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INTRODUCTION

The Acceleration Program is an ultra-intensive course of studies designed to prepare students for undergraduate and graduate programs in Japanese universities or professional careers requiring advanced Japanese. It is open to both short term students as well as longer term student visa holders.

The Acceleration Program is taught from at beginner level only (at Yamasa, the beginner curriculum includes several levels ranging from absolute beginner to Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 3) to pre-intermediate level (Japanese language proficiency test level 3). If you are already at Level 3 proficiency, please read through the Academic Intensive Japanese Program. Long term students may wish to start in this program and then transfer to the Academic Intensive Japanese Program after 3 months.

Grammar is a major focus. It is a key objective of the program that you will be able to read university level texts/materials in the Japanese language and be able to write, express and communicate using precise and correct grammar. It is not a curriculum that concentrates on conversational skills, though your conversational skills will improve quicker in the Acceleration program than in the Academic Intensive Japanese Program (AIJP). Please also note that it is possible to transfer from the AIJP into this program (or vice-versa) up to 5 days after commencement.

If your main objective for enrolling in Yamasa is an improvement in your conversational fluency ONLY, then please also read the SILAC program.

Classes are taught in Japanese only. All students have the opportunity to use Japanese language software and send/receive email in Japanese. Internet access is free and unlimited. Yamasa's faculty members work as a team to provide considerable variety, although one faculty member will be designated as your academic advisor.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

There are multiple start dates per year and several options. You can study in this program with either a student visa or a tourist visa - this provides more flexibility for a wider range of students. This is the most intensive program offered in Japan, and yet we can still provide the same low at-cost tuition rates.

Format: There are 28 classes per week. The maximum class size is 15 students (5 less than the APJLE regulations require). From Mondays to Thursdays there are 6 classes per day from 9:00am to 3:30pm. On Fridays there are 4 classes from 9:00am to 1:30pm. Each class is 50 minutes long with 10 minute breaks between classes and a lunch break from 11:50am to 12:40pm.

PROGRAM DATES AND COSTS

The low cost location, non-profit status and long-term financial support provided by the Hattori Foundation enables Yamasa to provide the Acceleration Program at cost price to international students.

Application Fees:

NOTE 1: There is no application fee if you are enrolling for 3 months or less, or if you do not require a student visa.
NOTE 2: Students requiring a student visa are usually required to enrol for a minimum of 2 quarters (6 months). If your university or other scheduling requirements are such that you need to enroll for longer than 1 quarter but are not able to enroll for a full two quarters then please contact our offices as soon as possible and explain your situation.

Program Dates and Tuition Fees:

NOTE: Acceleration program students are required to arrive in Okazaki at least 1 day prior to commencement. If you will be travelling across 6 time zones or more (ie there is a time difference of 6 hours or more between your location and Japan) then we advise you to arrive 2 days early.

Students who need to arrive earlier than 3 days prior to the program commencement should also contact our offices as early as possible so that your accommodation can be confirmed. Students arriving at Nagoya International Airport can arrange to be met by our free pickup service. Students arriving by train can be met at Okazaki Station (also a free pickup).

Frequently Asked Questions regarding costs: