Lost In Japan Past Review
By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/28/2017 to 07/30/2018 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Tokyo
I gained experience in independence and understanding myself. It was worthwhile
Personal Information
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Administration was often disorganized and students were not properly informed sometimes about crucial information |
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Students were at times xhenophobic and hostile to foreign students |
* Food: |
The food was okay |
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Foreign students and native japanese students often were segregated socially |
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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* Safety: |
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If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
The Middlebury program could have done more to aid it’s students and help us when we struggled. During the fall semester I had a lot of trouble adjusting and did not get help with this |
Finances
* 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? | $50 |
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | To save money before the program |
Language
* Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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? | Japanese 02 and Japanese language schools at intermediate level |
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? | To make Japanese friends |
Other Program Information
* 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? | I wish I had known more about the complexities of the country before going. I felt like an outsider a lot of the time more so because of being a person of color and felt ostracized |
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. |
Individual Course Reviews
Course Name/Rating: |
JLP 04 |
Course Department: | Japanese |
Instructor: | |
Instruction Language: | Japanese |
Comments: | The class was not challanging. The teacher was well prepared and knowledgeable. I participated less often than at my home institution. We were acessed by quizzes, hw, exams and speeches. |
Credit Transfer Issues: | No issue |
Course Name/Rating: |
JLP 05 |
Course Department: | Japanese |
Instructor: | |
Instruction Language: | Japanese |
Comments: | The class was not challanging. The teacher was well prepared and knowledgeable. I participated less often than at my home institution. We were acessed by quizzes, hw, exams and speeches. |
Credit Transfer Issues: | No issues |
Course Name/Rating: |
JLP 06 |
Course Department: | Japanese |
Instructor: | |
Instruction Language: | Japanese |
Comments: | The class was not challanging. The teacher was well prepared and knowledgeable. I participated less often than at my home institution. We were acessed by quizzes, hw, exams and speeches. Class was more challenging and I learned a lot |
Credit Transfer Issues: | No issue |
Course Name/Rating: |
Human Rights Law |
Course Department: | Law |
Instructor: | |
Instruction Language: | Japanese |
Comments: | Class was challenging but professor was knowledgeable and well prepared. We were acessed on exams and bi weekly papers |
Credit Transfer Issues: | No issue |
Course Name/Rating: |
Middlebury Community Service |
Course Department: | N/A |
Instructor: | Sanae Eda |
Instruction Language: | Japanese |
Comments: | Class was not challenging. Made use of the field trips. Teacher was sometimes not prepared. Did not participate and felt not encouraged to participate. We were acessed on homework, blogs and papers |
Credit Transfer Issues: | No issue |
Course Name/Rating: |
Advanced Theory in Queer Studies |
Course Department: | Gender Studies |
Instructor: | |
Instruction Language: | English |
Comments: | Class was okay. Professor was knowledgeable. I participated the same as I did at my home institution. We were acessed on papers, presentations and daily comment sheets |
Credit Transfer Issues: | No issue |