Come to Japan without having to deal with the Japanese Past Review
By Marie C (Japanese, Austin College) for
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University: Beppu - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
As I came to learn more Japanese, my time was still worthwhile. But if I had come for a cultural experience, I would be very disappointed.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Other than my Japanese and science class, the courses were all very simple. I think it is because the classes were made for exchange students, but they were far too easy. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I would have liked a bit more help with filling out the actual application to the school. There was a lot of paper work to juggle. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Beppu has really wonderful onsens (public baths) which you can find no where in the states. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About $70 was spent a week on food. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't always take all your money with you. If it's not with you, you won't be tempted to spend it. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Japanese 202 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Most of the people I saw everyday spoke English, because the school clumps foreigners together. Down in the town, my Japanese was used a bunch. Not so much up at the school. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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