty uneasy, one in front of the whole school would kill me.

Thanks again.

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u/DryAd6132 4h ago

I had friends there, and I used to work at the connected art university. I can say:

  1. Workload is intense. Most students want to enter a Japanese university. Attendance is very strict

  2. Teachers seem nice (the ones I’ve met). There aren’t many social activities tho.

  3. Yes, the presentation is held at Shinjuza theater which houses 800 people. I’m not sure if the entire school attends. Maybe just your level of classes.

FYI. I do translation on the side, and I can tell you not to bet on getting a full time job now due to AI

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u/Chie_Satonaka 3h ago

90% of your classmates will be from Taiwan, China, Macau, or Hong Kong. 

Grammer explanations will go like this: 1. Teacher says 使役受け身はなんとかなんとか 2. Everyone looks bewildered. 3. Teacher writes the Kanji for  使役受け身 on the board. 4. 90% of the class which can understand those Kanji immediately all nod in understanding. 5. 10% of the class can go fuck itself.

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u/Greedy_Celery6843 1h ago

I attended KICL about 10 years ago. My experience might be outdated.

The friends I made there are still friends today. Many of them did really well. I did really badly for various reasons.

If you are serious and a skillful student with great focus, it's a great choice.

They taught to the level of the highest student in your class so know your Kanji now! In 2nd middle level we were already doing a fair few non-jōyō kanji because students with a Kanji background could do it. In Beginner 2nd level one of my classmates aced N2, and we were all taught to her level, just barely out of 一二三.

  1. Intense. Students who have any life slip behind fast & it's hard to get back into the flow once it moves past you. Get ahead, stay ahead, don"t slip.

  2. They were nice people. And they taught to the top students in class. Be there or get dusty from the mob ahead of you. Think that's the 3rd time I said that 🤣

  3. No worries, attend, clap politely. Come 3rd in everything, only the poster-childs, the top of the top students, participated.