Japanese Language Program (JLP)

The Right Course for Each and Every One of You

Master Japanese Language and Broaden your World

From its founding days, Japanese Language Program (JLP) have been providing Japanese language courses to ICU students as part of the College of Liberal Arts. There are around 300 students from about 40 different countries enrolled in JLP courses every year, including degree-seeking regular four-year students, one-year exchange students, and graduate students. It is an opportunity for both international students and Japanese students to become proficient in Japanese. JLP aims to facilitate students to gain functional communication competence in Japanese. The goal of JLP is to equip students with proficiency in the Japanese language that will enable them to pursue academic studies in ICU. JLP hopes to provide the foundation upon which students can fulfill their potentials in the current dynamic and diversified world.

JLP Structure

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Contact

Japanese Language Program (staff and faculty offices) are located on the first floor of the Educational and Research Building 2 (ERB-2).

Email: jlp@icu.ac.jp
Website: https://www.icu.ac.jp/en/academics/undergraduate/jlp/
Website: https://sites.google.com/info.icu.ac.jp/jlp


Students' Voices

We asked students who have taken Japanese Language Program (JLP) what they thought about it.

*The grades and courses taken are current at the time of the interview.

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Saaya Thompson

Second-year student in the College of Liberal Arts
Completion: Introduction to Japanese for First / Heritage Language Speakers at start, SJ3 and SJ Kanji 3 at end.
Alma Mater school: LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL / Oregon, U.S.A.

Interview: June 2023

Please tell us why you chose to enter ICU.

When I was living in the US, I came into contact with a wide variety of Japanese culture through my mother who is Japanese. I was fascinated by traditional events such as Hatsumode (the first shrine/temple visit of the year) as well as Japanese food, and as I felt the urge to directly experience Japanese culture, I decided to apply to a Japanese university.

I chose ICU since I strongly felt that it provided the most diverse environment among universities in Japan. I was particularly interested in the opportunity to study with students from multinational backgrounds in small classes, which would allow me to expose myself to diverse ideas. I also feel that the structure of gathering together students from various specialized fields under a single College of Liberal Arts, instead of separate departments, is important for encouraging students to exchange views freely with each other.

How were the Japanese Language Program (JLP) classes?

I took the Special Japanese Program which involves writing and reading comprehension in Japanese, as well as holding discussions during the classes each week. We also made presentations during the middle and at the end of the term. I was initially nervous because I was unable to read Japanese texts very well, but through my classes, I was able to gradually acquire a critical way of thinking which is required for reading comprehension. By the end of the program, I was able to complete a report based on a Japanese book, and I feel that my Japanese language ability has definitely improved.

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The tutorials, which enable students to receive advice from their professors on a one-on-one basis, was immensely useful for dealing with daily classes and assignments. Furthermore, the discussions which are held based on texts we were given also left a lasting impression on me. We communicated to each other the positive points of each presentation as well as the areas for improvement, and we were able to learn from each other.

Looking back at the Special Japanese Program, I feel that "language is closely related to the country's culture." On learning about Japanese honorific expressions, I was astounded by the consideration given to hierarchical relationships which don't exist in the US, but at the same time, I experienced a sense of enjoyment in learning more about the different culture. Utilizing the Japanese language ability which I have gained, I hope to take courses taught in Japanese.

Is student life at ICU fulfilling?

Unlike the image of Tokyo with its crowds of people, ICU's education is based thoroughly on small classes and provides an environment for students to communicate with each other individually. I belong to the cheerleading team and actively participate in events such as the ICU Festival and cheerleading competitions. Although I sometimes give my opinions in English, I am able to communicate with the other team members without being impeded by a language barrier since both English and Japanese are the two official languages used at ICU, and the other team members genuinely listen to what I want to say.

I usually return to my dormitory located within the campus after my classes and club activities end, and I sometimes spend time talking to my friends in the kitchen, social room, and living room. Along with the welcome party which is organized for students when they first join the dormitory, the student dormitory holds numerous events to encourage students to get to know each other.
Although I initially felt bewildered at living in a new place, I was able to overcome any misgivings through the support of the friends I made at ICU, and I am now completely enjoying student life.

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Robbie Peng

Second-year student in the College of Liberal Arts
Completion: Japanese 5 at start, Japanese 7 at end.
Alma Mater school: GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL / Washington, U.S.A.

Interview: June 2023

Please tell us why you choose to enter at ICU.

I studied Japanese as my second language in high school, and I became interested in the regions and culture of Japan. At the time I was still uncertain about my future plans, but I felt that I wanted to utilize my knowledge of Japanese, and I began to think about attending a Japanese university as the first step.

I chose to apply to ICU on the recommendation of my Japanese teacher in high school. I also researched other universities in Japan, but ICU was the only university which provided an environment where students whose native language is either English or Japanese are able to study the Liberal Arts together.
I felt uncertain about my decision to live alone abroad, but now that I am living in Japan, I truly feel glad that I challenged myself.

How were the Japanese Language Program (JLP) classes?

On attending the classes, I was surprised to learn that the number of students assigned to each faculty member was extremely small and that the classes promoted interactive learning. I participated in the Japanese Program where Japanese is taught as a foreign language. The J5 course consisted of 4 faculty members and 20 students, and the students were able to seek advice freely if they had any questions. Furthermore, all lectures, discussions, and handouts were in Japanese, and I feel that the immersive education in Japanese helped me to steadily improve my Japanese language ability.

I was able to gain all the necessary credits for the Japanese Language Program (JLP) in Spring and Summer of my first year and proceeded to take a wide variety of classes taught in Japanese. I have gained confidence in my Japanese language ability. For example, if I go to a hospital now, I am able to explain my symptoms and receive a diagnosis in Japanese.

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Is your student life at ICU and life in Japan fulfilling?

I joined a shared residence outside the campus where the age and nationality of the residents are diverse. When I first arrived in Japan, I was worried about whether I would be able to make friends. But the residents talked to me, and I was able to become closer to them. My perspective has widened considerably as I encounter various ways of thinking.

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I joined the bouldering club at ICU, which was something I had been thinking about since high school. Besides participating in the sport, I have also gained valuable experiences such as learning etiquette regarding the relationship between upper-level students and lower-level students and going out for meals with other club members after practices.
At times, the differences with American culture surprise me, but I have come to believe that acknowledging that "what I know is not everything" is the starting point for respecting different cultures and values. If you are currently undecided about whether to study abroad at ICU, I encourage you to challenge yourself and to think that "it is better to regret something you've done than to regret something you haven't done." I'm sure that the numerous experiences which you will gain will help you to develop as a person.

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Yutaka Krawehl

Second-year student in the College of Liberal Arts
Completion: Special JapaneseJ1 at start, Special Japanese 3 and Special Japanese Kanji 3 at end.
Alma Mater school: RUDOLF STEINER SCHUL / Hamburg, Germany

Interview: June 2023

Please tell us why you chose to enter ICU.

My father is German, and my mother is Japanese. From childhood I would study in German at school while using Japanese at home. Growing up in a background with two roots, I spent a long time questioning my identity, but I gradually came to realize that the experience gained from coming into contact with several languages and cultures is in fact my strength.
Having developed my English language ability through studying abroad in the US during my high school years, I decided to apply to a university in Japan where I could study in both Japanese and English. I subsequently chose to enter ICU. My reason for choosing ICU was its uniquely diverse campus. ICU's environment brings together students and faculty members from all over the world with diverse values and enables them to stimulate each other through dialogue, which I find ideal. I had also heard about ICU's reputation from my acquaintances, and when I researched the university's educational content, I was attracted to ICU's liberal arts education which offers the opportunity to develop a critical way of thinking through studying a wide range of fields.

How were the Japanese Language Program (JLP) classes?

Many of the students in my classes came from a similar background with aims to study hard to learn a language, and I was also able to actively participate in discussions. On entering ICU, I initially felt some anxiety since I struggled with adjusting to life in Japan and with my studies. But after studying for one year with my classmates in the JLP, I feel that I have developed my own pace as a student.

I took the Special Japanese Program which focuses on writing and reading comprehension, and as a result, my skill in writing reports in Japanese, which had previously been my weak point, improved significantly. I believe that through studying not only the meaning of each word but also learning about the differences in structure between English and Japanese research papers led to my improvement.
Furthermore, the tutorials which are held once a week provided me with the opportunity to ask my professor any queries which I may have had during class. I was therefore able to focus on my studies without having to deal with problems on my own since I received advice on a wide range of issues, which were not just limited to studying Japanese but also included issues regarding student life and future dreams.

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Please tell us about your impressions on student life at ICU and living in Japan.

I used to eat Japanese food at home in Germany and was already familiar with Japanese literature. I also always visited Japan during my long holidays. Therefore, I didn't experience any immense gap in the culture or lifestyle, and after the initial experience of entering university, I felt that I was able to transition relatively smoothly to life in Japan.

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After entering ICU's student dormitory in my second year, I found further opportunities to communicate with other students. Having someone close by to discuss things with is very reassuring, and I feel that once I started living in a dormitory I had less problems and worries. The relationships between students and also with faculty members are very close, and the small classes at ICU make it possible to talk freely about everything. For those of you thinking about entering ICU, I would like you to know more about the wonderful learning environment, and once you enter ICU, I hope that you are able to utilize this diverse place for interaction and challenge yourself in various ways.

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Siena Daly

Second-year student in the College of Liberal Arts
Completion: Japanese 6 at start , Japanese 7 at end.
Alma Mater school: Faith Christian Academy / Colorado, U.S.A.

Interview: June 2023

Please tell us why you chose to enter ICU.

Since my childhood, I often visited Japan due to my mother's work. At the time, maybe because foreign tourists were still rare, I received a very warm welcome from Japanese people. Some would ask if they could take a photo with me, and some would give me gifts. This experience awakened in me an enjoyment for cross-cultural exchange, and I pleaded with my parents that I wanted to study Japanese and live in Japan. I began studying Japanese vocabulary when I was in elementary school, and during my first year in high school, I enrolled in a short study abroad program where I studied at a Japanese language school in Tokyo for six weeks. In my third year of high school, I spent one year as an exchange student studying at a Japanese high school in Chiba prefecture.

After graduating from high school in the US, I moved to Japan and attended a Japanese language school in Yamanashi prefecture while I thought about where I wanted to study. From among the various possibilities, ICU's extensive liberal arts program and bilingual education in Japanese and English seemed appealing to me, and I decided to enter ICU.

How were the Japanese Language Program (JLP) classes?

I took the Japanese Program where Japanese is taught as a foreign language, and I have completed the J6 and J7 course. In Academic Writing, we studied academic vocabulary and writing methods. Although I struggled with writing reports which summarized high-level content, it enabled me to build a foundation for learning at ICU.

The classes were held mainly online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and face-to-face learning was limited. But I was still able interact with students from a wide variety of backgrounds, including one-year-regular students. I clearly remember how we talked to each other excitedly about the reasons why we came to Japan and chose to study at ICU.

Now that I have completed a general study of the Japanese language, I am taking courses which are taught in Japanese and have started learning Chinese as a new challenge. I feel that ICU's unique strength is in providing an environment where students have the opportunity to study a wide range of fields while also learning the Japanese language.

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Is your student life at ICU and life in Japan fulfilling?

After entering ICU, I spent one year taking classes online. As there were no opportunities to talk face-to-face with the professor and other students, I experienced a period of loneliness. However, opportunities for interaction gradually increased. I was able to expand my circle of friends, and I currently belong to various clubs.

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I participate in clubs which include IBS (ICU Brothers and Sisters), a peer advisory group which responds to queries regarding academic courses and student life at ICU, as well as the English Bible Study where we study the bible together, and the Ski Club. Outside the university campus, I participate in the activities organized by a church located in Tokyo. As my daily life is busy, my aim is to find time to spend on my interests and to rest.

For those of you who are currently feeling unsure about moving to Japan or studying at ICU, please don't be afraid and take a step forward towards achieving your dreams. Living in a foreign country requires overcoming various obstacles, but ahead of it awaits a wonderful student life beyond your expectations.

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