ICU Tokyo Past Review
By Kanwara W (Global Studies, University of California - Riverside) for
International Christian University: Tokyo - Direct Enrollment and Exchange
Education at ICU is similar to a UC but being alone in Tokyo is the experience that you ultimately want.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
There are daily homework for the intensive Japanese program. Make sure to study, practice speaking and utilize the environment if you are serious about learning Japanese. Midterms and finals should not be difficult if you keep up on the work and go to class because they move fast. Comtemporary japan has an American instructor who taught at Berkley so work should be what UC students are used to. 2 short essays. 1 presentation. 1 Final essay. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
|
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
|
| * Food: |
Burikya is a ramen shop that is in walking distance of ICU |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
|
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
|
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
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) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Tokyo is expensive so manage your money well. I spent 200 dollars a week going out. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Cell phone contracts are expensive. Make sure you chose the right plan and go with a good translator with getting into contracts |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Japanese 2 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
| Language acquisition improvement? |
It is an international school so everyone knew English. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Do it! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Contemporary japan: from ramune to anime |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Freedman |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
