Questions Relating To Curriculum:

What is Japanese FALCON?

FALCON stands for Full-year Asian Language CONcentration. FALCON's comprehensive, full-time approach to Japanese instruction is designed to build, within a single year, the linguistic foundation, cultural understanding, and real-world Japanese language skills that students need to function independently in Japan. No other program offers the same degree of coverage in so short a time.

Is there a Japanese house available for on-campus housing?

We do not have a Japanese house, but there is a language house which has accommodations for Japanese students. Occasionally, Japanese FALCON students choose to live in the language house, but this is really not very beneficial until perhaps the spring term, since once does not learn a difficult language like Japanese by "just talking"-one learns it by methodical, step-by-step grinding on one point after another until they all become firmly internalized.

How would FALCON benefit me?

Falcon is a full-time (full course load) intensive language instruction program, and if you take the whole calendar year from summer through spring, you progress from the beginning to the advanced level. This would give you approximately three years' worth of traditional academic language instruction in one year of FALCON.

I live in Syracuse.  Could I commute to FALCON?

This wouldn't really be feasible.  The course schedule runs Monday through Friday, from about 8:30 to about 4:30 with practice time in the lab and prep for the next day's class.  Adding drive time on top of the schedule would likely be too exhausting for you to maintain, and you would get far less out of the program than your potential.

Can I take other classes while in FALCON?

No. FALCON is a full-time course load: if you take the entire full-year program, you will be enrolled for 8 credits in the summer, 16 credits in the fall, and 16 credits in the spring. Classes are in session Monday through Friday 8:30 to 4:30, with only small breaks during the day. Thus, it is not possible to take other classes while enrolled in FALCON.

How many students are in Japanese FALCON every year?

The program is designed to have small sections, 6-9 students, this allows for plenty of individual attention from instructors. In any given year, as many as 30 students are enrolled in Japanese Summer FALCON but fall and spring semesters are limited to 12 full year students.

Can I benefit from Japanese FALCON if I was certified in the top level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test?

If your strength is in reading and comprehension rather than speaking then FALCON could be of great use to you since it would develop a good solid base in speaking from which you could continue to expand.

I'm a non-native English speaker.  Can I succeed in FALCON?

Plenty of non-native English speakers have done well in FALCON. Your English would need to be strong enough that you could understand explanations of Japanese language and culture in English, but most of your other work would be conducted in Japanese. If you understand this explanation, then you should be fine. FALCON does not require the TOEFL exam.

I'd like to learn Japanese. Is there anywhere I can get a more detailed curriculum for your summer Japanese program than is on your website? I'd like to compare it to my school's first year course to see if it could qualify me to move directly to second year after attending the FALCON summer Japanese course.

In the summer program, we cover almost all of Japanese: the Spoken Language, Book I by Jorden and Noda (usually get through Lesson 10 and sometimes through 11A). In addition, we cover 10 or 11 lessons of Japanese: the Written Language, by the same authors. Please note that we emphasize internalization of all material covered. This means that you have not merely "covered" it, but have internalized it and can use it accurately and with some sense of social propriety and with fluency and confidence.

Would a FALCON certificate get me a job teaching Japanese in the U.S.?

No, the certificate that you receive in FALCON certifies that you have completed the program and that you have earned a certain number of credits in the course. It is not an official certificate enabling you to teach the language.

What will my proficiency be once I've completed the Full-Year Japanese FALCON Program?

By the end of FALCON, the average, hard-working student can expect to have internalized the entire grammar of Japanese and to feel relatively comfortable applying it in everyday conversation covering a wide variety of everyday interactions such as shopping, finding one's way around the city, interviewing for a job, setting up an appointment, making hotel reservations, and so on. One has begun reading authentic Japanese publications of medium-level difficulty and a good deal of help from a dictionary and will be ready to begin pursuing his or her own special interests in reading. A newspaper will take much more study, much more vocabulary and much more time. One can discuss daily life, such as how one learned Japanese or what your plans in Japan are, but not specialized subjects such as the concept of enlightenment in Zen Buddhism, or the new bill introduced in the Japanese legislature to curb inflation or so on.

If I complete FALCON, will I be qualified to work in Japan?

Japan does not have any specific requirements in terms of language for working in the country, so one does not have to worry about any sort of formal "qualification."
However, you would be qualified in a more general sense in that by the end of FALCON (assuming that you have done well) you would have reached the point where you can converse with relative ease about everyday matters and you would have reached the point where you can understand the speech of Japanese people you encounter.

I want to study in Japan. How can Japanese FALCON help me?

FALCON does not place students in study-abroad programs, nor do we correspond with departments about their policies for their students. Japanese FALCON is conducted entirely on Cornell's campus. Students very often take the program in preparation to go to Japan, but all of our instruction is here in Ithaca.

I worked for two years in Japan and studied Japanese and passed the 3 kyuu level of the JLPT. I am currently studying for the 2 kyuu test. So, I was also wondering if it would be advisable to do the FALCON Program, or is FALCON just basic Japanese?

FALCON does begin at the point zero level in June, but the work is extremely intensive, so progress is fast. Roughly speaking, the summer is beginning level, the fall is intermediate, and the spring is a bridge to advanced. We frequently enroll return JET volunteers http://www.jetprogramme.org who have lived in Japan two or three years.

We test some of them and find that they would be unable to by-pass the summer portion of our course. If you can by-pass any of the course, we can admit you in the fall or even in the spring if that would be appropriate for you.

However, many people who have had some Japanese are not able to by-pass because (1) their knowledge is not systematized enough and is too piecemeal and spotty; (2) they may be missing crucial portions of the language that are dwelt upon during the summer (eg., polite language, use of particles, verb conjugations, etc.); (3) they have no ability to cope with spoken Japanese (the test you mention does not measure this/does not test your production ability). However, we do not know whether FALCON would be appropriate unless we give you a phone test. We do not test people who have not applied to us, however. If you need FALCON or a portion of it for the M.A.,  you would do that the first year, and then do area courses the second year to complete the M.A., or complete it the following summer.

Questions Relating To Applying:

How do I know if I'm qualified to enter Intermediate Japanese FALCON?

For anyone who has studied Japanese, we conduct placement interviews over the telephone (or in person, if you have the time and desire to come to Ithaca). These interviews are used to determine if you are applying at the best level for your needs.

Should I include a language attachment form for high school French? I retained very little of it, having only taken the classes to satisfy high school requirements.

Yes, include your high school French courses. The admissions committee likes to see all the languages you have studied formally. This helps them determine your experience as a language learner.

I'm applying as a visiting undergraduate. Should I have my high school transcript and/or SAT scores sent?

If you are currently a matriculated undergraduate, and have been matriculated for two or more years, then you can just send the transcripts from your university. If you have not yet matriculated as an undergraduate or have been at your university for less than two years, then we will need your high school transcripts.

I can write a little bit in Japanese should I improve my writing skills before FALCON?

Improving your written skills will help you very little in FALCON, since the focus for the first two levels (summer and fall) is primarily on speaking and internalizing the structure of the language.

Can I visit FALCON?

Yes, we would love to have you come see us-it's truly the best way to see what you'd be undertaking. However, we do discourage visitors from coming on an exam day, since there isn't much to see and it can also make the students self-conscious.

Am I a "degree" student or a "non-degree" student? What's the difference?

Students who are matriculated at Cornell and are working toward a Cornell University degree would be "degree" students (at either the graduate or undergraduate level).

Students who are NOT in Cornell degree programs are welcome to apply to FALCON as "non-degree" applicants.

If attending the FALCON Program, and as the year moves on,  what if one is suddenly inspired to get a degree at Cornell?

If you are interested in applying to and being accepted by Cornell as a regular Cornell University student, you should contact Cornell Admissions for details.  Realize that if you apply to and are accepted into Cornell, you would still have to apply to FALCON separately. Similarly, if you apply to FALCON and are accepted, that does not mean that you are accepted to Cornell as a regular student.

I'm an undergraduate, and I was told during orientation that I have to finish my undergraduate degree program at Cornell in four years.  If my FALCON year counts as one of the four years I'll be spending at Cornell, then I think I probably will want to participate in FALCON while taking a leave of absence from Cornell-so that the year I take FALCON will not count toward on of my four Cornell years (I'm not certain I'll be able to finish all the work I need in three years.)

Whether  permission is granted to use a 5^th year for FALCON study varies by college at Cornell. Determining factors include your financial aid package, your curriculum, etc. At least in the case of Arts & Sciences, we do have students who have petitioned for a fifth year. Consult your advising Dean. S/he might also be able to help plan your classes so that you can complete FALCON and your degree in four years.

My son is a junior in high school, and he's interested in FALCON for the summer. Is it possible for him to attend?

We welcome high school students who are motivated and mature enough to do FALCON and have seen great results from those who have come, the program is not designed for high school students. They would be among undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals, and they would be keeping up with the whole pack. On one hand, younger people tend to internalize a new language much more easily than older people, so our high school students are often very successful. On the other hand, they don't always have experience with this level of rigor and this degree of structured demand for their time, so it can be a hard adjustment for some.

Is it true that the FALCON Program is designed to provide the student with enough of the language and of how to learn the language so that they can pursue international careers.

Yes, FALCON is adventagous for people who need or want to reach a high level of proficiency in Japanese but who have not studied it before and would like to then further their skills largely on their own, using the understanding of the language gained here.

Do I need to have a recommendation from a Japanese teacher to be considered for Japanese FALCON?

I wouldn't take a class in Japanese at another institution solely to get ready for FALCON, we often find that students who have studied Chinese elsewhere come into FALCON with bad habits that are hard to break, so you could be doing yourself more harm than good.

A recommendation from someone who taught you in a language class is a good thing to have, since s/he can attest to your general language-learning abilities. However, a letter from any professor who knows your work ethic, intelligence, etc. would also work.

Should recommendation letters be from teachers only?

Former teachers-in languages or not-would work the best, although we do sometimes see letters from employers as well. Basically, you want to select people whose recommendation will paint a clear picture of your likely language-learning skills, or at least the types of skills that make a good language learner: discipline, analytical ability, etc.

I am interested in the FALCON Program and applying for an M.A. in East Asian studies. I was wondering if you knew what the Japanese language requirements were for for this M.A.?

The requirements for the M.A. in Asian Studies are FALCON or equivalent, and then one usually takes one Chinese language course each term during the M.A. also.

Questions Relating To Funding:

Undergraduate Students

I'm an undergraduate. Are there any academic year scholarships available for undergraduate, non-degree/special students?

If you're here as a full-year or academic year student, you could apply for the FALCON (Spring) Semester Scholarship. It covers a portion of the spring semester tuition with preference given to Cornell University undergraduates. If you're coming here from another institution, you should see what they might have available. Any private scholarship that you secure should be able to be applied to your tuition here.

I'm an undergraduate student. How can I fund Summer FALCON?

Unfortunately, there is currently no funding available for undergraduate Summer FALCON students. One alternative offered by many private loan companies is a career loan.

I'm an undergraduate student. Can I use the G.I. Bill for FALCON?  How do I do so?

You'd need to contact Sofia Salce, the Veteran's Affairs contact, at smw45@cornell.edu. Please be aware that the G.I. Bill has predefined limits and may only cover part of your time at FALCON, leaving you to find additional funding.

I'm an undergraduate student. Which private loan company is most highly recommended for career loans to cover FALCON?

Students in the past have used Key Bank, CitiAssist, Grad Access, Nellie Mae Excel, and the Educational Resource Institute. You might also try looking into the bank that you or your parents use for checking--sometimes they will offer good rates to existing customers.

Questions Relating To Funding:

Graduate Students

I am a graduate student. How can I fund Summer FALCON?

In terms of fellowships, funding for summer-only study is not especially abundant. There is one option that you may want to look into: it’s called the FLAS, or Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship. There is a separate summer-only competition for FLAS awards, and the fellowship pays tuition and a living stipend.

The FALCON application for summer requires no transcripts, but the FLAS competition does require them. Since the FLAS deadline is in the spring semester, we would want your transcripts to include your fall grades.

I'm a graduate student. How can I fund Academic Year FALCON?

In terms of funding, there's no doubt that the program is expensive. If you come in with a Bachelor's degree, Cornell will consider you a graduate student, even if you are not matriculated in a degree program at the time of FALCON entry. Any graduate student (degree or non-degree/ Cornell or non-Cornell) is eligible to apply for loans through Cornell's financial aid office.

Additional financial aid (housing, living expenses, etc.) would have to be handled through the graduate school.  Their website is: http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu

For the FLAS, do I really have to submit GRE scores?  What if I were to substitute other standardized test scores?

We have in the past accepted GMAT and LSAT scores from FLAS competitors, although this is not really an optimal approach. The GRE is a better measure of the types of skills needed to succeed in language study and you'd be competing against people who took the GRE. The FLAS competition is quite intense. Thus, to be a more competitive applicant, you may want to consider taking the GRE.

To clarify, are non-degree students eligible for FLAS Fellowships?Non-degree graduate students are eligible as long as you have a Bachelor's Degree. Not being in a degree program does place you in a less competitive category, because preference is given to applicants who are in (or about to enter) a graduate program. Highest preference is given to those in degree programs at Cornell. Since the FLAS is a "portable" fellowship, your odds of receiving it through your own school may be higher.  You may look into competing for this fellowship at your home institution and using it to study here.

Are acceptance rates/yields for both the Japanese FALCON program and the FLAS scholarship available?

We don't maintain formal statistics, but I can give you a general sense. It's actually not very hard to get into FALCON, since the program is geared toward beginners in the language but keep in mind that we do have a cap of 12 people in the fall/spring portion of the program.

The FLAS competition is considerably tougher. Our applicants are competing against those in other areas that fall under the East Asia Program rubric, so you're competing against fellow FALCONers, as well as graduate students in other areas. In a typical year, the FALCON Program is granted one FLAS per language (so, one fellowship for Japanese and one for Chinese).

About when are admissions decisions available both for the FALCON Program and the FLAS Fellowship?

If you applied to FALCON in the fall, it's possible that the director would review your application and make an admission decision before the start of the new semester in January. Most likely, however, the decision would occur early in the new semester. As for the FLAS decision, the committee's goal is to have those decided by the beginning of April.  Applicants will hear about FALCON admission before they hear about fellowship competition results.

I am a graduate student at another university, and I am not a U.S. citizen. Am I qualified to apply for the FALCON Semester Scholarship? 

Yes, you are qualified.  Also, the International Students and Scholars office might be able to help with international student funding:  http://www.isso.cornell.edu/

I'm a Graduate Student. Can I use the G.I. Bill for FALCON?  How do I do so?

You'd need to contact Sofia Salce at smw45@cornell.edu  (she's the Veteran's Affairs contact), to discuss your specific situation. Please be aware that the G.I. Bill monies will only cover part of your time at FALCON, so you'll need to find additional funding.

For 2006-07, the G.I. Bill only paid out a stipend of about $1,184 per month for a maximum of 36 months (to a non-degree undergraduate). Funding amounts may vary by year and whether you're a graduate or undergraduate student. Cornell needs all of its tuition and fees up front you cannot pay as monthly G.I. Bill payments come in. Many students use Key Bank Career Loan.  Navy Federal Credit Union and Key Bank are the only institutions that this program knows of that will loan you money without Cornell certifying your loan.

I'm a graduate student. How can I fund Summer FALCON?

In terms of fellowships, funding for summer-only study is not especially abundant. There is one option that you may want to look into: it's called the FLAS, or Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship. There is a separate summer-only competition for FLAS awards, and the fellowship also pays a stipend.

The FALCON application for summer requires no transcripts, but the FLAS competition does require them. Since the FLAS deadline is in the spring semester, we would want your transcripts to include your fall grades.

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