Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I have already mentioned the fact that higher-level students are allowed to take mainstream university courses, instead of the ones set up for foreign exchange students. This will dramatically increase your language ability because you will be required to do readings, write reports, and listen to lectures just like all the Japanese students. As far as the classes for the foreign exchange students, they are well done. Everything is taught in Japanese. I have heard that the earlier levels are better than the upper levels. The evidence also speaks for that: many 1 or 2 level students became at least level 5 (out of 8), by the end of their term. However, level 7 students do not seem to move at all. The higher levels are much more focused on individual study, so I would recommend higher-level students to take mainstream University classes instead. They also have semester-long lectures on the Japanese Language Placement Exams and other tests. These were very helpful, as the pace is higher than the regular classes.

On-site administration of your program

The program office staff are always there and willing to help. They hand out notices often and are perhaps too detailed about many of the issues (which is a roundabout compliment, I suppose). There is a lot of bureaucracy and red tape, however, that can be a pain.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I chose off campus housing because the last thing I wanted was to live with a bunch of English-speaking partiers who had no genuine interest in studying Japanese. I got an apartment.

Expensive. Good food, but expensive. If you are a vegetarian, they have a salad bar and lots of fish (and depending on your level of being a vegetarian, chicken...). There is complimentary tea and water, both hot and cold, for the students. But, again, rather expensive.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

If you do not mind only speaking English this trip: you will have many Japanese friends. There are many Japanese students who are itching to practice their Japanese with foreign exchange students, so it can be really difficult to practice your Japanese with anyone. The social atmosphere is also not engineered for making friends, as it is for just hanging out with the friends who have already managed to make. Therefore, if you do not make a conscious effort to find Japanese people who do not view you as an English-machine, you will not have Japanese friends. The study abroad program did not really set up anything for the students, except for what seemed to be a coffee-hour. There is a great club on campus called "Cosmopolitan" that sets up a lot of the outings. The Japanese in that group are also very interesting in speaking Japanese with foreign exchange students. I would recommend joining it.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There is a great health center on campus that will take care of any problems that you might have. I never felt unsafe on my campus.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I feel much more comfortable with my language ability, now that I have attended Doshisha. When I go back and read something I struggled with before my trip to Japan, I can dramatically realize how much I have improved.