Study Abroad in Japan with CIEE Past Review
By A student (HSSP, Brandeis University) - abroad from 03/26/2014 to 07/31/2014 with
CIEE: Tokyo - Arts and Sciences
I learned about a new culture and new language. it was an amazing experience and I am so glad I got the opportunity to study abroad in Japan.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were not academically stimulating. The university administration refused my request to be placed into a higher Japanese level and so I was stuck in a class that did not challenge me or teach me new material. CIEE did not help me in my request to change language levels. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Staff were very friendly but often treated students like children. I did not feel that CIEE staff were there for me the first month of the program. They did not know what they were doing with setting up cell phones and as a result I was living in a foreign country without a usable phone for at least the first 2 weeks. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was the best part of my study abroad experience. My family: mom, dad, and little sister, welcomed me with open arms into their family. My little sister taught me more about Japanese culture and language than my university class ever could. |
| * Food: |
University food was inexpensive and tasty. My home-stay food was also delicious. My mother even let me help prepare meals with her; it was a great bonding activity! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I definitely felt like an outsider most times, but I did not find that it really interfered with learning or living in Japan. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not have any health issues while abroad. I had to register for Japanese national health insurance, which I did with the help of my host mother. Bills were easily payed at the convenience store. As for vaccines, they are the same as ones given in America so I did not need an new vaccinations. |
| * Safety: |
I felt extremely safe in Japan, both in terms of crime and natural disasters. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
I chose a home-stay so I had both breakfast and dinner provided for me daily unless I chose to eat outside of my home with friends. I found that because I budgeted my money well, I did not run out of money or have any financial emergencies throughout my entire semester. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $80 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | JAPN 102 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Home-stay helped me practice my Japanese a lot and got me very comfortable with speaking the language. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | That while the CIEE Tokyo staff have good hearts, they are extremely incompetent and don't know how to successfully support students studying abroad in Tokyo at Sophia University. |
