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Study Abroad, Tokyo
Toefoo
Los Angeles, CARegistered User regular
Los Angeles, CARegistered User regular
Hi All,
This will be my last semester at community college (thank god!) and will be transferring to Cal Lutheran University immediately after. I've always wanted to study abroad, and while talking to my counselor I learned that CLU is partnered with CIEE and offers a study abroad program in Tokyo, Japan. My major is English with a minor in International Business, so this program interests me very much so. If I choose to do this, I will be attending Sophia University.
I basically have a few questions:
1. For those who have done study abroad (for any country), did you find the experience rewarding and worth the trip?
2. Can anyone tell me from personal experience about Sophia University? Good/bad points? How are the dormitories and staff? Was the integration with Japanese students a rewarding experience?
3. If you have done study abroad, how long was your tenure? Is doing an entire year worth the extra time and money as opposed to a single semester?
4. How difficult is it to make it into the program if you meet the requirements? Is it a limited-space program?
5. For those who attended Sophia: can you tell me about their Japanese language courses? I'll have 2 semesters of Japanese done after I graduate from CC this semester, so I'm assuming I'll be placed into an intermediate class.
I have a deep interest in Japanese culture and business, so this seems like a double-plus for me. I also want to use this experience as a way to better myself. I've always been shy and tend to do things that are easy or comfortable to me. I want to do this so that I can force myself into a situation where I'm completely on my own and will need to network and socialize more to enjoy my time there.
Any answers or advice you can give would be greatly appreciated. I've already read the Living in Tokyo topic and got a great deal of information from there about life in general, so I really want to know more about those who have or are currently studying there. Thanks in advance for your help!
This will be my last semester at community college (thank god!) and will be transferring to Cal Lutheran University immediately after. I've always wanted to study abroad, and while talking to my counselor I learned that CLU is partnered with CIEE and offers a study abroad program in Tokyo, Japan. My major is English with a minor in International Business, so this program interests me very much so. If I choose to do this, I will be attending Sophia University.
I basically have a few questions:
1. For those who have done study abroad (for any country), did you find the experience rewarding and worth the trip?
2. Can anyone tell me from personal experience about Sophia University? Good/bad points? How are the dormitories and staff? Was the integration with Japanese students a rewarding experience?
3. If you have done study abroad, how long was your tenure? Is doing an entire year worth the extra time and money as opposed to a single semester?
4. How difficult is it to make it into the program if you meet the requirements? Is it a limited-space program?
5. For those who attended Sophia: can you tell me about their Japanese language courses? I'll have 2 semesters of Japanese done after I graduate from CC this semester, so I'm assuming I'll be placed into an intermediate class.
I have a deep interest in Japanese culture and business, so this seems like a double-plus for me. I also want to use this experience as a way to better myself. I've always been shy and tend to do things that are easy or comfortable to me. I want to do this so that I can force myself into a situation where I'm completely on my own and will need to network and socialize more to enjoy my time there.
Any answers or advice you can give would be greatly appreciated. I've already read the Living in Tokyo topic and got a great deal of information from there about life in general, so I really want to know more about those who have or are currently studying there. Thanks in advance for your help!
Toefoo on
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1. Being an exchange student was great and I would recommend it to everyone. It really lets you experience a different culture.
2. I don't know the particulars of Sophia, but to get the most out of your experience, you have to interact with the people in the country you are staying in. This is the best way to really learn the language and you will make friends and experiences to last your life. If there is a homestay option, go for it instead of the dorms. This will force you to interact with people you may have never met otherwise. This will also get rid of some of your shyness because you can't just stay in the dorms and be surrounded by things that are comfortable to you.
3. This all depends on how much it costs and what you do with your time. When I went, there was a student who was doing his second semester in Nagasaki. He spent all his time with the other Japanese students and was pretty much fluent in Japanese after that. You might want to just wait and see how the program is and how you like it.
4 & 5. Sorry. Can't help you there.
In general, the other thread has some good advice. I'd recommend that you should be at least 20 before you leave because you will have problems in some places in you aren't a legal adult. Like getting a cellphone or just not being treated like a kid by anyone who knows your age. I'd actually recommend avoiding any of the foreigner areas if you can. You went to Japan, so enjoy Japan. Don't ever do drugs or anything illegal because you will really regret it. Lastly, if you can afford the trip, try to visit the Toyota factory in Toyota City in Aichi Ken. You should be able to find the tours on the Japanese website. The tours are free and you can arrange for an English tour. If you have any interest in business, it's pretty damn cool.
I'll look into the host family thing as well, because you make a very good case for it.
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