Alumni Spotlight: Jacqueline Straumann

It was a great wish to experience Japan, but not only as a tourist. I started learning Japanese 2 years before and this program offered an opportunity to support my language skills. I was keen to learn with others and additionally visit the country and learn more about its people. Best decision ever!

Beside the flight and my private topics everything was organized by World campus Japan. We met at the airport and from there I had nothing to organize until back to the airport for the flight back home. All transfers, events, visits are well prepared and the locals look forward to exchange their experience with you.

Enjoy! This is the best and easiest way to learn Japanese. Interact with locals, learn about the culture, visit special places and make friends. I don't know something comparable. At one or two points I thought will this become interesting or fun? Yes! From every meeting or event I walked away with a positive impression.

For example: Breakfast with the homestay family. Meet the group and transfer to a university. Exchange of information from both sites, small group discussions. After that visit a Kendo-training show at the university campus. Walk back trough the town and enjoy the evening with your friends or family. The program is tough and the days are long, but full of fun and great experiences!

Are my language skills good enough? With electronics and dictionary support it is almost no problem. Sometimes we had a lot of fun, having a kind of competition who finds the word first. This program is not a school where you sit and have a teacher in front. You learn while talking to locals, listen to a governor or visit a religious site.

I never expected such a close insight into the families life. As a normal tourist you never has this opportunity. So if you a interested in a deeper glimpse I recommend to enroll for World Campus Japan. It was the best organized trip I ever had. The support by locals and students makes it as easy going as it feels like.