Intellectually challenged in a bustling, lively city June 24, 2026

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The Japanese language classes were less challenging than I would've preferred, especially coming from the rigor of Middlebury classes. I believe this can be attributed to the fact that the other Japanese language students at this institution do not have the Language Pledge as us Middlebury students do, and as such the academic rigor I was used to was not the same one I was met with in those classes. I would say that it was the opposite experience in regards to my academic courses. Since I took two courses with local students taught entirely in Japanese, and there were very little resources provided to me to guide me through actually taking those classes, I felt as though I was thrown into a lion's pit at first, attending lectures at a high language level and having to do groupwork with peers despite my own lack of fluency. However, this also challenged me to learn Japanese faster and more independently. After a while, I was able to adapt, and the Middlebury instructors were also able to help me communicate better with my professors, which was helpful in the end to helping me pass those courses.

On-site administration of your program

The Middlebury program director and teachers were always helpful in any way they could be. They organized outings and activities for us, and checked up on our emotional wellbeing as well.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The dorms are very new, well furnished, well maintained, and convenient.

I almost never ate at the school's dining hall as the time it was open was inconvenient for me and felt expensive compared to buying groceries. Eating out was also a bit inconvenient as we were not in the city center, but the dorm's kitchen was large, so I was able to cook lunch and dinner for myself every day.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt as though I was living like a local, and there were many instances where I had to figure things out by conversing with locals and having conversations with various people, so I was eventually able to feel very integrated with the local culture. The language pledge was certainly a huge factor in my integration, as it pushed me to keep using Japanese even if the locals would prefer to just use English with me.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

We were covered under the Japanese healthcare system, and so it was very easy to book appointments, see the doctor, or get medication for anything we needed. I went to the dentist when I was having a toothache, and got x-rays, pain medication, and a comprehensive check-up for about $6USD.

Mitaka, Tokyo felt very safe, even at night. I never felt unsafe at any time. The only thing I would warn future students about is riding the bike safely on the street, as there aren't always sidewalks or dedicated bike lanes.

Ultimately, I would choose the same program again because of the language pledge. Without the language pledge in place, I would not have felt that obligated to challenge myself to use Japanese in my daily life.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Food and groceries were definitely more expensive than I anticipated in Japan. As such, I found myself spending at least $60 a week on food alone, and that's with me skipping breakfast every day. Transportation also racks up over time, so I would say, excluding money spent on trips or things like amusement parts, I spent around $80 a week purely on living expenses. If I included money spent on activities and experiences, then I predict I spent around $600-700 a month.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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• Dorm

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• Americans
• International Students

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• Field trip to Tottori
• Language immersion

• Resources and guidance

The Academic or Linguist