Reviews

Definitely study and do your homework before going out. There is always time to go out and explore. Remember your priorities! Talk to the professors if you have any trouble after class and go to English Support as much as you can.

I think the most productive aspect of the program was speaking with my classmates and teachers in Japanese inside and outside of class. It forced me to consider my thoughts in Japanese, so I learned a lot faster.

The most productive was when a good teacher like Saito shows us what something means, acts out what that meaning is, maybe adding some humor in it to drive the point home, and practicing it with the students to fully make sure that overall, we’re understanding what’s going on.

We were taught by a well known Sushi chief at a school that is specifically for teaching people how to make sushi.

Start conversations with your non-American peers and do it often. You’ll find as you go along that you are speaking more and more Japanese and less English. It’s also fun to get to know the culture of your new friends!

One of the most interesting aspects of the program for me was being able to see so many new and interesting sights I would have never seen if I had not gone on the trip.

The memories I made along the way, the passion they instilled in me, was fuel for my studies and made my want to learn Japanese ever greater. I believe if you embrace this opportunity with open arms and a determination to learn, it may become one of the best experiences of your life.

Pair work was probably among the most helpful, as it allowed me to practice my speaking without the added pressure of speaking in front of the class. It was also a great context for getting to know the non-English-speaking students in my class, as it was sometimes difficult to initiate conversation otherwise due to the language barrier.

I really like the style in teaching the language for the most part. Having to learn kanji has helped me retain a lot and being forced to speak Japanese on a daily basis also helped me grow in conversation and application of Japanese. I can’t think of anything that seemed the least interesting and productive since most of what was taught, I thought it was really important.

Stay on top of your homework and don’t be afraid to try new studying styles. Colorful pens are your friends.