Hope this is the right place for this but I need some advice from those of you who have experience in either a language school in Japan or a University study abroad program.
I’m a junior at my University majoring in computer science with a minor in Japanese. I only have about three semesters left before I graduate and, after graduation, I’m going to try to go into the JET program.
I’m in a bit of a predicament. Right now, I have the option to study abroad in one of two ways: I can either 1) Go study at a Japanese University for a year (specifically Hiroshima University through an american abroad program called USAC) or 2) study at a language school in Japan for a year (through websites like GoGo Nihon).
I have the means to do either of the options and I’m totally willing to delay graduation a year but I’m afraid of making the wrong choice. I mainly just want to go for language acquisition and experiencing the culture and lifestyle of Japan. I’d prefer to do a homestay as well which Language School sites like GoGo Nihon offer but, the University option would have me staying in a dorm (which, to me, just sounds miserable spending a year in a dorm).
Just to clarify, none of the classes at the University would count towards my degree since those classes require advanced Japanese proficiency. In other words, I wouldn’t be going to help complete my degree. I’d essentially be taking a lot of fluff classes that wouldn’t do anything for me plus maybe a few Japanese classes. I’ve also taken almost all of my University’s Japanese classes to fulfill my minor but I still have a hard time speaking and listening (I’m about JLPT N4 level).
Point is I’m going because I want to improve my Japanese language skills, experience living in Japan and maybe even get something to put on my resume for JET or something.
I’d like the advice of those who have gone to language schools or studied abroad at a Japanese University and what they thought of the experience and what they would’ve done differently.
4 comments
You’re a computer science major but want to do JET? Why..?
Definitely go for the language school though. You’ll get much more out of an immersive language school than you would from a bunch of fluff classes.
I’ve done both, first university then back for a second stint at a language school. For the exchange check if they would put you in an intensive Japanese language program (that’s what we got) which is essentially language school in a university setting and harder work than any regular uni courses in Japan. Dorms can be quite nice and is usually a room with ensuite toilet and shower and sharing kitchen which isn’t too different to living in a share house and you get to know all the other exchange students from around the world. There are usually rules around overnight guests etc but if you’re discrete and stay out of trouble you should be fine.
The benefit of university is that after the first 6 month cold shower of being lost in translation in Japan, you will have other Japanese people your age around and be able to make some friends. In language school you’re drinking from the same fire hose but the only native interaction would be with teachers so university would be a richer experience.
Be socially active, join activities and get yourself out there and your Japanese will improve lots more. I think in my post exchange report about 15 years ago I said future students should go drinking more and not lock themselves up in their rooms as there was a night and day difference in language ability between the two types.
Language school is good too, especially for the higher levels of JLPT but I would do uni if I were you.
Are the classes in the study abroad experience taught in Japanese? Are they Japanese language classes? If they’re in English, are they things you’re interested in?
Unless the study abroad program is a language intensive program, language school would probably be more linguistically rigorous.
BUT if I were you I’d probably still choose the study abroad option, purely because it’ll put you in a college campus environment. You’ll be able to meet Japanese people your age and make Japanese friends much more easily. That’s not to say that you can’t do those things as a language student, there’s just not as much infrastructure for it at your finger tips.
It’s also very easy as an international student to fall into an international student bubble, so it’ll still be on you to break out of that, but I think study abroad offers the opportunity for a lot of unique social experiences
im in language school and i keep thinking why didnt i just go to uni but also i think id be so much more stressed out trying to navigate a scary college and be at my classes ontime ontop of moving into my apartment and learning everything