Alumni & Results

🏛 University

Harvard · Yale ·
Princeton and Beyond —
World's Top Universities

TLC graduates go on to top American universities and Japan's most competitive institutions — University of Tokyo, Keio, and more — and go on to thrive globally. By acquiring high-level English proficiency — the foundation of reading fluency — during childhood, students can achieve exceptional results with less study time, leaving room to develop into well-rounded individuals through sports, arts, and other pursuits.

2020: 3 Ivy League admissions (Harvard, Yale + 1), plus University of Tokyo
U.S. Presidential Scholar (Top 161 high school seniors nationally) — a TLC graduate was selected
Harvard · Yale · Princeton · UPenn (Wharton) · Columbia · Cornell · Brown and more

🌺 Prep School

Punahou · Iolani ·
Shibuya Makuhari —
Elite Schools Worldwide

TLC produces 10 or more Punahou School admissions every year. Inquiries pour in from families in Japan, China, Korea, and beyond. The reason is clear: TLC students bring exceptional academic ability — built on reading fluency — combined with distinctive personal strengths developed through their freed-up time.

Punahou School — 150+ admissions (10+ per year)
Iolani School — 100+ admissions
Shibuya Makuhari · Shibuya · Keio · Hiroo Gakuen and other elite Japanese schools

Eiken Results

Elementary Students Achieving
University-Level English

Unlike other subjects, English is unique in that children can reach university-level proficiency before middle school. These results are the product of TLC's proprietary Science of Reading curriculum.

Eiken Grade 1

CEFR C1 and above

5th grade elementary — 1 student

6th grade elementary — 3 students

8th grade (CEFR C1 · 2,741 points)

Eiken Pre-Grade 1

CEFR B2 and above

3rd grade elementary — 1 student

4th grade elementary — 2 students

5th grade elementary — 3 students

6th grade — many more

Eiken Grade 2

CEFR A1 and above

Kindergarten & early elementary — many passing

Science of Reading builds skills progressively

Target: Pre-Grade 1 (CEFR B2) for all students

Koichi O.

Iolani School · Class of 2020

TOP
161

Selected from
3.6M U.S. Seniors

2020

Presidential Scholar

The pinnacle of U.S. high school academic achievement

TLC graduate Koichi was selected as a 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholar — an honor awarded to just 161 students chosen from 3.6 million graduating high school seniors nationwide. Presidential Scholars are invited to Washington D.C. and receive a medal presented by the President of the United States. The Thinking Skills, English proficiency, and Communication Skills that Koichi built at TLC from an early age formed the foundation of this remarkable achievement.

"My family spoke Japanese at home, so my first English pronunciation came from TLC at age three. By the time I entered kindergarten, I could read independently, and my vocabulary grew rapidly until I could keep up with my local friends. Graduating high school, I feel I have reading, comprehension, and writing skills second to none. I'm deeply grateful to my parents for enrolling me in TLC for Kids, and to all the TLC teachers."

— Koichi O. · Iolani School Class of 2020

Voices

From Our Graduates & Families

A.T. (Hiroshima)

Started TLC at age 3

Eiken Pre-1 (4th grade) → Grade 1 (8th grade · CEFR C1)

Starting phonics at age 3 meant she could read English words at an early stage. Reading English news articles and books every day, she passed Eiken Pre-Grade 1 in 4th grade. Continuing through middle school, she achieved Eiken Grade 1 and CEFR C1 in 8th grade.

T.H. (Tokyo)

Fully Japan-raised bilingual

Eiken Pre-1 (4th grade) → CEFR C1 (6th grade)

A completely Japan-raised bilingual with zero overseas experience. Started audio immersion at birth, then learned reading through phonics and sight words. Somehow he was reading on his own, and after reading over 1,000 books he passed Eiken Pre-Grade 1.

I.M. (Honolulu)

TLC student

Eiken Pre-1 in 6th grade · CEFR C1 achieved

My son was energetic and struggled to sit still — but thanks to TLC, he developed not only English ability but also study habits and concentration. The daily video lessons and worksheets gave him a strong link between English sounds and written letters.

S.H. (Tokyo)

Started TLC at age 5

Reading English books independently within one year

My daughter was a somewhat slow talker, but within nearly one year she was reading simple books on her own. She doesn't feel like she's studying — she's singing, dancing, and answering quiz questions, which she finds great fun. Day by day, the rhythm unique to English is becoming part of her.

T.V.

Tanja Villamor

Elementary School Teacher · Hawaii & Florida

My students always look forward to TLC's rhythmic songs. The melodies are repetitive and easy to remember — even hearing a song for the first time, children can sing along right away. The charming illustrations and humorous lyrics are enormously popular with kids. I recommend this outstanding TLC program to elementary school teachers across Hawaii and Florida.

OpenEd National Award

Recognized by 250,000 U.S. Teachers

Nationally Rated

"Most Effective Teaching Materials"
Ranked #2 Nationally

America's largest teacher resource site "OpenEd" — with 250,000 registered U.S. teachers — published their "Teacher's Choice: Most Effective Teaching Materials" ranking. TLC for Kids' program was ranked #2 nationally with a 92% approval rating.

#1 went to PBS — home of Sesame Street and Arthur. Earning #2 in a completely unbiased, commercial-influence-free evaluation is proof that the world has recognized TLC's educational power.

Alumni Achievements

Graduate Placement Directory

🟣 Ivy League & Elite U.S. Universities

Harvard University

Yale University

Princeton University

Columbia University

Cornell University

Brown University

UPenn · Wharton

Johns Hopkins

Georgetown

UCLA

UC Berkeley

USC

NYU — Presidential Honor

Carnegie Mellon

Boston College

Northeastern

Pepperdine

Wake Forest

Emerson — Full Scholarship

Eastman School of Music

🟢 Japan & Overseas Universities

University of Tokyo

Waseda University

Keio University

Sophia University

St Andrews University

🟠 Elite Prep Schools & High Schools

Punahou School (150+)

Iolani School (100+)

Shibuya Makuhari HS

Shibuya HS

Hiroo Gakuen

Keio Senior HS

Harvard · Yale ·Princeton and Beyond —World's Top Universities

Punahou · Iolani ·Shibuya Makuhari —Elite Schools Worldwide

Elementary Students AchievingUniversity-Level English