To Japan and Beyond! Past Review
By Deja Rollison (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 09/15/2016 to 07/31/2017 with
Sophia University: Tokyo - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Personal growth and cultural awareness expanded
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
|
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Japanese courses in particular were awful. They lack basic teaching skills. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The share house in which I was placed was dirty, over-crowded, and we were charged more than other exchange students living there. |
| * Food: |
Japanese food is great. Just get out and try something new. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The better your language skills, the better your integration. Embarrassing moments are to be expected, but that's just part of the experience. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
International SOS healthcare is nice. They can help find a doctor for your particular needs who speak English. The availability of those doctors is the tricky part. |
| * Safety: |
Japan is quite a safe place. No worries. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Same country. different school |
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? | 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? | 610D |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Self study the language instead of taking classes there |
