A fantastic, study-instensive, gorgeous, fun, short, insightful experience Past Review
By Keynan K (Japanese Language and Literature., Western Washington University) - abroad from 09/01/2012 to 12/17/2012 with
Nagoya University of Foreign Studies: Nagoya - Japanese Language and Japanese Studies Program / JLJSP Direct Enrollment
Extremely amazing friends (Japanese and international, important and memorable experiences, insights on Japanese culture, and a drastic improvement in my Japanese skills. Despite only being there for three months, every single moment was worth it.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The main JLI courses being taught only in Japanese may seem brutal at first, but in the end it is definitely worth it. If you want to learn Japanese and understand it well, you must immerse yourself in it, no matter how scared, frustrated or how confident you are in your Japanese ability. The teachers are extremely helpful and kind, and they make you feel okay to ask questions or to simply repeat a statement or question. Academically, the program was difficult enough, but not so difficult to drive someone insane. If you desire to better your Japanese overall, then you will heavily benefit from this experience. Being provided a scholarship "automatically" in a way helped tremendously, mainly paying off the rent where I stayed at Proxy Nisshin Friends (located within a ten minute walk away from Nagoya University of Foreign Studies). |
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* Host Country Program Administration
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
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| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100-$200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Set up budgets for yourself ahead of time Research what kinds of foods, markets, and restaurants in the area you are studying aboard in Set up an emergency stash of money Ask people for the cheapest deals, stores, and resturants |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| 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 301 |
| 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? | Purposely immerse yourself in the language and culture, no matter how good or bad you are in the language. When you first get to study aboard, I call it a big fat reality check on what your skills in that language really is. Try to make new friends in the country, go to school events, community events, or even just go out and explore. Anything is better than sitting in the room after you are done with classwork. I had a wonderful opportunity of taking a part time job called the Language Lounge, where all I had to do is talk in English with Japanese students to help them learn English. It was a great way to make extra money and making really good friends. There are other language lounges as well, like Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish. Be willing to make mistakes, we all make them and some point, but those mistakes won't mean anything if you don't learn from those mistakes. Strive to improve and better the language you are trying to master no matter what, you can always be better (this applies to anything you want to become better at). |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew I was going to live in an apartment by myself, had more money, had the option to stay longer, how much the yen really is compared to USD, and the size of the food portions Japan sells. |
