Breaking Down Perceptions Past Review
By A student (Brandeis University) - abroad from 09/17/2019 to 03/15/2020 with
CIEE: Tokyo - Arts and Sciences
I gained a sense of inclusion and familiarity with Japanese culture, as well as a huge group of lifelong family and friends.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Sophia is a well-regarded university with plenty of academic resources and engaging professors. It was a great program academically. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The CIEE Tokyo staff were wonderful, communicative and supportive. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Tokyo was the right decision. I don't know a single person from my program who wasn't infatuated with the city and its many facets of life. For me, living with a host family was absolutely the best decision, and fully integrated me into the culture. |
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) |
Food at university is cheap (around $4 for a meal) and filling. Budgeting comes down to limiting optional shopping excursions. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150 |
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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Japanese 40 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
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? | The image of Tokyo that exists in your head is completely different from the real thing. At first glance it might look like any other sprawling metropolis, but you'll find the interesting bits in time. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
