IUC in Yokohama as an Advanced Student
Posted on 14. Oct, 2007 @ 3:58 pm by harvey in About, Language
People often ask me why I decided to attend IUC, the advanced Japanese program in Yokohama, after I had already passed JLPT level 1. I also get asked whether or not I thought it was worth the money ($15,000 tuition). Good questions. Time to put it on paper so I never have to answer it again!
First, a quick blurb about IUC.
IUC is an academic institution run by Stanford that teaches advanced Japanese. Each year, approximately 40 students, mostly American and Candian, attend the center’s 10-month program to work on their Japanese. The majority of students who attend IUC could pass JLPT level 3 before they attend, and I would say that more than half could pass level 2. A small minority of the students each year are extremely advanced. They may have already passed JLPT level 1, or lived in Japan for more than a year while actively studying the language. Having said that, there a few people who attend each year who have only had a few years of Japanese at the university level. There were quite a few people coming off of the JET program, and some people in the middle of a career change like myself, but most of the students were in the middle of a Japan-related PhD or masters program. History, literature, religion, and business were common themes of study. The IUC course content is intense. Busy like you wouldn’t believe. IUC takes you through all of the jyoyo kanji, you listen to, read, and talk about news and current events, read literature, and at the end of the program have time to conduct a research project on your own and present it at the end of the program. For details on the content of the program, check the IUC website curriculum section.
Now, about me. Why go to IUC after passing JLPT level 1 and having work experience in Japan? Afterall, it’s not cheap (15,000 USD), you get no academic credit or degree, and did I mention it’s not cheap? (That’s, fifteen-thousand dollars… For 10 months… 15 grand.)
I’ll address the money question first. To put if frankly, if I had to pay tuition myself I wouldn’t have attended.
I was actually searching for scholarships that would allow me to go to China and study Chinese for a year when I discovered IUC. During the China scholarship hunt, I found the Blakemore Fellowship, a super-elite-pay-you-to-go-to-school deal that I wish I could have received. I applied to Blakemore with the intent to use it to pay for IUC. Got rejected. I was accepted to IUC however, which has a separate admissions process. I told IUC that I wasn’t going to enroll because I couldn’t afford the tuition. A few weeks later, IUC got back to me and said they would like to award me scholarships to cover tuition. I had to pay for living expenses myself (not cheap), but I figured if tuition was free, and the school was good, I might as well spend some time there. Throughout the school year I learned that more than 75 percent of the students had tuition covered by some type of scholarship.
Before attending IUC I went to Yokohama to check out the center to be sure it would be worth my time (read: money). While I was there I met another student who had already passed JLPT level 1 before entering and spoke fluent Japanese. I asked him what he was doing studying there, and within a few minutes of talking with him and looking at the stuff he was studying I understood. If I remember correctly he was doing his research on some particular part of the Japanese consitution. The students research a wide variety of topics, with the guidance of the excellent staff. You can check the IUC webpage for a list of the topics that students have chosen to research in past years. If you can read through all those without breaking a sweat, maybe you don’t need to attend to the program.
Even the beginning of the program, which did include some review, was great for me. The class sizes are very small, about 6-8 students in the discussion sessions, so you can’t let things you don’t know just slide by. We spent a lot of time going over paticles and keigo which helped me out a lot. We also spent a lot of time going through Japanese news, the difficulty of which surprised me. I could listen to news and get the gist of it before attending the program, but being in the classroom and having to answer details about what was going on, and then talk about it… That was a real challenge. I quickly realized that I had the vocabulary of a junior high school kid, and my grammar was hopelessly informal. Later on in the program we were assigned writing and speaking assignments nearly every day. This was also extremely beneficial, we must have written close to 100 pages in Japanese.
The only part of the program that was a bit of a drag was the last quarter. During this quarter we had a lot of extra time to conduct research and collect information for our presentation at the end of the program. The graduate students all went and hit the libraries and were searching archives for ancient Japanese texts they could use for their research and whatnot. Many students did research at IUC that directly tied into what they were doing back at university. Us mid-career types and non-academics used that time a bit differently. Frankly, to prepare for a 5-7 minute presentation, one quarter (actually, about 3 weeks of full time preparation) was too much time to spend. I ended up using the time to set up interviews with development consultants at JICA and other companies, and I learned a lot about Japan’s international development activities. It was very interesting to meet these people and learn about the industry, but it wasn’t “research.” I really would have rather continued doing classwork.
One last point. Because all 40 or so students in the program are studying Japanese, you will learn a lot about Japan and Japan-related topics from the other students as well as the teachers. I learned a lot at IUC. It was great. There were even students at the end wishing they could do it twice.
I guess that about covers it.
I don’t regret attending the program one bit. To save money I lived in a ratty apartment, ate spaghetti and Japanese curry, and rode my bike 45 minutes to school everyday for 10 months straight, but it was worth it.
(Okay okay, so occasionally I went out to eat, and I even rode the train on rainy days or when I was tired, but the point is I lived frugally.)
If anyone has any questions about the IUC thing, please leave a comment and I will get back to you. IUC is a great program. Pricey, but if you can get it paid for it would be hard to find a better place to learn Japanese.
- Harvey
20 Responses to “IUC in Yokohama as an Advanced Student”
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Alex
Oct 14th, 2007
at 23:08
I’ve recently decided to enroll in a senmon gakkou, but to do that I need to first either (A) pass the JLPT 1 or (B) take a year-long course at a language school in Japan. I intend to take a course in Japan, but deciding which one is tough. I’ll take this course into consideration, considering that I could possibly land a scholarship for it. But, one thing I’ve noticed is that certain senmon gakkou have specificly recognized language academy lists, and I’m not sure if you have to take one of those courses, or if they are just suggestions.
Looking through lists of language schools in Tokyo, I notice that the enrollment demographics are heavy in Chinese students. At least 60% or more of any given school are Chinese students, and most are more of that (80-90%!!). The Korean course I’m taking now is 50% Chinese and 25% Mongolian, but I’ve noticed that Chinese students make a great effort to speak in the target language even outside of the class, so I’m wondering if it’s not better to be the only American in a class…This comment has turned into a very long internal monologue.
Alex
Oct 14th, 2007
at 23:12
I totally destroyed the word “specifically”.
Question, Harvey: What sort of post-course assistance did IUC offer, if any? Is there any support for landing a job or enrolling in an accredited school in Japan?
harvey
Oct 15th, 2007
at 22:25
“I’ve recently decided to enroll in a senmon gakkou” – huh? You’re coming back to Japan? Or are you talking about a senmon gakkou in Korea?
About the post-course assistance… IUC does post a few job listings inside the school to help people find work.
Every year one student gets a job at Canon in Tokyo during translation, and they have a few other “traditionally” IUC grad slots that they post want ads for. However, the process of ensuring students get jobs in Japan after the program is seriously lacking.
Granted, most of the students are in the middle of a degree so they are not looking for work… But I felt their efforts could have been better. That said, lots of IUC graduates were able to find jobs on their own and ended up staying in Japan after graduation. Most of the footwork though was done on their own.
The IUC graduate network is also semi-present. One IUC grad is now a headhunter in Tokyo, so if you have a professional background he will probably be knocking on your door before graduation rolls around, heh.
Regarding the comparison with the school with mostly Asian students… The students in the heavily Asian program will probably be better at conversation, however, I bet that IUC will have a much higher academic content. The topics under discussion at IUC, and the process of discussion will be much more structured… That’s just a guess though, as I haven’t experienced both schools in person!
Grace
Oct 18th, 2007
at 20:00
Just want to post a disclaimer about the Canon thing *cough* – I know almost all the foreign employees at Canon in Tokyo, and my predecessors at the job, and they are NOT from IUC! I am the only one here. I don’t think anyone else even knows what IUC is. I don’t know where Harvey’s information is coming from. If there’s a “traditionally” IUC grad slot, it’s probably more the Ito Yokado job.
And no, IUC did not provide very much help. There were probably half a dozen job postings total put up during the year. It tends to be a rather painful process. I’ve heard of people going back to the U.S. disappointed, or some teaching English.
harvey
Oct 18th, 2007
at 20:54
Hey Grace, thanks for the feedback!
I heard that the Canon job, and another job at Fujitsu as a translator are often passed to IUC kids. I heard it from a dude who graduated from IUC one year before us. You’re sure none of your predecessors were IUC grads? Not a one?
If so. DOH.
Luckily this comment will stick with the post forever, so no future IUC hopefuls will be confused!
An yeah, I agree with Grace, the school really didn’t do much to try to help us get jobs… Though, it is an extremely academic organization, with few ties to the private sector… So I guess that’s expected.
Rolly
Jan 8th, 2009
at 01:47
Hey, I`m about to hand in my application to the 10-month program for this coming academic year, and I was wondering if you had any last-minute advice. (I wish I`d found this blog a month ago!) Right now I`m an English teacher up north in Japan, and crossing my fingers as hard as I can that I`ll get in.
Thanks for writing this blog – It is nice to hear more about the program from someone who did it recently.
CK
Feb 5th, 2009
at 18:08
Hi – I recently applied to IUC and the Blakemore Foundation. I was looking for first hand accounts of the IUC program and found your site. I was wondering if the program might suit someone of my background. I passed JLPT Level 3 a couple of years ago and my Japanese has gone a bit stale since then. I have lived in Japan for a total of two years in the past but have not lived there for the last couple of years. I have always worked in English speaking environments when in Japan so study of the language was generally just a hobby. I like the idea of a challenging program that will make me truly fluent but don’t want to be in over my head. I would probably travel to Japan 3 months early to enroll in an intensive course beforehand in order to be prepared. Thanks.
harvey
Feb 6th, 2009
at 00:11
Hey CK. First of all, if you get Blakemore, there is no reason not to go. Unless you have a disabling fear of hard work.
As a rusty level 3 I think the SKIP Kanji program they go through is going to be overwhelming. It’s fast! Nothing is *really* graded though, so basically you can look at it from the perspective that you’ll get out of it what you put in. Even for people going in with JLPT 1, its extremely difficult to complete the entire Kanji program as designed.
Otherwise I think that you can learn a ton at IUC. The regular course work is manageable and very well done. Try to get your Japanese as high a level as possible before going – but anyway the classes are small enough that usually you’ll be with people at a similar level, so the courses will be adjusted to that level.
I would venture to say that people who get most out of IUC come in at about the “just-passed-level-2″ stage of their Japanese studies. After finishing IUC they’ll be able to learn anything Japanese related on their own, and also pass Level 1 with a little test specific study. That’s just my personal opinion though!
CK
Feb 6th, 2009
at 17:03
Thanks for the input. I think with 3 months of prep I could get up to Level 3 JLPT or beyond.
I would be an older student, having been in the job market for a while. My understanding is that a lot of students are professionals or academics so that is not unusual.
Harvey
Feb 6th, 2009
at 17:55
CK: Yes, I was 27 when at IUC, but there were people much old, and a few MUCH younger. There was one guy still in university… There are a lot of doctoral students who are beyond 30 as well. Hard to guess what the average age of IUC students usually is… But I would say it ranges widely. You’ll fit right in!
Louise
Mar 4th, 2009
at 15:05
This is great! I also applied to the program for 2009-2010 and I have been searching and searching for anyone who has attended this program. I really enjoyed reading about your experiences with the program.
I just took the test last Friday and feel pretty confident, but I am always doubtful. As a Japanese Linguistics major, I really need to improve my Japanese. I lived in Japan for 4 years prior (work and study), but still have weird speaking habits that I need to get rid of and need to vastly improve my kanji/ vocabulary knowledge. Level wise, I know I can pass 3 kyuu and so I am in the lower-middle range of the 2 level.
But everyone I have talked to has been so vague about ONE thing: what exactly is acceptable on the exam they make you take? That is what is bothering me. In retrospect, would you have an idea or know anything about that? That number 4 on the criteria list is bothering me.
Do you have an idea? But also, did the school have a “lower” class? As in those who are on the 3 level? I don’t think 4 is accepted….but just wondering.
Thank you. Your site really helped me quite a bit. :)
harvey
Mar 4th, 2009
at 15:47
Hi Louise!
The reason the exam stories you have heard are vague is because I think that IUC’s use of the exam in regards to selection is vague as well. I know there were people there who had pretty low levels of Japanese, so I don’t think there is a minimum passing score on the test.
I think it’s just more of a way for the school to get a preview of the level of students that might be coming in. Then again, after you get in there is ANOTHER placement test to determine what class you are in… which gets to your next question.
Of course, if an applicant claims in the app that they have studied Japanese for 4 years and then get a score on the test so low that it doesn’t reflect their claimed study history at all… I wouldn’t be surprised if they were rejected.
The school does have a “lower” class. They group the students according to their ability for the most part, and reshuffle it every quarter. Later in the year I think they purposely try to place students in classes that they will get the most benefit out of being in… You can also request to be moved up or down if you think you’re really in the wrong place.
The class sizes are so small (after the initial few weeks anyway) that there is something for everyone.
Good luck!
- Harvey
Louise
Mar 10th, 2009
at 10:06
Thank you for responding! I am just a but nervous, as need to work on my Japanese language skills for career purposes and I really want to get into this school. Yeah, cost is an issue, but I will deal with that once I am hopefully accepted! Thanks again! :)
harvey
Mar 10th, 2009
at 11:08
You can survive on 98 cent Salmon, rice, and umeboshi! That’s what I did!
Anonymous
Mar 16th, 2009
at 23:15
Thanks for writing this up; it was a good read. I’ve applied for IUC this year as well. I’ve also passed JLPT 1, but I know a ton of people who’ve done IUC, and a couple of them definitely went in with better language skills than I have now. I know I have so much more to learn and I’m really hoping I’ll be fortunate enough to get a Blakemore Fellowship…
Paula
Mar 17th, 2009
at 15:36
This was a great read! I’ve applied to the IUC and was just informed that I received two fellowships to go. I’m waiting on pins and needles to hear whether or not I was accepted (hoping they won’t seriously wait until March 31st to let us know…).
I have been wondering about the various levels of students going in and was concerned about my own, but reading this was great to set those fears to rest! Thanks!
Mike
Mar 25th, 2009
at 18:36
I just got my acceptance letter today, and I seriously hope they can cover most of my tuition because I’m a graduating senior and I’ve squirreled enough money away from my internships to cover living expenses, but my parents are broke and I didn’t qualify for any of the scholarships I looked at.
How much money does IUC give in financial aid on average?
harvey
Mar 25th, 2009
at 19:03
Don’t know the average Mike! Students are kinda shy when it comes to talking about how much scholarship support they are getting.
Though, it did seem like -most- people were getting -something-. Though, there were a few people there footing the entire bill on their own.
If I were rich, I would sponsor you man. But I’m not. 残念でした〜。
Seriously though I hope it works out for you! Money is a sucky barrier to education…
Mike
Mar 30th, 2009
at 14:55
Ah, I just figured the number cropped up somewhere.
I pretty much put down that I was broke, and my parents can loan me enough money for the tuition, so even if I just get a pittance I can go.
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at 11:44
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