Good Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/10/2018 to 11/29/2019 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Tokyo

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Many many things.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The fact that it was a bilingual school was to the detriment of my immersion. The visits that we had to the countryside were great.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

No issue.

* Safety:

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

It was good.

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)

Public transport is expensive. Food price is good/tolerable.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Not sure.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Onigiri is your best friend.

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? 203
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? Join clubs where the experience is fully and authentically immersive.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Japan
  • Eda
  • Food
* What could be improved?
  • The Pledge could be stricter
  • The class at ICU (in Japanese) was way too difficult
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How to make friends :(

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Middlebury Blog Portfolio

Course Department: Middlebury
Instructor: Eda Sensei
Instruction Language: Japanese
Comments: Yes, it forced me to explore as much of Japan as possible.
Credit Transfer Issues: no