Intensive language study in Japan Past Review
By Anna S (Japanese/Polisci, Austin College) for
Hokusei Gakuen University: Hokkaido - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I gained the confidence to use my Japanese speaking skills, as well as improve upon them greatly.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I am in the third level of five, with five being fluent. Japanese class is three hours a day from 8:50 to 12:00 Monday through Friday, except on Wednesdays. There are one to two quizzes a day on either vocabulary, kanji, or grammar, and there are at least two pieces of homework due each day. These include two journals (each a page long, one is a free topic the other is assigned), two pages of grammar worksheets, three pages of listening worksheets, etc. If homework is turned in a day late or partially completed, only receive 50% credit for that assignment is received. No homework is accepted more than one day late. There are two kanji tests, two grammar tests, three speaking tests, and a speech at the end of the term. Every day of the week there is a different teacher who covers a different subject. Most just cover grammar structures and have students practice them, but Thursdays are definitely kanji, and Fridays are always on conversation/speech. It is a quite demanding course, but if you do not take any of the other classes offered (this year those included: Bushido, Japanese Culture through Film, Japanese Architecture, Japanese Economics, and History and Culture of the Ainu People) you end up with a nice balance of work and play. Unfortunately I took all of them. While the other classes are not as demanding as the language course (each is three hours a week, while Japanese alone is twelve), they take up quite a bit of time. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The faculty at the International Office at Hokusei Gakuen University were always very helpful and efficient. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was wonderful, though I was rather far from the University (10 min. bike ride, 30-40 min. bus ride, and 10 min. walk from the station). |
| * Food: |
If you are allergic to fish/seafood, Japan is not for you. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Overnight onsen trip to Noboribetsu, organized by the International Office (free for BCA students) |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Very safe. No prevalent health issues. Icy roads during the winter. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Subways are the easiest mode of transportation, but if you don't go through Odori station (which is the heart of the city and where most all the shopping/nightlife is) going from your host family's house to school (BCA gives you money to buy a student pass to get too and from Hokusei), then social outings can cost you up to $8 each time just for the subway (also student bus passes don't work on weekends, which is an additional $3-$4). |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 300 level Japanese |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Many people can say single words, but very few are able to do more than that. You absolutely have to use Japanese everyday to get by. |
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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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? | BCA can be hard to deal with in terms of the necessary paperwork pre-departure, but if you get through it it's worth it. |
