Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

fun and wild January 31, 2023

By (Japanese, Middlebury College) - abroad from 03/26/2022 to 11/27/2022 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Tokyo

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about myself and my language skills improved immensely. It was absolutely 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

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I think I would've preferred a host family, as I felt that I had missed out on a lot of language practice.

* Food:

Food was amazing, no meal plan meant I spent a good amount of time cooking for myself.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

ICU is such an international university that it often felt too easy to blend with only English speakers-- I did my best to communicate with Japanese speakers, but in the end I don't know how satisfied I feel.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Insurance abroad was confusing and I am unsure how I would've used it.

* Safety:

Extremely safe

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I loved the program heads from Middlebury based at the college, but I think I would've preferred a university with a less international community, since it was so challenging to find opportunities to speak Japanese.

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)

3.5 -- Being in a city abroad, it was hard to stop myself from eating out etc., especially when friends did so -- However, thankfully, restaurants were so cheap that despite this my spending was quite low.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Around $80 a week on groceries, then additional expenses added up to around $100-110 per week on average.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Shop at Gyomu supermarket, and cook for yourself as much as you can -- instant noodles may be cheap, but they have no nutrition!

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 spoke Japanese exclusively

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 301 Japanese
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? Become friends with native speakers who are willing to have all conversations in Japanese. Also, attend volunteering programs as much as possible, more than the required hours.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International 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?
  • teachers
  • courses
  • community
* What could be improved?
  • Immersion
  • living space
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known to choose a less challenging Japanese course in my first semester abroad.

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 Linguist
You 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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

J5
Course Department: Japanese
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Japanese
Comments: No, the speed of progression was quite slow, and after the first few months I found myself learning the same vocabulary and grammar from weeks ago.
Credit Transfer Issues: I would suggest doing transfer credit forms as soon as your time abroad finishes, as ICU very swiftly deletes your student account and removes access to previous course materials (if you need a syllabus, get it asap!)
Course Name/Rating:

Intro to Religious Studies
Course Department: Religious Studies
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Japanese
Comments: It was challenging in the sense that the content was fairly complex, but due to the nature of the readings and frequency of assignments, I found it very easy to keep up with the course. It honestly felt like the perfect amount of challenge for me as a Japanese learner. I wish it would have had more discussion sections.
Credit Transfer Issues: Get your syllabus asap!
Course Name/Rating:

J4
Course Department: Japanese
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Japanese
Comments: As with J4, the course content progressed too slowly, and I found that I was hearing the familiar vocabulary and grammar points the whole semester.
Credit Transfer Issues: The credit transferred automatically
Course Name/Rating:

Intro to Tennis
Course Department: PE
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Japanese
Comments: It was a fun and relaxing course centered around learning the basics of tennis. A bit confusing sometimes due to my language limitations.
Credit Transfer Issues: Have not yet transferred the credits, we'll see how it goes.
Course Name/Rating:

E-Portfolio
Course Department: Japanese
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Japanese
Comments: It was challenging because it pushed me to write frequently in Japanese, aiming to practice and improve my ability to articulate my thoughts-- about anything I'd like-- in my language of study.
Credit Transfer Issues: No, credits transferred automatically
Course Name/Rating:

Community Engagement
Course Department: Japanese
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Japanese
Comments: It was challenging in the sense that I was placed in a professional environment in which I had to speak Japanese. However, there were enough resources that I remained comfortable despite the challenges.
Credit Transfer Issues: No, the credit transferred automatically.
Course Name/Rating:

Japan Exploration
Course Department: Japanese
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Japanese
Comments: Yes, it was. We studied a wide range of subjects in the context of Japanese culture, language and society, accompanied by more structured essay writing assignments and quizzes throughout the semester.
Credit Transfer Issues: No, the credits transferred automatically.
Course Name/Rating:

Japanese Intellectual History
Course Department: History/Japanese Studies
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Japanese
Comments: The course was too challenging for me. The language in readings was often very archaic, which meant that I could neither use a dictionary nor translation tools to read them. I often felt lost and overwhelmed.
Credit Transfer Issues: Get the syllabus early.