Lost In Japan Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/28/2017 to 07/30/2018 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Tokyo

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
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.

* 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?

* Safety:

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)

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

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

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
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?
  • Location
  • Language use
  • Opportunity
* What could be improved?
  • Communication
  • Support for students
  • Expectations
* 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 Urbanite
A 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