Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Life in Oita Past Review

By (Undeclared, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 09/30/2012 to 07/31/2013 with

Oita University: Oita - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned about Japanese culture first-hand. I learn how and why Japanese people think and act they way they do. It opened my mind to new ways of thinking and treating people.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Very easy classes and you only meet for class once a week!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The people at the International Office are very nice and they speak English.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Rent is cheap, and the only thing you might worry about is community showers otherwise its great!

* Food:

Japanese food is good anywhere you go. Except fruits are expensive and you can't always find normal American food at the grocery stores.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

My tutor was exceptionally helpful but I was lucky because not everyone's tutor will help them out. I made many new international friends and a few Japanese friends. You really get the feeling to integrate yourself or you'll be left out.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never got sick in Japan except for an occasional cold. My friends who did get sick had their school insurance cover all fees.

* Safety:

Japan and on campus it is very safe. I could always walk alone even at night without worrying about anything. Oita is in the country side. I would only go to the city at night with friends but we never ran into problems just some stares but you can ignore those after a while.

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 spent about $30-$35 on groceries per week but I cooked a lot in my room.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Meals at restaurants are about $5-$15 depending on what your order.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Meat is expensive so I bought chicken most of the time. It is best to do grocery shopping in the morning or right before they close then you can find some good deals.

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

In most Japanese class you could only speak in Japanese.

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 Year II Semester II
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? Make lots of Japanese friends or join a circle/club.

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

  • 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?
  • Living with other International Students.
  • Trying new foods!
  • Traveling around Japan.
* What could be improved?
  • I felt there was too great a gap between levels.
  • Teachers should use less paper handouts.
  • Using internet on campus was a hassle.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew before I went to Japan that class in Oita University are more about self-study than the ones offered at UT. In UT the teachers are sure to quiz you and review material often but in Oita University teachers may show you new material on one day and expect you to use it perfectly everyday after. Explanations on grammar and such are very brief and are not always explained in English. So self-study is a must.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!