<p>Hey I am interested in possibly studying abroad for a summer session (4 week). Just wondering your thoughts on it and how you liked it. I really would like to go to japan so if anyone has studied abroad in Japan it would be great, but feel free to comment on wherever you went.</p>
<p>Who doesn't study abroad anymore?</p>
<p>I would suggest spending a full year though. That's the only way to really get anything out of it. 4 weeks is basically just like a vacation and isn't a huge help to you in the long run.</p>
<p>Hey I am interested in possibly studying abroad for a summer session (4 week). Just wondering your thoughts on it and how you liked it. I really would like to go to japan so if anyone has studied abroad in Japan it would be great.</p>
<p>Well its a nice vacation.. I am a biochemistry major and I am going to start taking japanese courses. I will be living 20 hours from my home so 4 weeks is all I will want by studying abroad. I'd love to just be there the four weeks take my classes and make my language a bit better. Another reason I want to do the summer session is because I will be a transfer student so I want to spend all 4 semesters at the college of my choice.
I do see where you are coming from but I don't think I would want to be out of the country that long. Did you ever get a chance to study abroad? If so how did you like and where were you staying?</p>
<p>i just spent the summer in tokyo, although i was not there as a student. as for japan it's absolutely amazing. they quite possibly have the nicest people in the whole world</p>
<p>Did you go with any knowledge of the language? Did you get around ok?</p>
<p>i had absolutely no knowledge of the language, and i was definately able to get by. pretty much all i knew how to say was "excuse me", "yes", "no", and "thank you". you will find that there are a good amount of people that know basic english words. if you go to places that cater to westerners like roppongi, you'll encounter many english speakers</p>
<p>what i loved about japan was that i was always lost trying to take the subways, but somebody would always help me even if he/she did not speak a word of english. i can't say enough about the people. </p>
<p>i, myself am trying to study abroad at either waseda or sophia university in tokyo for the spring semester.</p>
<p>Man, I'm really looking forward to doing this now. I have always wanted to visit japan and I think i'm finally getting the chance! As of now I am looking at programs, are they going to change for the Summer09 or are they usually the same? I am afraid that I'm getting excited looking at study abroad programs in japan for summer08 and then having it get canceled or discontinued for summer 09</p>
<p>I studied abroad in Grenoble, France last semester and it was the best experience of my life. It is different (and scary, at first) being in another country far from home where no one speaks your language, but it gives you a chance to experience a different culture and do things you've never done before. Additionally, if you are going to a country where they don't speak English, study abroad is a great opportunity to learn the language. I stayed with a host family (who didn't speak English) and took French classes at the local university. I left with an understanding of the French culture and language and memories that will last a lifetime.</p>
<p>Hey I'm a Japanese major and i have been to Japan before, though not on an study abroad trip in college yet. It is an enlightening experience, you'll have lots of fun. 4 weeks will increase your learning of the language exponentially.</p>
<p>Japanese is a language that even with 4 years of university study you can still come out speaking extremely weird but with weeks of immersion your fluency is increased greatly. There is certain things that you just won't understand about the language until you have been there and hear the natives speak it.</p>
<p>But you will only get better if you actually speak the language. Don't be one of those stupid gaijins that only talk to other gaijins and speak a whole bunch of English, and then wonder why they're not getting better even after being there for 2 years. In 4 weeks you can learn a lot if you actually only speak Japanese and refuse to speak English, unless it is an absolute must. Try to speak it with other English speaking people too, instead of automatically going back to English.</p>
<p>And you're right. I don't think it would be a good idea for you to do it during the year since you're a transfer student.</p>
<p>"Who doesn't study abroad anymore?"</p>
<p>Apparently a lot of people. When I was applying to colleges, I was amazed at how low the number was at some places. My state school only has 10-20%, and the school I am going to (Stanford) has between 25-33% depending on who is doing the counting. I remember Georgetown being around 75% in the SFS, which was the best number I had seen where studying abroad was optional.</p>
<p>I think the biggest issues are the costs and the lack of time on campus. According to those at Stanford (one data-point I know), the issue is fulfilling major requirements, etc. as well as the desire to keep exploring the curriculum. This is why the number is so low and the average person leaves for a quarter. Another example is Duke, who says that they have 3-10 students who study abroad a full year. Studying abroad is by no means common.</p>
<p>==Back to topic...==
I think you should go abroad for longer than 4 weeks. I suppose something is better than nothing, but four weeks is an awfully short time to take in the culture of a country as different as Japan (compared to the US). Keep looking for options, but if you can't find something, you absolutely should go.</p>
<p>I just came back from a study abroad program in japan for a month I agree it was extremely short. Although I had fun it was very sad to leave every one and leave japan I wish I had more time. I will be back next summer.</p>
<p>My son spent 3 months working in Japan this summer through the Jetro program. (He's now a junior.) After years of the Japanese govt sponsoring the program, I don't think they're going to have it anymore. You apply to the program, then you applied to whatever company had a need. My son was paid, had his plane fare covered, was given an apartment and had some local travel expenses covered (and given a cell phone) by his host company. The president of the company even picked him up at the airport, when he arrived! They even had company parties and trips for the interns. He had studied Japanese already for one year, but had a lot more to learn!
It was hard at first to be in a very different culture, with a very different language and time zone, but he soon adjusted and really enjoyed it. Although he worked hard all week, he traveled on the weekends.
I wish they would continue the program. Some students went for 3 months, most companies expected 6 months to a year.</p>
<p>I have a friend that studied this past summer on Japan she really had a great experience, her name is Maechavarria, she'll talk to you soon.</p>
<p>hi, last summer I studied 4 weeks in Japan, if anybody is interested it is called GEOS. In this program there is various options, because it includes field trips apart from learning japanese. I went to Mt. Fuji, which by the way it was very nice. It was an incredible experience, the whole program, because you can meet people from all over the world. I really recommend it!. . .I agree with kenshi, it is quite a short time. </p>
<p>In Japan it is very easy to hang around, because almost everything is traduced in english, and there will always be somebody that will be glad to help you (somebody who knows english)</p>
<p>hey ! i have a friends that studied there too ,
she had a great time and really learned a lot .
i think it would be a great oportunity if you want to try it =)</p>
<p>Hi, I know this is different from everything you guys are talking about,
but I really needed some support and answers and was wondering if this was a place where someone could help me out,</p>
<p>i was born in japan, I go back every summer, and I speak fluent Japanese;
but I grew up in America, and speak fluent English,
but I want to study abroad in Tokyo for my senior year of high school,
but every program I find to go to study abroad, it is all unnecessary stuff,
ex: the packages include Japanese classes (i don't need them)
a homestay family (i have family in japan i can stay at)
trips that they will take me to like for tourists (i have been to those places before, and i could have a friend/family take me anytime, i dont have to pay for a group to take me!)</p>
<p>so if that makes sense, I basically just want to go "study abroad" meaning to study in japan for a year as an american student,
but i dont need everything else that comes with it!!!!</p>
<p>but I am so confused and cant find anything good that leads me to what im looking for...
any advices? programs? what can i do?</p>
<p>is the best thing to do to call or email the high schools in tokyo to ask if i can join them for a year?
but i dont think they would let me unless im part of like a study abroad thing;
so yeahh someone please help me i'd liket o go SO BADLY!!!</p>
<p>answers? email me at <a href="mailto:mayoasada@hotmail.com">mayoasada@hotmail.com</a></p>
<p>I spent six weeks in Akita this summer and it was absolutely amazing. I would suggest really making an effort to study some of the language so you can go with at least some grasp of how to communicate. You will most likely end up finding interesting ways to get your point across to people, but more often than not if you try to speak Japanese first, you will get points for effort and they will be eager to help you. If you haven't already, definitely learn hiragana, katakana, and some basic kanji.</p>
<p>Check out ICU (International Christian University) in Tokyo, they have a large summer program.</p>
<p>masada,</p>
<p>Some Rotary Clubs have good programs for students in your situation. Try contacting your local chapter.</p>