Friendships that will last a lifetime! Past Review
By Benjamin Percival (Brandeis University) - abroad from 08/29/2016 to 12/22/2016 with
CET Japan
The biggest thing I gained was so many friends that I am really close to. I also hugely improved my Japanese skills. This experience has opened my mind to the world (met so many people from all over the world while I was in Japan) and also made me decide to live in Japan in the future.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The program was very rigorous and we studied so much within a short time. Everyday we had quizzes and a large amount of homework (in my opinion it was a little excessive but it was in order to finish the workbook in time). We learned so much each week. It was also great how we were not allowed to be speaking English with other participants of the program. This forced us to practice all the time. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff members for CET were very nice and always willing to offer their support. The teachers were also encouraging and tried their best to make learning the language easy. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was very satisfied. I lived 5 minutes away from school by train, and my place was 2 minutes away from the station (though I skateboarded most places). My roommate is one of my best friends and I am so happy I got to meet him. I really miss my life in Japan! |
| * Food: |
Food was one of the best things there. What isn't to love about Japan! Food was super cheap and so delicious. Many places had "tabehoudai" which means "all you can eat" for less than $15USD. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I tried my best to be a local, and do what the locals do. I love the way of life in Japan. Its so easy to get accustomed to and everything is convenient and easy. There were of course culture shocks, but I often thought of them as nice surprises and that Japans way of thinking is so much better than most other places in the world. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not have any health issues when I was abroad. |
| * Safety: |
The program staff were always sending out emails and messages to check on us when unexpected issues arose (such as earthquakes or other events occurring near Osaka, where we lived). |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I really love the way this program works (with a local roommate) and how we focus on learning the language, while also experiencing fun life in Japan. |
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) |
Food was cheap, but I am from Samoa so I eat a lot! I also spent money catching trains and doing things around Japan. Usually I handled my finances well and was not wasteful. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent probably about $90 a week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try to cook more meals at home, never say no to free food, look for the cheaper vending machines (jidouhanbaiki), and be careful going to Combini's often because it adds up. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
We were required to speak only Japanese amongst ourselves, no English. |
| 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 20 - The second semester of Japanese. |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Homework can be useful, but I feel the best way to learn the language is hang out with locals! That is what I did all day until late at night when I started my homework. Usually got very little sleep! Just being in a totally different culture, immersed in the language, you will learn fast! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I know so much more Japanese now that I wish I knew before going to Japan! Would have been able to talk to my Japanese friends a lot more! |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
