Japan: A Life-Changing Experience Past Review
By Amy D (Global Studies, Asian Languages and Studies-Japanese, University of the Pacific) for
Kwansei Gakuin University: Nishinomiya - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
My study abroad experience was absolutely worth while. I would do it all again if I could, and I wish I could stay longer than a year. This truly feels like my home now. I have gained understanding of a different culture and learned how to speak another language. I am now even more interested in Japan and will definitely try to come back after I graduate!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
My workload was manageable, but the intensive track lives up to its name, particularly in the winter term. The language classes were very helpful overall, and a challenge well received. The grading system in Japan is very different from the grading system in the US, I have found. For the elective classes in particular, the grading among professors was all over the place. In some classes it was literally impossible to receive and A (the highest grades they gave were Cs, which I did not understand). There needs to be more communication between KGU and my home university concerning this. I do not believe it is right or fair to be graded by such different standards and then to have these grades transfer to my undergraduate GPA. I would have preferred the classes to transfer as pass/fail units. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
There are support services, but as there was a change in administration in the middle of last semester, some things are not as up to par as they should be. Many emails are delayed, and things are posted last minute. But I have not had any real problems with the administration here. It is sufficient. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Everything except personal items is provided for me (towels, bedding, a desk, meals, etc.). I love my neighborhood, and it is incredibly safe. I'm not afraid to walk home by myself in the dark past midnight. My host family is wonderful, although I feel that we could be closer and we've had our misunderstandings. I'm treated more like a guest than a member of the family, but I feel comfortable in my home and I am well cared for. |
| * Food: |
Japan has INCREDIBLE food. I am going to miss it so much when I go back home to America. The produce is so fresh here and is much tastier than in the US (which is saying a lot as I come from the California central valley). However, it would be hard if not impossible to be a vegetarian or vegan in Japan, as they eat a lot of meat and dairy. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
During orientation we saw famous local sites such as museums and mountains. I was free to do many things by myself, and often went to Kobe, Osaka, and Kyoto with friends. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. I have never experienced any crime or attacks to my person. |
| 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? | During school, seeing as I had to buy my own lunches, I probably spent around $50-$75 every week on food and personal expenses. Things in Japan are very expensive, and even with a scholarship I had to be careful of how much I spent because it is so easy to lose track. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Everything is very expensive in Japan in general, even if you don't count the exchange rate. I spent a lot more than anticipated on transportation, even after buying a commuter pass. It is reasonably priced, but really adds up, so keep costs for transportation in mind. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I had completed all of the Japanese language courses at my university, through level 3. This was NOT enough to prepare me for the classes here. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
The language classes in this program are significantly better than the ones offered at my home university, and I found that my Japanese improved drastically. In the intensive program (which I highly recommend), the language classes are split into 3 components, conversation, grammar, and kanji. All classes are taught in Japanese (they work with you on your level; don't worry), which was tremendously helpful in improving my listening and speaking skills. I am living with a host family, so I use the language on a daily basis, but I do have English-speaking friends. I feel that I have sufficient opportunities to practice Japanese, however. I appreciate that in the area in which I am living, English is not as common as it is in say, Tokyo, so most people are willing to speak Japanese with me rather than English. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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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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? | This program is wonderful if you want to vastly improve your language skills and live with a host family. |
