I can't believe I just ate that... Past Review
By Christopher S (International Relations and political science, Austin College) - abroad from 08/30/2011 to 08/01/2012 with
IES Abroad: Tokyo - Language & Culture
Perspective. Ultimately yes, but I had to work hard to make it that way...
Review Photos
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Meikai University Kanda University of International Studies |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
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? |
Host families were not always available, and those that were often had lengthy commutes to and from campus. However the biggest issue was that IES could not provide any housing assistance over academic breaks, leaving myself and several other students without a place to stay and on our own in Tokyo. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Japanese students are assigned to help you integrate into the local culture, but you may find yourself spending uncomfortable amounts of time speaking English with your American peers for lack of Japanese companionship. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health issues were addressed promptly and reimbursements were available for medical costs. |
| * Safety: |
Almost too safe... |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
Tokyo is extremely expensive, and many consumables were outrageous. If you are living on your own during the breaks expect to spend $200-300 per week on food and trains. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
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 |
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| 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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Japanese 102 |
| 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? | Just talk with people. Anyway you can. Get drunk with friends... whatever! Find a hobby, join a club. Talk as much as you want... as often as you can, and listen as well. You didn't travel around the world to sit in a classroom and study like you did at your home university, you did it to experience the culture and to gain workable knowledge of the language. Do it! |
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? | How to speak Japanese! It may seem like I'm being glib, but having a working knowledge of the local language is indispensable for any study abroad experience! |
