Nishinomiya: Kwansei Gakuin Daigaku Past Review
By Travis S (Asian Language and Studies - Japanese, University of the Pacific) for
Kwansei Gakuin University: Nishinomiya - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I think what really made this study abroad experience worthwhile was my host family. They were all I could ask for in a host family, and I wouldn't have traded them for any other host family or dorm/apartment stay.
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. |
The workload was more than what I receive at my home university, but it was still manageable for the most part. The grading system was basically the same as my home university, but instead of A, B, C, D, F, the grading system was S, A, B, C, F. The teaching methods varied from professor to professor, and also depended on what type of class it was. One of the biggest difference between my host and home university were the Japanese language courses. My home university focuses mainly on translating, listening, speaking, and comprehending. My host university also focused on these aspects, but there was also more focus on grammar points and learning kanji. Overall it was slightly different educational experience, but it was just as effective as my home university. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
For me, this program was very good. I have no complaints or anything of the sort. There were 100 of us in the program at the start, and they seemed to be able to handle all of us. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I signed up to be with a host family because I knew that I could make more out of my time here living with a host family rather than living in the dorms or finding an apartment. The neighborhood's safety and aesthetics were very good. It took around 50 mins to get to school by a combination of walking and riding the train. My host family provided all the daily necessities, but sometimes I would go out and buy my own toiletries, food, etc. My host family treated me like another member of their family from the very beginning. |
| * Food: |
I have no dietary restrictions and I try to eat almost anything, so it was relatively easy to accommodate for me. If you want to go out and eat, I think it's best to ask the local students who are familiar with the area. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
My host brother would sometimes take me out to the neighboring cities when there was festival going on, and my host uncle also took me to an onsen. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
In the very beginning of our stay, all of the exchange students were required to go through a safety orientation. During the orientation we went over what to do in the event of a natural disaster, calling the police/ambulance, going to the hospital, what to do when reporting crimes, etc. |
| 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? | I spent on average about 3000 yen each week on food and personal expenses. If you're living with a host family, during the week you only really have to buy lunch, as breakfast and dinner are provided by your host family. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try to be frivolous with your spending. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I took the final level language course that my school offered. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
The best way to improve your language skills is through practice. Since I lived with a host family I tried to speak in their native tongue as much as I could. I am no where near fluent in the language, but I still only tried to use it when speaking with them. They knew some English so if I didn't know how to explain something in Japanese, I could try and explain it in English and they would understand it most of the time. |
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? | Like I've mentioned before, try to be as open as possible. |
