Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Best 3 months of college life. September 02, 2023

By (Environmental Science, Middlebury College) - abroad from 03/14/2023 to 06/24/2023 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Tokyo

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Japanese skills, relaxation, friends.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* 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? Yes

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)

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? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Summer Language School Level 2
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? Actively participate in community enegaement activities.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • Opportunities
  • Food
  • People
* What could be improved?
  • Administration
  • Field trip itineraries
  • Local living tips
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The course we can actively choose is so very limited.

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:

Intro to Environmental Mgmt
Course Department: ENVS
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Japanese
Comments: It was a challenging course due to the fact that it is taught completely in Japanese and that it is an economics and environmental studies joint course. However, the professor was really knowledgeable and did a great job explaining course concepts. I maintained full participation in this course and was mainly assessed on attendance and mid-term and final papers.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Cultural Portfolio: Exploration
Course Department: JAPN
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Japanese
Comments: This course was fun, challenging and educational. Plenty of filed trips accompanied course materials to give us more vivid learning experiences. I was 1 or 2 classes away from a full attendance and students were assessed based on participation, quizes, blog posts, diaries, as well as papers.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Cultural Portfolio: Reflection
Course Department: JAPN
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Japanese
Comments: This course was fun, challenging and educational. Plenty of filed trips accompanied course materials to give us more vivid learning experiences. I was 1 or 2 classes away from a full attendance and students were assessed based on participation, quizes, blog posts, diaries, as well as papers.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Community Engagement
Course Department: JAPN
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Japanese
Comments: This is a really interesting and educational course. We were offered opportunities to work within local communities and experience authentic life styles of local residents. This was an effective way to improve spoken japanese skills as well as japanese cultures. 24 hrs in total of participation was required and we were assessed on work reports, presentations, and projects.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Japanese 4
Course Department: JAPN
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Japanese
Comments: Well balanced course. Content materials are useful and well-planned. I partcipated in all but a few courses and assessments included: attendance, group works, presentations, quizes, oral exams, written exams, and papers.
Credit Transfer Issues: