I come from a Japanese background, and when I was younger (during the summer time) I was given opportunities to attend school in Japan. It was a great learning experience and I would love to do it again. However, I am an incoming sophomore and I am typically extremely busy during the summer. The only time I could go would be during Winter Break or any other extended break. Even so, I feel like I would have to skip some school. Although this seems like a vacation, my intentions are for academic purposes- whether it’d be working alongside the English Teacher at the school or helping as an aid.
Does anyone know how to go about this? It was just a thought, and I doubt I could actually go. But if I can, how and who should I present my idea to? So long as the principal of the Japanese high school I am planning on attending has confirmed that it will be okay. Also, if I were to receive the “OK” would it be appropriate to ask if my absences would be considered excused? Obviously I would keep up with any assignments and tests that I have to take (I plan on doing so through email).
Are you a high school student or a college student? If you are a high school student, this is something that you and your parents should address with the administration at your high school. They will be able to tell you how it can be arranged at that end. Perhaps you will be able to keep up with your classes long-distance. If not, they may be able to treat it as an exchange semester or year depending on how long you would be gone.
Make an appointment with your high school counselor to see what is involved in terms of your school’s requirements. Many U.S. students do a semester/year abroad, so it’s absolutely possible. The trick is to plan it well. When my daughter did a semester abroad, her high school treated all the classes she took on a pass/fail basis, so her GPA wasn’t affected. She got foreign language credit, and some humanities credits. She fulfilled all of her high school requirements - and requirements for US colleges - at her US high school. She took her first SATs while studying abroad, but then retook them as a senior at home.
Another option that’s popular with students is to graduate a semester early from your high school, and then spend your last semester abroad. That way you still have the experience without having to worry about finishing up high school at home.
Plan to do a semester abroad - you’d have to attend some of the Japanese classes as well as being an aide or conversation assistant for English. It’s very doable and if you pick Spring seemster Sophomore year you’d have a bit of holidays as well as escape some of the winter weather your region might be having (obvs nor applicable if your high school would be on Hokkaido.) you’d have to join after-school clubs,
etc. Most semesters abroad are graded pass/fail by the American high school.
You could offer to organize Skype sessions for your high school or to keep a blog for a local elementary school or middle school social studies ’ unit. Almond it would make for very compelling college essays.
Junior year is too important for college admissions I think, and then you’d have spring senior year.