IES Abroad - Study Abroad in Japan

I spent a semester in Tokyo, Japan in Fall 2019. I was the only one from my college and state going on this IES Abroad program. I wasn't sure if my Japanese was sufficient to navigate around in the city or to ask for specific help whenever I needed it. It was the first time I would be away from home for so long. So I was excited to see how it would turn out, and I was nervous that I wouldn't be able to adjust to life in Japan because Japan and Georgia, USA are entirely different. However, IES Abroad allowed me to make a Japanese friend through email (e-pal) and meet my future classmates through Facebook so I would have someone I know meet me at the airport. There were 40 international students and 20 E-pals that would grow to be some lifelong friends. All of us were so unique and came from different backgrounds, majors, and language levels. The staff that worked at the IES Center were like family to a lot of us. They really looked out for us and helped us learn how to adjust and cope with occasional homesickness. The Tokyo staff make sure we knew how to use the train system, how fun places to go, and so on. Most of the classes were fantastic. These classes opened my eyes to a view of Japanese culture and history I had never known before. The program had trips to Nikko and Hokkaido that allowed us to explore the differences that exist in various prefectures of Japan. By the end of the program, many of my classmates and E-pals were sad to be leaving. It was like I had to leave my second home. I wasn't sure how I was going to be able to adjust back to life in America, and I knew I was going to miss my American and Japanese family and friends so much. I hope in the future I can come back to work and live in Japan.

From March to July of 2018, I had the opportunity to live abroad in Tokyo, Japan. I studied Anthropology and Sociology through IES Abroad's Tokyo Language and Culture program. IES Abroad's program was not only academically stimulating, culturally relevant and engaging. From the beginning of the application process, to my last day in Japan, the IES staff were extremely helpful in providing information and resources to prepare for an amazing semester. The Tokyo study abroad center itself felt almost like a second home. All of the staff were extremely kind, welcoming and even went out of their way to help me explore my interests in Japan. For example, I knew I wanted to go hiking while in Japan and the staff was able to help me find information about local hiking opportunities. The staff also organized a number of opportunities to travel which were both interesting and financially feasible. I had the opportunity to travel to Okinawa and Kamakura, two places I wouldn't have considered visiting on my own. In regards to academics, the class offerings were diverse and interesting, and I had equal opportunity to enroll in classes through the local university as well. The Japanese course I took was challenging but I can very much say that my Japanese skills improved immensely over the course of 3 months. Overall, if you're looking for a supportive, engaging, and challenging experience I definitely recommend IES Abroad. There was a clear balance of academic rigor but also extracurricular offerings.

Honestly, I can't really put my experience into words. Everyday I wake up in the States and wish I was back in Japan. It was such a great time! I always wanted to go to Japan since I was in middle school and to have had this incredible opportunity to do so meant the world to me. The staff was always helpful, friendly, and treated me not only with respect but as a friend as well. The school faculty was amazing and I met some of the nicest people there. My transition from the States to Japan was smooth and whenever I had questions, I got answers. I never felt alone or felt as though I couldn't reach out for help. If I could go back to IES tomorrow, I would.

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IES Tokyo has one of the most dedicated study abroad teams in that you'll ever see in any program. They're a good size for how many students attend each term, and are thoughtful and dedicated to your experience in abroad in terms of academics, cultural immersion, and safety. Some of my favorite highlights that I felt stood out from other programs: - The availability of a student council that is elected each term that gets to plan group trips according to interest (anything from hiking Mt. Takao, to going to the Ghibli Museum) that really brings the study abroad students and e-Pals together and also allows students to explore places that they may not otherwise have gone to - Thoughtfully created field trips with cultural immersion and learning in mind, but also fun (we did a trip to Hiroshima where we visited and learned about the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, but also were given time to explore the city, and we also did a trip to Nikko where we got to experience Japanese onsen) - E-Pal program, where you are paired with a Japanese student at KUIS, the local university. They serve as your friend, first and foremost, but they are also great resources for questions about Japan and it also serves as a good language exchange. This is probably one of the best ways to immerse yourself into the community. - Social Organization Class that allows you to intern once a week at a company/organization/non-profit and gain experience in a Japanese work environment. It is definitely good for your resume, and is a great learning and community experience. - Academic classes offered are fairly diverse, though it depends if they reach enough students to hold the class. The classes the IES center offers are fairly eye opening classes and often to field trips to different places in Tokyo or the area around it. The outcome and overall learning from these classes tend to vary but you really get back the amount of effort or interest you put into the class. They are not particularly difficult either, which is good as it gives you time to explore Tokyo and the rest of Japan while also allowing yourself to be exercised academically. - Host families are very thoroughly screened and selected by the IES Tokyo team, so your host family will likely be very safe and understanding. I personally had one of the best experiences of my life with my host family, but every experience is different, though most of my classmates had very positive things to say about their host families as well.

Studying abroad was quite possibly the best decision I have ever made in my life. My choice to study in Japan was based on my interest in my personal cultural heritage. I grew up in a primarily white area and had hardly any interaction with my Japanese culture. I was thrilled to find that IES Abroad Tokyo could fulfil these needs. From the time I stepped off the plane to the time I left, my study abroad experience was extremely rewarding. I felt welcomed by the staff, who were always willing to provide advice and truly cared about the lives of their students. Academics were not overly rigorous, but I still walked away from the program knowing a lot more about both the language and culture than when I arrived. As a molecular genetics major, I assumed that studying abroad would not help me much academically. But I was surprised to find that I became increasingly more interested in Japanese and decided to pursue a minor at my home institution when I returned home from the program. I was also able to participate in the field placement program, where I helped out at an acupuncture clinic and witnessed differences between eastern and western medicine (which I would eventually like to pursue). In this way, this study abroad program was also helpful for resume building and helping me to define career goals. It was also very easy for me to immerse myself in Japanese life. The e-pal program helped me to find Japanese friends from the very start. Kanda University of International Studies, where about half of the classes are taught, also provided ample opportunity to engage in clubs and activities. Furthermore, the IES staff did a wonderful job of pairing me with a host family that perfectly suited my needs as a rather independent individual. And though the school in not located directly in Tokyo, I found that I was constantly traveling into the city to explore and attend many of the local events and festivals. The area around the school (and throughout most of Japan itself) is very safe, and I felt completely comfortable walking and traveling by myself (as a woman). Traveling outside of Tokyo was fairly easy. The IES staff organized two trips to other Japanese cities (we went to Hiroshima and Nikko, but they are not always the same each year). They also gave me a number of suggestions and helped me to plan my two non-IES sponsored trips to Kyoto/Osaka and Sapporo. I would highly recommend this program for anyone who is interested in Japan, or who is looking for an opportunity to learn about a culture entirely different from their own!

The IES experience was truly beyond what I expected from studying abroad. While we were given great cultural classes in addition to our regular classes, they assured that students were truly immersed in exploration, creating international friendships, and having a working understanding of the language and social aspects. The trips included many cultural experiences that even normal Japanese people do not get to do (i.e. very nice tea houses!). Even when I was going on side trips with friends, Nagoya's location is perfectly located so that you can easily get to visit tourist favorites, such as Tokyo and Osaka, with ease. It also is a big city with many attractions within itself, but you get the feeling of it being legitimately Japan. Especially among my friends who were really searching for actually learning the culture and improving their language skills, Nagoya's Nanazan University the best program fit. If you're still deciding which program to choose, you won't regret choosing IES Nagoya!

IES gave me a wonderful experience of studying at Nanzan University in Japan. The staff at IES were very helpful during the process of applying and integrating into my life in Japan. While there, they gave us the freedom of college students abroad and we learned on our own at a wonderful and immersive program at Nanzan University. Nanzan itself allowed us many opportunities to immerse in the culture and speak to native speakers. The classroom program was also very intensive! We spent about five hours each day in class. As for IES, they gave us many experiences, such as a group field trip to Kyoto which was one of my best memories. I would definitely recommend the Nanzan direct enrollment program through IES abroad.

Hands down, one of the most eye-opening semesters in my life. IES Abroad Nagoya set all of the craziest and most honest expectations about Japan that I didn't even have much culture shock when I got there. I just remember the time as super crazy fun and the feeling of excitement of getting to go to Japanese classes and speak lots of Japanese with newly found friends. At first, I wasn't really sure whether Nagoya as a city would be able to offer what Tokyo does but I couldn't have made a better choice of studying in Nagoya. It's a wonderful city to deeply learn about Japanese culture as it resembles a big city with a small town feel. Nanzan University was also one of the only universities that offer classes in traditional arts, such as calligraphy, tea ceremony and flower arranging. These art forms are essential elements to Japan's rich culture that one wouldn't want to miss trying out. The on-site coordinators (shout out to Masae-san and Satoshi-sensei!) were always there for us and sent us lots of updates, but definitely were not babysitting us. Thanks to the program and my awesome coordinators, me and my study abroad pals were able to balance our classroom life with diverse weekend field trips to Hiroshima, Miyajima, Nara and so many more historically enriching and fascinating places. Besides from just traveling, the program and Nanzan University, its direct partner, provided us with tons of cultural events that we can attend. It ranged from soba-making in Magome town to an afternoon spent in Japan Plaza speaking only in Japanese to local students, to visiting Toyota factory and learning about its "just-in-time" car-making process. I went in with an empty mindset so that I could absorb everything and anything I could have encountered, and it was all worth it! Although my program ended a few months ago, the experience is still freshly painted my mind and the feeling of nostalgia still lingers. It would be a dream come true if I can return and maybe live there someday.

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IES Tokyo made for the best possible experience of immersing myself into the Tokyo lifestyle. From the beginning, the coordinators were extremely helpful and organized -- both in Chicago and on-site. The Tokyo center staff were always available when you had any sort of issue, which was very helpful. The E-pal program is honestly what's lacking from any study abroad program that doesn't implement it. Before you even go to Japan, you're paired with someone at the university (Kanda University) who becomes your built-in local friend from the start. Because of all the organized activities planned for IES students and their e-pals, it's easy to make friends with others' e-pals as well, diminishing any worries about making friends with locals while abroad. Don't wait until the middle of the semester like I did -- start hanging out in Kanda's section called SALC: it's an English-only part of campus where Japanese students come looking for foreigners to practice their English with, and it makes it so much easier to make friends! Also, opting for a host family over a dorm room was the best decision I'd made. My family was extremely welcoming and I experienced a lot with them that I couldn't have on my own. While anyone can come to Tokyo, IES makes sure your four months abroad are as immersive and exciting and educational as they should be. I couldn't have chosen a better program provider.

When you get over the initial shyness and start using your Japanese skills, the whole community begins to open up to you. One of the most gratifying experiences is seeing a shopkeepers expression light up when you start speaking to them in Japanese. Aichi Prefecture also has some of the kindest people I've ever met in Japan, and has proven itself to be one of the most welcoming environments I've ever experienced. I was enrolled in the 400 and 500 level Japanese courses, and each semester significantly improved every aspect of my language ability by solidifying concepts I'd already learned, and concretely laying out new ones. The courses outside the language department were designed to be manageable and fit within the demands of a language-intensive course while still offering students new insight into more complex aspects of Japan. Masae and Satoshi, our coordinators, were absolutely fantastic. They were always there when we needed help or advice, and they brought a bright and lively dimension to all our travel experiences. Any questions we had, they were ready and willing to answer. I couldn't ask for better administration. The dormitory offered up a unique blend of college life and closeness with local culture by housing us with Nanzan's Japanese students. We were quick to build a sense of community, and there was an overall atmosphere of openess and friendship. Though at times it was hard not to feel pressure to engage in events that conflicted with our busy schedules, the whole experience was fun and unforgettable. I don't think I could have picked a better program for my needs. Apart from extensive improvement in my language skills, I gained greater insight into the daily life and culture of Japan. I found it easier to interact with local residents the more my language skills improved, and my confidence improved greatly. I gained many friends from, not just Japan, but around the world, because of this experience, and I will never forget it.

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