Obirin Past Review
By Sinead J (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 04/01/2013 to 08/06/2013 with
J. F. Oberlin University: Tokyo - Reconnaissance Japan Program
I made friends who shared my interests, I think it was very worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The Core Japanese classes there are a joke, I learned more grammar at my home university than I did there. In addition, if you take the second level, they teach as if you are very young doing many meaningless activities and lots of pictures. Classical was also not interesting. The Political Geography and Cinema professors were good at their subjects though. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
It was good that you could always drop by the office for assistance, but partway into the semester the woman over our program disappeared and we never saw from her or heard from her again. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved the dorm, besides the bed, they were very comfortable and clean, and well kept up. I enjoyed living there. |
| * Food: |
The food was okay, most of their pasta was really oily as was the pizza, but if you go for more native food, you'll probably be better off. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt somewhat integrated with the local culture, because of our location, but I didn't meet any of the people who lived near the dorm. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had no health issues. |
| * Safety: |
I felt extremely safe, safer than in the united states coming walking home later at night |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
I don't know what a student's budget is, but I budgeted $200 a week for food/miscellaneous and I did just fine with that, with extra left over. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $160 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Plan your budget for each that you will be there, and DO NOT go over. Many people did that and they were struggling halfway through the semester. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Not much. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | JPN 320K |
| 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? | Really get involved with the Japanese students who hang out with the international students. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* 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? |
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 should've studied a bit harder to place into a higher class, it might have been tougher, but I would have learned more. |
