I first came to Kyoto through a language school, so we will start with that! First: no two language schools are the same. It is important to choose a school suited to your goals. Some schools just focus on preparing their students for the JLPT, some are dedicated to a fun study abroad experience, and some will comprehensively teach you Japanese, which can be quite intense.

If you focus on JLPT you may not learn to speak Japanese well, but if you want to focus on Japanese studies, you’ll have to study a lot more than you would at a casual school.

The first school I went to was Nihongo Center. They offered a fun study abroad experience right in the heart of downtown Kyoto. Every day after school there were so many fun things to do. We also had lots of trips we could sign up for: they took us hiking, we went to onsens, and even snowboarding! I think that it was the most fun year of my life. My friends and I met up together and studied every single day, then went out and made Japanese friends, so we were conversational in Japanese in less than half a year! The school was very relaxed, and my impression was that most students were there just to experience and enjoy life in Japan.

Nihongo Center’s ski trip! A lot of us were trying it for the first time.

After my first study abroad I returned home to go to college, then came back to Japan. This time I chose a serious language school, the Kyoto Institute of Culture & Language (KICL), in a residential area of Kyoto. It was quite intense, with lots of assignments every day and difficult exams. The school sent us on a few outings, but we weren’t doing any group vacations to ski resorts. I really loved this school though! My Japanese improved leaps and bounds. I went from conversational to fluent there. My classmates learned a lot as well. Many started from beginner level, then went on to get accepted into universities or find jobs across Japan. Classes didn’t center around Japanese proficiency examinations, but we still did plenty of practice and I was able to pass N1 with their help. Even with all the studying, we had plenty of time to go out and play, and the school introduced us to a lot of fun activities.

My favorite thing about this language school is that it was part of a university, meaning that we could use their campus and join their clubs as well! I joined one of the clubs and made lots of Japanese friends. I really felt like I was participating in life in Japan!

You need to do a lot of research when picking a language school. Consider its location, class structure, student demographics, and activities. Think clearly about what you want as well! Remember that JLPT and fun oriented schools may not improve your Japanese skills as much as a comprehensive one, but they might be better for your goals.

Before our graduation ceremony at Kyoto Institute of Culture & Language, my classmates and I took a photo with our teacher. We tried out wearing hakama!