Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

My Time In Japan: Too Short!! Past Review

By (English Education, Shenandoah University) - abroad from 09/10/2012 to 12/31/2012 with

ISEP Exchange: Nagoya - Exchange Program at Chukyo University

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained some lifelong friends, a better me, and the confidence to go forward. It was very worthwhile, but I wish I had been there longer and known how to make the most of it from the start.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes were educational and a great experience, however they did not always meet requirements for transfer to my home university.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The staff and student volunteers were phenomenal in helping not only academically, but also with any questions from day-to-day life as well as occasionally escorting myself and other exchange students with things like buying cellphones, planning extracurricular trips, and just finding fun things to do on weekends.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The housing was perfect for its purposes. We had privacy, efficiency, and an amazingly friendly and helpful landlady. The apartments are also within walking distance to anything you might need.

* Food:

For someone like me who loves Asian foods you really can't ask for more. Everything is available to you, including a wide variety at decent prices on campus. My personal favorite was the fresh bakery underneath the International Center!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

On campus everyone was incredibly friendly, accepting, and eager to make friends. Many students were quick to try to practice their English and ask questions about other cultures as well as help with our Japanese and answer our questions. This was also true of some of the general public, though it was not always as easy to just enter a room and have a dozen people come up to you.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Though I did not run into any major health problems abroad, I did hear from other students that hospitals were not easy to navigate or receive treatment from as a foreigner. You are pretty much on your own, though if it is something normal such as a cold you can always ask a friend to help you find the right medicine.

* Safety:

There was nothing that ever made me feel really unsafe while abroad. My advice is to be smart, be prepared, and don't be too scared to ask for help when you need it.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

Chukyo University gives exchange students a monthly stipend which is nearly exactly enough to live off of as far as eating, getting to and from school, and paying your utilities is concerned. However, anything beyond that requires your own money. I used about $200/month of my personal funds for regular activities, not including trips to other cities or purchasing souvenirs.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? about $100-150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Pack your lunch and eat cheaply! Food is very expensive, as is the train if used regularly, so walk whenever you can.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Everywhere except very specific classes we were urged to only speak Japanese while in the country. In some cases, however, we were asked to tutor in English or we spent time with other foreigners who spoke our home languages.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
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? Japanese 201 (Intermediate Level One)
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? It was really scary for me when I first got there to open my mouth and try to speak another language. I was afraid they would think I was stupid if I got something wrong, but the only times people were upset were when I refused to try my best. The best and hardest to follow advice I can recommend is to just try and get embarrassed. The ones I saw improve most while we were abroad were the ones who spoke up and got things wrong and just used whatever they heard or saw as much as they could. Make friends with locals, text them, write to them, go out on the town and just talk, talk, talk until it just seems normal! The longer you do this, the better and faster you'll learn.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • N/A
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • The people
  • The opportunities
  • The amount of intensive language courses each week (plus tutoring)
* What could be improved?
  • Students entering the program should be more encouraged to make contact with former students from the time they apply.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That one semester is too short if you want to see dramatic and lasting improvements to language.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.