Japan

WHY STUDY LANGUAGE IN JAPAN?

Land in Tokyo for orientation, where you will begin Japanese classes and practice writing systems like hiragana and kanji. Your language skills will develop through 60+ hours of direct exposure in formal classes, with host family interactions, peer-to-peer practice, and more. Because English is not widely spoken in Japan, you will have countless opportunities for immersion. You’ll also enjoy sushi and indulge in handmade noodles at the city’s famed ramen shops. You will learn what Tokyo’s exciting and unique districts have to offer, including anime and manga in Akihabara and the colorful fashion scene in Harajuku. 

Continue practicing your Japanese and deepen your understanding of culture and family life during your host community visit. Learn to cook homemade soba noodles or roll your own sushi with a family. Learn about Japanese history by visiting shrines and museums and take an excursion to Hiroshima to visit the historic Hiroshima Peace Park and Memorial Museum. 

At the conclusion of this program, students will earn a language certificate noting the number of hours of language training completed through formal classes and experiential learning. 

LEARN BY DOING

The Experiment’s programs are designed to build skills that will help you succeed. In Japan, you will learn: 

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Japanese language  

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• Resourcefulness 
• Intercultural communication and understanding  
• Problem-solving  
• Adaptability  
• Relationship-building  

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

• Explore urban life by foot (lots of walking!) and learn to navigate the public transit system.
• Temperatures and humidity are extremely high during the summer.  
• Meat, seafood, rice, and noodles are staples of Japanese cuisine and will be difficult for vegan and vegetarian diets. Your homestay family will be very keen to share many traditional foods and local and regional delicacies with you, and their preparation and your enjoyment of these will be a source of pride for your hosts. Culturally, it is considered very rude to your homestay family to leave food on your plate during meals, so adventurous eaters are appreciated.  
• Access to the internet is limited and internet speeds and connectivity will vary.
• Japan is a conservative country regarding LGBTQ+ issues and you will find traditional gendered spaces, such as male or female only public/communal baths in the dormitories. We encourage students to approach the program staff for support on gender and sexuality questions and concerns. 
• The diverse personal and social identities of participants may, in part, shape their experience abroad. In-country partners will discuss cultural norms and the local context during orientation. Please read our approach to Diversity, Equity,  and Inclusion for further information. We take a collective effort for all students to have a safe space within the program spaces and with the local staff and group leaders.
• The Experiment program structure is rooted in experiential learning and cohort-based learning. The participant group experience is a major source of learning for Experimenters and is facilitated by trained Experiment group leaders.