The Best Month of My Life Past Review
By A student (Illinois State University) - abroad from 05/18/2012 to 06/15/2012 with
Hokkaido University: Sapporo - Exchange Programs in English / HUSTEP
I learned a lot of Japanese, and I learned I'm not as shy as I thought. It was extremely worthwhile. I wish I was still there!
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The home stay experience was probably one of the best things about the program. It allowed me to experience what life is like in Japan, and I enjoyed it immensely. |
| * Food: |
All the food was delicious and none of it made my sensitive stomach sick! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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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) |
With the scholarship and the fact that I was staying with a host family, I didn't really spend that much money while I was in Japan. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | We spent a lot of money on food (and alcohol) at first, but we didn't really need to. We could've eaten at cheaper places. But it didn't really matter since we got a scholarship at the end of the program. |
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 |
My first host family did not speak any English, so I had plenty of chances to speak Japanese. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | none |
| 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? | If you don't know any Japanese before going, at least look up how to say basic phrases. I did, and it was really really handy. Also, bring a Japanese-English dictionary. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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? |
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 wish I had learned more Japanese before going on the program. |
