What do you all think of my after highschool Japan plan?

[Carolgirl00]

Ok. Well, obviously, everyone on this board is obsessed with Japan and so the ones of us not in Japan want to get there as quickly as we can! Heres my plan to get a taste of my dream.

My current situation: Right now Im living in Mexico on a rotary foriegn youth exchange program. Ive been living here for 10 months now and will be returning to the USA in a few weeks. Haha, my original plan was to go to Japaaaaan on foreign exchange, but there werent any slots open for Japan, so I got sent to Mexico. I was extremely heartbroken for months. SO heartbroken that I dropped ALL of my Japanese hobbies, studies, etc. But Im ok, my year here in Mexico has been fantastic and I wouldnt have changed it for the world. no pun intended.

NOW I wanna go to Japan. First, I gotta finish high school. So in a few months, Ill be a Senior and be finishing that up. Im very interested in going to college and all that good stuff. But much more interested in learning Japanese in Japan first. Hahaha I plan to defer college and spend half a year working and raising money, then the 2nd half in Japan. My goal is to take Japanese lessons in Japan. My family wants me to go with an exchange program, something organized, safe, with a program. But I cant find any reputable exchange programs that could offer me 6 months of intensive lessons. Ive found one for China, with EF, and Ive been considering that. (Id like to learn Chinese too) I had an original plan of going to study in a language school. But thats not with an exchange program. I would just get off the plane and find everything myself. So my family objects to that.

Could you guys please help me out! Maybe find me some other options or something. I dont know. But Id reeeeeeeeeally love to do this. Id work day and night getting the money, I just need a program or some other options or something. Thanks!

[Akakubisan]

There are quite a few possibilities. Do a Google search. I found these below in a matter of a few minutes.

Keep in mind whether you want university credit for your time. Some programs are university based and some are not.

http://www.lclark.edu/~overseas/destinations_asia.html
http://www.bu.edu/abroad/programs/japan/kyoto/kyoto/
http://programs2.studyabroad.com/summer/japan.html
http://www.studyabroaddirectory.com/Japan.cfm

[Mike Cash]

The Yamasa Institute comes highly recommended, I believe.

http://www.yamasa.org/index.html

[Carolgirl00]

Ok, thanks for the suggestions so far, but keep in mind that I will be doing this before Ive entered american university. I know all about exchange-university programs, but since I wanna do this before uni, those programs dont really apply here, I dont believe. Im pretty sure that the colleges I want to go to wont allow me to go on a semester exchange, credits and all, until my 3rd or 4th year.

And Yamasa is cool, but its just a language school right? So my family would react like "its not a program. youll just arrive in that country with no support no knowledge of the language, its dangerous and not well planned." /=

[Emoni]

Well... you did manage Mexico...

However, Japan... it ain't easy. I expect it will be much more difficult for you than Mexico was. I recommend getting into college first, taking 2 years of Japanese (at LEAST!!!) and getting into a study abroad program where you can be part of a serious program. It isn't an "instant" trip to Japan, however you'll soon find out that the best things in life aren't instant.

You seem to be looking into the options though... so good luck to that. You're best bet is a college study abroad program, and it will give you time to study Japanese language as well as culture a little before you go. Language is really important, and if you do this I believe you will have a MUCH MUCH better experience for your year there when you go.

[Emoni]

Originally Posted by Carolgirl00

And Yamasa is cool, but its just a language school right? So my family would react like "its not a program. youll just arrive in that country with no support no knowledge of the language, its dangerous and not well planned." /=

Step #1: Listen to your parents.

[Mike Cash]

Originally Posted by Carolgirl00

And Yamasa is cool, but its just a language school right? So my family would react like "its not a program. youll just arrive in that country with no support no knowledge of the language, its dangerous and not well planned." /=

I wouldn't have pointed it out had I thought any such objections were valid.

Did you spend more than 10 seconds looking at it?

[Carolgirl00]

Mm well Ive def. checked it out before and Ive never seen anything like that. Ill look again.

[Carolgirl00]

Originally Posted by Emoni

You're best bet is a college study abroad program, and it will give you time to study Japanese language as well as culture a little before you go. Language is really important, and if you do this I believe you will have a MUCH MUCH better experience for your year there when you go.

Yah, Ive been wondering about that. "That" meaning if I would have a better experience if I went during university. You said that language is really important, well thats the reason I wanna go, for the language. I mean, I wont be stepping off the plane knowing nothing.

I know for a fact that being completely immersed with the language combined with intensive classes, Ill be able to learn so much and 10x quicker than being stuck in a classroom for years. After my exchange here in Mexico (and trust me, Mexico wasnt exactly easy either. Living anywhere in the world, alone, for a whole year isnt easy.) I kinda lost faith in taking languages classes in the US. I mean, sure Ill do it, because I wont always be able to hop a plane. But the thing is that I studied Spanish for four whole years, and honestly, I sorta regret that. And I feel like I had wasted my time. )= So what I wanna do the 2nd time around, is do what I consider learning a language "the right way". Ya get what I mean?

[nice gaijin]

I wouldn't consider at least one or two semesters learning the basics of Japanese, such as hiragana and katakana and the general grammar structure a complete waste of time; which is probably why most exchange programs require you to have taken the language for a semester or a year before you are eligible to apply.

[Carolgirl00]

Well, Ive already studied the general basics, like those things you mentioned, by taking classes. I would prolly study more before I left, too. I get what you mean though.

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by Carolgirl00

Well, Ive already studied the general basics, like those things you mentioned, by taking classes. I would prolly study more before I left, too. I get what you mean though.

I've never heard of anything like the exchange/language school/homestay option in Japan for anything over 3-4 weeks.. You may be lucky enough to get into a homestay option by applying to the school directly which doesn't seem to me like it would be all that different an experience. In any case, any reputable school like Yamasa is going to have a strong student life and student outreach program. No way are you going to be accepted into a program and 'left on your own' with no support or guidance in Japan. Maybe your parents could fly over with you if that would help since for better or worse, things just don't work like that there. Getting a six month arrangement is tricky. You'll be well looked after once it goes through I'm sure.

[Mars Man]

As far as home stay, there is the Hippo Club which, for one thing is safe...I know I have a student and her daughter who are in it. The daughter (highschool) will be going to the US from this August for one year. The lady's soon had spent a year in Canada three years back. And that family has hosted people from the Italian Special Olympics team, a mother and daughter from Russia (both of these were short stays) and a girl from Mongolia for a year, among others. I can get more information from her either this coming Saturday or the next one.

Arrangements for Japanese study can probably be set up, but that is the part I don't know so much about. The Hippo Club has branches in the US, I know. Talk to you later !!

[Emoni]

Originally Posted by Carolgirl00

Yah, Ive been wondering about that. "That" meaning if I would have a better experience if I went during university. You said that language is really important, well thats the reason I wanna go, for the language. I mean, I wont be stepping off the plane knowing nothing.
I know for a fact that being completely immersed with the language combined with intensive classes, Ill be able to learn so much and 10x quicker than being stuck in a classroom for years. After my exchange here in Mexico (and trust me, Mexico wasnt exactly easy either. Living anywhere in the world, alone, for a whole year isnt easy.) I kinda lost faith in taking languages classes in the US. I mean, sure Ill do it, because I wont always be able to hop a plane. But the thing is that I studied Spanish for four whole years, and honestly, I sorta regret that. And I feel like I had wasted my time. )= So what I wanna do the 2nd time around, is do what I consider learning a language "the right way". Ya get what I mean?

I'm doing a university program right now connected with my college back home, and I really can't see anyway being better to study in Japan than this way. I highly recommend this, and if you can take classes that will usually transfer back in at least someway depend on your major. Business and Japanese studies always transfer back easy from what I have heard, and there are other classes too depending on the ones you take. My classes are mostly taught in English believe it or not.

As for going to Japan to learn Japanese, that is a good thing, and the only way you can fully learn a language. Waiting to learn Japanese till you get to Japan because you think it would be a waste of time to learn before... BAD BAD BAD idea. It is not only a horrible way to start thinking, but it is dangerous as well. Like Nice Gaijin said, take a few semesters first. It is usually a requirement anyway. There is a reason for that, and you'll find even a few semesters is no where NEAR enough. Never spend a study abroad in Mexico, but I can promise you that Japan will be much more difficult probably for numerous reasons. Cultural differences, COST, language...

Also, you mention about a plan after high school. Most high school languages from everything I have read about, seen people study, and those I have talked to, SUCK. College language courses are going to be much more intensive, and one semester with even an average teacher will cover a about a little over a year in a high school class.

Learn the language the best you can, even if it is just a little bit before you go. Or you WILL regret it. Don't be a purist about learning the language, especially if you know nothing about it. Just learn it.

Also, start college first and check your options from there. You WON'T regret that.

[Mike Cash]

Originally Posted by Emoni

Most high school languages from everything I have read about, seen people study, and those I have talked to, SUCK.

I remember once chatting in an IRC chat room with an young woman from Australia who was taking Japanese at high school. She had been studying Japanese for 5 or 6 years at that point, if I recall correctly.

I was helping her with some example sentences and in one of them I used the verb 来る (kuru)....and she didn't know it. She knew 来ます (kimasu), but said that in all the years she had taken Japanese at school plain form verbs had not been introduced. Hard to believe (and it may not even be true, let's remember), but there it is.

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by Mike Cash

I remember once chatting in an IRC chat room with an young woman from Australia who was taking Japanese at high school. She had been studying Japanese for 5 or 6 years at that point, if I recall correctly.
I was helping her with some example sentences and in one of them I used the verb 来る (kuru)....and she didn't know it. She knew 来ます (kimasu), but said that in all the years she had taken Japanese at school plain form verbs had not been introduced. Hard to believe (and it may not even be true, let's remember), but there it is.

My Japanese is also way better than a lot of college majors I know, even those that are spending a semester or year in the country. Particularly if their classes had been taught in English in the US. What an utterly and total complete waste of time....

Anyone like Carolgirl who already does know kana and basic grammar and feels like they can pick up enough in a six month immersion program to be useful as a jumping off point to a later more advanced college stay should be encouraged to do so in my opinion.....It is a very adult decision, though, so just make it a priority to find an academically appropriate school not what
your parents have some weird idea of what may be 'too dangerous' in Japan.

[Carolgirl00]

Originally Posted by Emoni

Waiting to learn Japanese till you get to Japan because you think it would be a waste of time to learn before... BAD BAD BAD idea. It is not only a horrible way to start thinking, but it is dangerous as well.

I really dont agree with you on this at all. Firstly, Ive been a youth exchange for a year. And how it works is that, you can go to any country you want and you dont even have to know how to say Hello! Its not dangerous because its an organized program that helps us out and supports us. And that was the whole point behind this thread. To find some program or organized school that will support me, so that when I arrive in Japan with my kana, it wont be dangerous.

Originally Posted by Emoni

Most high school languages from everything I have read about, seen people study, and those I have talked to, SUCK. Learn the language the best you can, even if it is just a little bit before you go. Or you WILL regret it. Don't be a purist about learning the language, especially if you know nothing about it. Just learn it.
Also, start college first and check your options from there. You WON'T regret that.

I agree. High school language course are horrible. And I totally regret those 4 years of Spanish. But I took private Japanese lessons from a native, and I also studied independently enough to learn basics. And I just said earlier that I already know "just a little bit" >_>

[Carolgirl00]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

Anyone like Carolgirl who already does know kana and basic grammar and feels like they can pick up enough in a six month immersion program to be useful as a jumping off point to a later more advanced college stay should be encouraged to do so in my opinion.....It is a very adult decision, though, so just make it a priority to find an academically appropriate school not what

Thankya. =) This post made me happy.

Originally Posted by Mars Man

As far as home stay, there is the Hippo Club which, for one thing is safe...I know I have a student and her daughter who are in it. The daughter (highschool) will be going to the US from this August for one year. The lady's soon had spent a year in Canada three years back. And that family has hosted people from the Italian Special Olympics team, a mother and daughter from Russia (both of these were short stays) and a girl from Mongolia for a year, among others. I can get more information from her either this coming Saturday or the next one.

Thanks! This sounds interesting. I would appreciate the information. =D

[J44xm]

Originally Posted by Carolgirl00

And Yamasa is cool, but its just a language school right? So my family would react like "its not a program. youll just arrive in that country with no support no knowledge of the language, its dangerous and not well planned." /=

I am currently a Yamasa student so I feel that I should chime in here. (Thanks to Mikawa Ossan for pointing me here.)

Mike Cash is correct: It seems that Yamasa might be just what you seek on many levels. To say that you would receive "no support" is incorrect. From the moment you arrive, Yamasa gets you pretty much completely set up. They provide housing of various types and costs. They handle setting up everything like gas and water and electricity. You just come and start studying. Some everyday things, though, you do have to handle yourself, like food. Yamasa is pretty good about helping you out.

Regarding the classes, Yamasa is not a party school. You have to work pretty hard to keep up. (Note that I've only been here two months thus far and have been studying in the second-to-lowest level class, which you would likely be in as well.) However, if you come knowing hiragana and katakana and some basic grammar points, I think you'll have a noticeably easier time than some others do.

Additionally, Yamasa is located in Okazaki, Aichi. It's a very quiet city of moderately size small (I suppose) and is quite safe. Personally, I like it though it's apparently too quiet for some.

Think well about Yamasa. And I'll try to help answer any questions you have about it. Examine Yamasa's website, though, as it has a wealth of useful information. (Note about student visas: you can only ever acquire one precollege visa, if that's what you intend to get. The precollege visa can be extended to two years maximum, but if you leave after six months, you still can't get another. I didn't know this before I came and it's causing me some grief because I'm probably leaving sooner than expected.)