Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Great experience! Past Review

By (California State University - Fullerton) - abroad from 06/23/2015 to 08/14/2015 with

KCP International Japanese Language School: Tokyo - Intensive Japanese Language Immersion

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I definitely learned a lot more about Japanese culture and everyday interactions. It was also amazing to see how much more comfortable I'd become using Japanese everyday.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The program is very intense, more so than I was used to. But you learn a lot and if you put enough time and effort into you, you'll definitely learn a lot and be more confident in Japanese.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Everyone is super nice and willing to help! They also love to just talk with students which is really great. They'll speak to you in Japanese as well if you'd like to practice.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved our dorm! The manager and staff were really great and were always willing to teach us about Japanese culture or talk with us. Our dorm manager also took me and a few other students out a few times and showed us around our area. The one thing I wished was that the dorm was closer to the station or the school in general. Overall, it was about 1 hr 15 min one way to get into Shinjuku which really sucked.

* Food:

One word: Amazing.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

I underestimated the amount of money i would be spending while I was here. Most of my money went toward two things: food and travel expenses. I ate out quite a bit while I was in Japan and I also went around Tokyo a lot. The train is super convenient but also pretty expensive so it can be a lot to just go from place to place. I would definitely recommend having at least $2000 aside for food, travel, and souvenirs.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $60-$100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If possible, eat at your dorm! The food is cheap and always good. Take advantage of sales and specials when you see them, you can save a lot of money that way. If you can walk there, just walk. The train can cost as much as $2 to go just one to two stations away from where you are. So if you can walk there I would.

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

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? 2
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? Study a lot and talk as much as you can in Japanese! The only way to be more fluent and comfortable is to use Japanese everyday.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • Classes
  • The People
  • Teachers
* What could be improved?
  • Class Speed
  • More opportunities to talk with locals
  • Clarification of event times, etc.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I really understood how much money I needed to bring with me when I first came here. Also, to not bring as many clothes as I did.

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.