Past Review

By (Japanese Language and Literature., University of Hawaii - Manoa) for

Hiroshima University: Hiroshima - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: Hiroshima University
The term and year this program took place: Full-Year 2008

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Japanese classes here weren't that great. No chance for free-writing or formal speaking.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

housing was really close to campus but utilities were expensive and overall the dorms weren't clean

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Students here were friendly and got along well with all of the other exchange students.

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

Language

Language acquisition improvement?

My writing didn't improve much here, but my reading, speaking, listening definitly improved a lot.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? If you do a year program here, and you are privately funded it will be difficult. If you can get JASSO you won't have any problems with money (although I knew some students who did, even with a scholarship). Be open minded and speak Japanese whenever possible. The Japanese classes here aren't that good, so you should proactive on your own outside of class as well.