I learned so much in Japan Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Academics is great. All the teachers are very bright and educational. They have great methods to remembering and using Japanese language. They are also informative on all aspect of Japanese culture.

On-site administration of your program

The program was great. Everything I expected from an institution in Japan. Caring and informative. I expected to learn reading, writing, listening and speaking at a fast rate. Easily accessible, tolerant and good class sizes about 10 per class.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in an all-girls dorm in Fuchu which is a very safe, peaceful and pretty city. But it was far from the "city." It also had a midnight curfew where you cannot bring over boys-ever. Girls may only stay during the day and have to be signed in and relatives may stay over night but for only 3 days. The perks were not having to clean the bathroom/shower, food was provided and we had a mattress unlike the shimotakaido kids who had a thin futon.

The food in the dorms were on a weekly rotation of mostly fish. It got old. The portions are also very small. We were not fed on sundays and holidays. Food in the Humanities campus' cafeteria was good and super cheap about $3 for a donburi but the food at the language campus' cafeteria had few variety and not very appetizing. There are a lot of cheap and good food in Japan if you know where to look.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Students not considered part of the JLSP program was not included in the field trips so the only social aspect we got were through the volunteers. We also had a welcome mixer at the humanities campus and a farewell mixer at the language campus.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Japan is a very safe place. There is pretty much no stealing/robberies. You can forget something come back and it will still be there. There are no sensors at the stores because no one shop lifts. If you get sick the office is really helpful in helping you get medicine. Bring your own medicine to Japan! The only recognizable medicine I saw in Japan was "Contac," the rest were in Japanese and hard to figure out. The office worker took me to the hospital when I needed. There are many hospitals in Japan with english speaking doctors or the office workers will translate for you. You may also buy health insurance through Nihon Daigaku.

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

It is very easy to pick up Japanese when you're living in Japan. Almost no on speaks English and of course you hear it every where. The course is fast but it gives you enough material to significantly improve your language skills. By the end of the course, everyone around me noticed my improvement. I got a lot better in listening and conversations.