Not worth the hassle Past Review
By Mike G (EALC, Indiana University - Bloomington) - abroad from 06/24/2013 to 08/15/2013 with
KCP International Japanese Language School: Tokyo - Intensive Japanese Language Immersion
My home stay was the most enlightening experience. Being able to see how a family lives and speaks in a normal life is valuable.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The actual Japanese instruction itself was very solid. However they went out of their way to dilute it with poor classroom management skills on the part of the teachers, lousy administration in the office, and in general a very frustrating experience from beginning to end. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Treated everyone like children. This may be fine for someone who has never been overseas before. But as a well traveled adult, I didn't appreciate the level of hand holding they do. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I made arrangements to home stay with a family. I can not speak to the dorms provided by the school. |
| * Food: |
Again, I secured my own food arrangements. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
For the majority of the people who have never been to Japan, let alone overseas, they seemed to enjoy the cultural aspects of the program. However if you have spent anytime in Japan you will probably find them very tedious. Should you elect not to participate in the extracurricular activities, it will be reflected in your overall grade. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Arranged my own health care. |
| * Safety: |
Certainly no reason not to feel safe in Japan. |
| 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) |
I had the resources to enjoy my time there and didn't feel the need to live like a student. |
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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 2nd year |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Not to sign up for a program just because the are inexpensive. You get what you pay for. |
