studying in Japan
 

Hey everyone,

I'm gonna be studying in Japan for a semester and would like some help, PLEASE!!!

Anything you want to tell is fine with me.

Some info: I'm going to be studying in Tokyo
I've never traveled outside of the USA
I know only small phrases of Japanese.
Thanks for anything you can tell me :D

if you have specific questions, ask in this forum: http://www.japanforum.com/forum/japanese-language-help/




here are some links with basic/helpful phrases:

Japanese Words & Phrases

JAPANESE PHRASES

Japanese Language Phrases

Basic Japanese Phrases

Simple Japanese Phrases Archives



hope that helps

Just a tip... stand on the left of escalators if you're not walking up them ;)

unless you're in kansai

Thanks for the links and the tip

does your current school offer japanese? if so, why aren't you already taking it?

if not, try a community college?

the college i'm at doesn't offer japanese and the only place that does is about and hour and a half away. so i'll start abroad and then go from there

I was thinkin and some questions came to me:
Got any advice on getting around while i'm there? What's shopping like there? What's Tokyo like this time of year?

1) train and bicycle.
2) spendy
3) chilly

Hi I have also tried to find ways of studying in Japan but what i do know is that they requier that you can speak proper Japanese and write proper Japanese, a way to test your abilities is to take the JLPT test this test is based on 4 levels Japanese Language Proficiency Test - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia more info is available about this test on this link

When it comes to studying in Japan they require that you have and education whit a master or bachelor degree for actually being allowed to study at for example Tokyo U

As you can see they are quite strict as to who they allow inside their country to study, this is probably because Japan has such a high educational level, and this is what i can help you whit a good tip become a member of sharedtalk.com is a great way to learn japanese and you can watch anime search for free japanese lessons on the net like this page here: Kids Web Japan

it might seem a bit childish but this is also one of the more "easy" pages to start and learn japanese, which were also one of the first pages i used when i started to learn japanese nearly 2 years ago

Ganbatte ^_~

The University that I am going to be studying at in Tokyo doesn't require you to know how to speak or write Japanese before you get there, the classes are taught in English but you are required to take a Japanese language class while there. What level you are put in depends on what level you know when you get there. They suggest that you know some Japanese before you get there but it is not a requirement.

Hey Jnekolove,

I got 2 questions for you:
Did you get there with Monbukagakusho scholarship?
Will you pay extra money for university fairs?

thx:)

really? do you have link of somesort for that unversity? i want to do a bit more research

Yeah I do :D here you go

International Programs : Japan

Hey friends,

I too was new too Tokyo, I just joined with a tokyo university.
I am from India, Actually, your tips & hints, as well as the links here are very helpful to me to get more and more about Tokyo & Japan

Cheers,
JawaharFernas,

you should learn japanese language more if you wanna have an easier life..

Shopping and simple things such as that will be a pain if you don't know Japanese.

How much Japanese would you suggest I know before I go? :-D

Well he said Tokyo, so that's what I let him know. :)

They didn't do it in Okinawa either... I guess it's because people in Tokyo are always in a hurry...

As much as you can! :D

But, seriously, you should be able to ask for and understand directions, know how to ask for help (police, doctor), and enough of the counting system to be able to shop. Also, reading Japanese would be a big big help too, of course!

If you are going to Tokyo, there are bilingual rail maps that give place names in Japanese and romaji. Amazon.com carries the Tokyo City Atlas: A Bilingual Guide (3rd Ed.) by Kodansha International. I don't have it myself but was planning to get it. Check it out, it may be helpful.

Thanks that gives me a goal before I go :)


Also is there anything else I should know about living in Tokyo?

One piece of advice I got from our tour guide was to keep a paper with your address in Japan (or if you are staying at a hotel, the hotel business card) on you if you don't know the area too well. That way if you get lost, you at least have that to help you get home.

I just wanted to thank everyone for the different tips and pieces of advice. :)

Also I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of places to see or things to do while in Japan that they might want to share. :D

Tokyo is a huge place and holds the population of Canada in an area smaller than Research Triangle Park.

What kind of interests do you have? Nightlife? Amusement parks? Sightseeing in traditional places?

Mostly Sightseeing and a little nightlife, anything really though if you think it shouldn't be missed I'm open to the suggestion.

been a while but i'm leace for japan in a month and a half
 

Hey everyone :ywave: it's been a while since I've posted (been busy getting plans ready for Japan) but its getting down to crunch time :-) and i'm lovin it. Just wanted to see if anyone had any news or info they wanted to throw at me before I go. I'll be studying and living in Tokyo :-).
Thanks again for the info already given to me :)

Paperwork so much paperwork, I don't think people realize (much like i didn't) that there are forms for everything, traveling to another country is hard. Though I'm not complaining when the end result is living and studying in another country (esp. Japan) :D

Jneko, I was very interested to read about Temple university. Someone from another thread referred me to it also. Once you have arrived at your destination, I hope you will post some of your experiences!

Would you mind sharing some advice about the paperwork? I am also preparing to start school in Japan. I'm in the earliest stages, but I always seem to miss little details when it comes to the bureaucracy of these types of endeavors. Getting into an American college was tough enough for me. xD
Are there any tips that you might have?

Hey, yeah I do plan to post while in Japan :D Are you headed for Temple? The main thing I've learned in this wild experience is to read and re-read everything. You can't read it enough I feel, I've read documents once and missed things and then found them once I re-read the document. A lot of the paperwork I've had to fill out is government stuff so it's important to have it right, I found out if there is anything you are unsure of you can normally find the answer either on the internet or from a counselor, if you don't know for sure don't put it down. Well if there is anything else you want to know just let me know. :-)

I was thinking and I was wondering what are some big NO NOs (or don't dos) while in Japan? :confused:
ex: cultural, social, or just general

Well thank you! The last thing I want to do is get any of this paperwork wrong the first time around. I have been considering temple but have found that it is also very expensive. Good lord is it expensive!
I'm trying to find a language college now that suits my needs and my thin pocketbook. :p

I am still very interested in hearing about your experiences while there, however! I hope to see you post when you're embarked on your journey! :ywave:

I also want to second the motion for no-nos. Anything you absolutely should NOT do?

I have finally figured out what the hardest thing about this entire study abroad adventure is, it's not the time consuming paper work nor the cost and schedules to be figured out... it's the PACKING... so many questions of what to take or not take (especially when there is so much you want to take and think you "might" need) I have the horrible habit of playing the "what if" game while packing (which does not help at all), then there is the -does my luggage exceed the allotted weight and/or size. So yep I have finally figured it out now all I have to do is deal with it *head desk*