Voices from Our Past Participants
Tony Wang, Pre-Intermediate Class 2023
“Sun Academy continues to stand out as a diamond in the sand”
After having completed various Japanese language programs, Sun Academy continues to stand out as a diamond in the sand. Their education is stellar; as a tight-knit and small team, they develop their curriculum with Yale professors with careful deliberation. While a strong curriculum is important, Sun Academy nails the heart of education— passion. Every instructor has a love for teaching; you can tell by the precision of feedback and the spirit of challenge they bring to the classroom each day. They also recognize that language learning cannot be effective without also understanding the cultural and interpersonal contexts in which a language lives. Every day I’m reminded of how every “language buddy” interaction they have facilitated and every minute planned in our trip itineraries have molded my love for the language. I’m deeply grateful for the entire teaching staff there— and I can’t wait to visit them when I return to Japan.
Briley Thomas, Pre-Intermediate Class 2024
“It has been one of the best experiences of my life”
My time at Sun Academy was nothing short of unforgettable. The program's rigor combined with some of the most supportive instructors I've ever had brought my Japanese skills to a much higher level in just eight weeks. The small class size of Sun Academy meant that I developed close bonds with my classmates which have lasted even after returning to Yale. I learned so much about Japanese traditions and values through Sun Academy's cultural curriculum as well as numerous extracurricular activities like tanka, calligraphy, and a presentation with a Studio Ghibli producer. My personal favorite memory was presenting American music genres to Japanese elementary school students. The buddy system was another highlight, allowing me to practice Japanese with native speakers outside of an academic setting and make many new friends through a day trip in Asakusa! I can't believe how much I was able to learn and grow with Sun Academy in Tokyo, and I can confidently say it has been one of the best experiences of my life.
Jiwoong Choi, Advanced Class 2023
A curriculum tailored to my research field as a graduate student
I attended Sun Academy NIHONGO Center’s intensive summer program in 2023. As a graduate student with prior experience in the Japanese language and specific academic interests, I was grateful to have a curriculum that was not only tailored to my Japanese language level but also to my research areas in literature and film. My weeks were systematically divided into three separate classes: literature/reading comprehension, film studies, and speaking/presenting. These classes gave me the opportunity to not only learn through appreciating the canon of modern Japanese literature and film, but to go one step beyond and examine those works for their merit and content rather than as mere language practice. Furthermore, SANC organized an incredible amount of opportunities for learning outside of the classroom— teaching at a local elementary school and the three-day trip to Karuizawa, a little-known hub for 20th century Japanese literary figures, are most fondly remembered. As I continue to use Japanese in my day-to-day studies as a PhD student, I will continue to be grateful to SANC’s summer program and its amazingly helpful teachers for getting me where I am today!
Eric Yoon, Pre-Intermediate Class 2024
“Through this real-world discussion, I was quickly able to express complex thoughts!"
My time in Tokyo for Sun Academy's summer program was excellent. My favorite part of the program was discussing complex and fun themes, such as renewable energy or ghost stories, all in Japanese! After our in-class debates and dialogues, I always felt excited to continue the discussion with my host family or the language buddies, using the topical vocabulary we learned. Through this real-world discussion, I quickly found myself able to express complex thoughts beyond the mundane about Japanese history, culture, and society. This was only possible through the enthusiasm of the teachers, the support of the language buddies, and the tight-knit group of friends that I found at Sun Academy.
Zephyr Smus, Elementary Class 2024
“Many cultural activities made me feel like as a local instead of a language student”
Despite being a short 8-week program, the memories I made through the Sun Academy Summer Language Program will stay with me forever. While in the classroom, I was able to learn a plethora of essential language skills that significantly improved my Japanese from someone who was an absolute beginner to someone who felt confident about completing everyday tasks and conversations; this summer experience also allowed me to participate in many cultural actives making me feel like as a local instead of a summer language student. The two months I spent in Japan with Sun Academy were some of the best times of my life, and I hope to be back soon!
Andrew Nupp, Pre-Intermediate Class 2022 and Advanced Class 2023
The language “buddies” helped us and became genuine friends
My time at Sun Academy was one of the best experiences of my life. Each day was challenging, yet always filled with fun and new discoveries. The teachers were supportive and had a strong understanding of how to help us improve. The class materials were well-organized and engaging. A standout feature of the program for me was the language “buddies,” Japanese college students who helped us practice in real-world settings and became genuine friends I still keep in touch with today. Overall, I am incredibly grateful for my time at Sun Academy and would recommend it to anyone!
Cindy Liu, Pre-Intermediate Class 2023
“Small class sizes made language learning incredibly meaningful and highly engaging”
During my time with Sun Academy, I was able to see vast improvements in my communication skills from a beginner to intermediate level. Cultural excursions, the usage of various media in the curriculum, and small class sizes made language learning incredibly meaningful and highly engaging. Moreover, ample interactions with native Japanese students in class allowed for frequent real-life application of grammar and vocabulary. Staff and teachers are kind and especially attentive to the needs and challenges of their students. I highly recommend Sun Academy, particularly for beginners hoping to take the next step in learning Japanese.
Camille Chang, Pre-Intermediate Class 2024
“A lot of flexibility in my schedule while still being a rigorous and challenging program"
My time with Sun Academy was the perfect program for me. Especially in terms of speaking, I learned how to speak naturally with my Language Buddies and learned a lot of new vocabulary and grammar that I still use daily in Japan. I really appreciated the freedom I had to explore the topics I wanted as well as get to know the city of Tokyo. I feel that the program allowed for a lot of flexibility in my schedule while still being rigorous and challenging.
Ethan Hsu, Pre-Intermediate Class 2024
“A summer of growth!"
Looking back, I realize that my summer with SANC was more than just a summer of learning Japanese - it was a summer of growth. Not only was I able to converse in full Japanese with my host family, language buddies, and classmates, I learned so much about Japanese culture in a welcoming environment. Having the opportunity to both live with a host family and alone in an apartment gave me a truly immersive experience. The senseis were always so kind and we could always tell that they genuinely cared about our progression in learning Japanese. I will forever look back at this summer with gratitude for all I learned - both about the Japanese language and about myself.
Xiao Liu, Pre-Intermediate Class 2024
“The two months at Sun Academy were life-changing”
The two months at Sun Academy were life-changing. The class can be intensive but the result turns out to be more productive than I expected. The instructors always explained the grammars clearly, and they tried their best to make the class interesting and accessible to everyone. They are super supportive and encouraging, and I have been learning a lot from them both in terms of the Japanese language and other aspects of life. The curriculum and extra-curricular activities were down to earth, allowing students to experience Japanese culture on a more intimate level.
Ruby Chen, Pre-Intermediate Class 2024
“One-on-one lesson plans to help guide me through my challenges”
I had an amazing time during my Summer at Sun Academy! The courses were engaging and helped deepen my understanding of Japanese Language and culture. The program offered a perfect mix of language classes and cultural activities, like participating in a traditional summer festival. The chance to explore Tokyo while improving my language skills and meeting new friends made it a very unforgettable experience. The senseis were very caring and made sure that the individual needs of the students were met. I was struggling a little towards the start of the class, and they created one-on-one lesson plans to help guide me through my challenges while making the experience very fun and enjoyable.
Brody Adelman, Pre-Intermediate Class 2023
The four-week homestay followed by four weeks in solo apartments was special
I had a lot of fun during my time at Sun Academy. From exploring the Tokyo area, to developing language skills, and going on class trips, there was never a boring day. Something I found special about this program was the four-week homestay followed by four weeks in solo apartments. Both were valuable experiences that allowed me to explore different lifestyles in Japan. I also really enjoyed hanging out with classmates and buddies, getting the chance to try out many different restaurants and activities along the way. Overall, this program was a great experience, and I would not trade it for anything.
