<p>Should I take a year or semester to study abroad? I am interested in the culture and will devote all my time learning the culture. My school doesn't offer Japanese so I'm currently doing self study even though I don't get any credit for it. I want to get at least a N3 on the JLPT.</p>
<p>I am planning to apply to YFU but I'm not sure how much a year would cost so if you know, can you please tell me. </p>
<p>Is it worth taking a year or semester abroad? If I had to choose, it would be a year abroad but if I had to I'll take a semester.</p>
<p>Take a year. A semester is far too short for a culture as alien as Japan’s - your perception will evolve during the year, but in even a year, you will barely scratch the surface. If you are only there a few months, you will mistake your expectations for reality. I would recommend doing only the language intensively for the whole year as well. And yes, it is worth living abroad, but Japan will be more difficult than you can imagine. </p>
<p>@alcibiade thanks for the reply, but how long will it take to get used to the language. I have heard about Japan being difficult so that’s why I plan on devoting all my time in learning about the culture and language. Of course I do plan on having fun as well.</p>
<p>YOu will have plenty of opportunities for fun. </p>
<p>I studied Japanese for the time I lived there (nearly 2 years) and barely got competent in it, whereas I learned several European languages fluently within one year of residence. (Of course, I got disillusioned with the culture and had lost interest in living there and my wife truly hated it by then.) My point: You cannot learn Japanese ad hoc or inadvertently, that is why I recommend full time - if you work really hard, you can definitely learn it pretty well in a year. </p>
<p>I’ve really wanted to study abroad in Korea! I agree with @alcibiade about how a year wouldn’t even be enough, but also consider all the credits you need to graduate and a ton of other stuff. I’m saving study abroad for college because I don’t think I’ll get all my credits for high school… sigh…</p>
<p>As alcibiade said, you’ll need to full year if you hope to reach N3 (intermediate level, in Japanese, would require reaching post-AP level.)
Would you be immersed in a Japanese high school, or an international high school with a strong Japanese component, while living in Japan?</p>
<p>Well than thanks for the reply. Now I just need to get money for a year and I’m set. Also @jumpingstar, as long as you take summer school and finish your A-G, you’re good.</p>
<p>To be completely honest, unless you do a full immersion program where you’re allow no English on your travels in Japan, than I would not expect anyone to reach N3 level within a year. I studied in Japan for an academic year with a background of a year of university study of Japanese and I still would likely barely pass the n3 and I immersed myself as much as was possible where I was studying. Not trying to be mean, just being realistic. Sorry.</p>