Take the Leap! Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/30/2017 to 06/26/2018 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Tokyo
I improved my Japanese skills a lot through this program and was able to learn about the local culture and environment through my work as an intern and my experience joining a school organization. I also became much more independent and now feel comfortable supporting myself in a foreign environment.
Personal Information
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I think the Japanese courses were challenging enough to push my language abilities but were not too difficult. I think I was placed properly, which definitely helped with my confidence. I also liked the ICU courses I took, which were in Japanese. Though it was very difficult because of the language barrier and I may not have picked up all of the subject information, these classes really helped improve my Japanese. I actually would have liked to take more ICU courses if I had the time. |
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I was given a lot of assistance with my internship and my advisor seemed to be available if I had questions regarding my classes. However, the Middlebury courses themselves seemed a little disorganized, so it was sometimes difficult to know what was expected of us for that part of the program. |
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was initially a one-term student, but extended to stay in Tokyo for the full year, so I lived in both the exchange student dorm and a normal student dorm. I did not really like the exchange student dorm because even though the rooms were very nice and new, I felt a little cut off from the rest of the student body. Also there was no kitchen, so I could not cook for myself. Once I moved into a regular student dorm, I really enjoyed the dorm experience. There was always help if I needed it and it was great to be a part of a community on campus. |
* Food: |
I really like Japanese food, so I had a good time with that. There were also restaurants near campus that were relatively cheap. |
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I joined one of the clubs on campus, and they really welcomed me into their group, so from the beginning I felt really connected to the school community through them. Once I moved into a regular student dorm as well, I was really introduced to a different aspect of the culture and community, which really helped round out my experience. I would definitely recommend joining a club on campus to truly get connected! |
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have any major problems during my experience, but when I wanted to go to the dentist, ICU's health care center referred me to a dentist. Even though I was pretty confident in my Japanese, the center referred a dentist that could speak English so I would feel more comfortable, so I think they are used to helping international students with any health issues (the health care office also has personnel who can speak English as well if this is necessary). |
* Safety: |
Even though Tokyo is a large city, it felt very safe, especially around campus. Obviously there are some areas you might not want to walk around by yourself late at night, but in general I felt very safe. |
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Even though it was very difficult, I liked that we had to participate in a local internship and take all classes in Japanese. I think this program really pushed my Japanese skills. |
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) |
Once I moved into a regular dorm with a kitchen, it was easier to live on a student's budget, but without the kitchen it was a little difficult. I still spent less on food than I would at my home university, but it was a lot easier to stay within budget when I could cook for myself. |
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | ~70 |
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try to make a budget and stick to it. It can be hard to stick to a plan, but if you limit yourself to eating out with friends only once or twice a week, you will save a lot of money. |
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 |
We had the language pledge (to only speak in Japanese). |
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? | An intensive advanced course (the previous summer) |
How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Just having daily conversations with your roommates and fellow club members is a great way to pick up the language. You will learn a lot of phrases and intonation from just sitting by a native conversation, and it will get to the point where you can easily join in. |
Other Program Information
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | 10+ |
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 started as a one-year student rather than a one-term student because I could have been more connected from the beginning, but I think in general learning what to do along the way was part of the experience. (I do wish expectations for the Middlebury courses were clearer from the beginning, however). |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |