A Priceless Experience for Almost Any Student Past Review
By Stephen (Michigan State University) - abroad from 05/06/2019 to 06/07/2019 with
JCMU Japan Center: Career/Culture Hybrid Courses
In this month-long program, I gained valuable experience and first-hand observations that taught me ten times more than all my other courses did back at Michigan State. Especially with TESOL, there's nothing more valuable than experience and the program staff knows this well. Easily the most worthwhile class I've ever taken in addition to the incredible experience being in Japan.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Overall, this program's academic value and resources are off the charts. While you're attending class, traveling to schools, tutoring, and assisting workshops almost every day, you still get days off here and there to where it doesn't feel overwhelming. You are always able to ask questions and seek help when needed. The program and its staff have the resources and knowledge that the more you want out of this program, the more you can get. But if you want to go at a somewhat slower pace and enjoy Japan without the fear of getting overwhelmed, that's possible too. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Japan Center for Michigan Universities staff is beyond helpful, they're always brightening up your day despite being so busy. You also have a student adviser who is there to ensure you are safe and to answer any and all questions you have. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Great. You have a two-bedroom apartment-style dorm and your bedroom area can be closed off for privacy. |
| * Food: |
You have the ability to eat whatever you want. You can go to the supermarket and buy fresh food to cook or go to convenience stores and restaurants if you can't cook. There are a couple of very close options and if you have the time, there's even more options if you venture further away from the school. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Hikone is not a bustling city and the school sort of lies on the outskirts of it. You will undoubtedly meet local Japanese students both children and adult who are studying English, students from the local university that want to meet Americans, and especially with this program you're able to meet kids from local schools. You definitely feel integrated into Japanese culture and even the local culture of Hikone too. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health Care is easily accessible, the staff will assist you with every need, and it also costs a fraction of the cost it does in the US. |
| * Safety: |
Japan is the safest country on Earth and the school goes beyond that, having electronically-locking pass code doors with plenty of lighting outside. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This program perfectly combines academic rigor, the international experience, and real-life experience together in a package that is approachable for almost anyone. You do not have to necessarily want to teach English abroad in Japan to get a lot out of this program. Regardless of whether you've been studying TESOL for years or if this is your first experience teaching English, the program equips you with the knowledge and experience necessary to kick-start your English teaching career. If you do happen to be someone dead-set on teaching English in Japan then I couldn't recommend this program more. If you want a challenge, have advanced questions, or if you want extra experience, this program and its staff have the resources and knowledge to give you what you need and then some. |
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) |
If you are mindful about what you are buying, it is very easy to live on a $100/week. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About $100 unless it was a week where I traveled for leisure. |
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? | Intermediate |
| 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? | JPN 402 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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? | Everything about the program was very well communicated. We had the opportunity to Skype-call our professor from Japan before we departed and we were able to ask as many questions as needed. |
