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Day-Long Learning

In general terms, the goal of FALCON is to guide students to a level of autonomy: a level at which learning in conversational and written skills alike can proceed effectively even without formal classes. By the end of the program students are ready to take full advantage of employment or further study in Japan. With this in mind, FALCON provides academic and career information and advice throughout the program.

Students can expect the daily class schedule to run from 8:30 or 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 or 4:30 p.m., with mandatory laboratory work from 7-10 p.m. All FALCON students make good use of Cornell's Language Resource Center, situated on the shore of beautiful Beebe Lake. The center is equipped with computers, VCRs, DVD players, and CD players. It's open from early morning to late evening on most days.

You are also required to spend practice time in the multimedia language lab facility outside class; most people choose to do this in the evenings starting around 6:00 or so. You can expect to devote anywhere from one to three hours per evening in the lab, depending on how well you progress with your speaking and listening skills. On top of that, you also have nightly prep for the next day's class. Students who live here on campus find FALCON to be quite rewarding, but also quite taxing.

Schedule

9:00-9:50Small interactive group, Japanese only, with native speaker.
10:00-10:50Lab work at Cornell's Language Resource Center.
11:00-11:50Small interactive group, Japanese only, with native speaker.
12:00-1:10Lunch 
1:25-2:15
Lecture (in English).
2:30-3:20
Lab work at Cornell's Language Resource Center.
3:35-4:25
Small interactive group, Japanese only, with native speaker.
7:00-10:00Preparation for the next day.