Japanese: Quiet with a wild side Past Review
By Elizabeth M (Japanese Language, Literature, Berea College) - abroad from 05/30/2015 to 06/29/2015 with
KIIS: Traveling - Experience Japan (Summer)
I learned about a whole new culture where they are more into peace with others and about a religion that is not Christianity. I would suggest to everyone to visit Japan at least once.
Review Photos
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? |
Staying with a host family was the best housing arrangement ever! But with Japanese hotels, be expecting the rooms to be on the small side. |
| * Food: |
Their ice creams and other such deserts are delicious! Go to Japan and you must try takoyaki, Mochi, and black sesame ice cream. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Japanese are very friendly people and if they can speak English they enjoy walking up to Americans to see where they come from. Also the children love to say hello, in English, whenever they see us Americans. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Luckily one of the teachers is Japanese so it was easy to find the medicine I needed because the people at the counter know what medicines do what and such. Japanese medicine is weaker than American though so you do have to take more of it. |
| * Safety: |
Do not walk alone, especially at night. Most Japanese are nice but some can get really mean when drunk. |
| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Get to know the area to see how much certain places charge so you can find cheaper options. |
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? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 1 year |
| 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? | Speak to native Japanese speakers. Even if I spoke proper, textbook Japanese, my host family and their friends would have trouble understanding because they do not speak like that. |
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? | There will come a time when everyone gets annoyed with others on the trip, even you, so it's okay to hang out with other people besides the same few. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
