CET Academic Programs

There is so much to say about my summer abroad in Taiwan, I’m not sure how I can possibly encapsulate it in this short review. Despite there being many ups and downs, I can safely say that I gained everything I could have wanted from my study abroad experience and more. Not only did my language skills improve immensely, but I also noticed a significant shift in my overall confidence and ability to adjust to unfamiliar circumstances. The culture shock and language barrier were definitely huge challenges for me when I first arrived in Taiwan, however it was so rewarding to see myself progress everyday and overcome these hurdles. After learning Chinese for many years, this immersive experience was exactly what I needed in order to level up my language skills, and motivate me towards continuing to pursue language study in the future.

Housing- Housing was a lot more pleasant than I thought it’d be! I lived in Tiffany-1 which was only a minute walk from the nearest station to get to Osaka Gakuin University (OGU), our host university. My apartment was all-female and I was able to live in my own room with a personal bathroom. I was given the ability and freedom to really decorate my space and was something I spent a lot of time doing in the first couple of weeks to help me feel at home. Luckily, I have a very small build so I had an easier time adjusting, but if you are uncomfortable with small spaces, are taller than average, or have hesitations with crowded living spaces, you may find Japanese housing very difficult to deal with. There is no dryer so you will have to get used to air drying your clothes and the trash schedule was definitely a learning curve. Here’s some pros and cons I found. Please note a lot of the cons are just part of getting used to living in Japan, it was my first time living alone, and my comments are specific to my apartment and room!

Pros: Personal bathroom, VERY convenient location (lots of nearby convenience stores, station, etc.), already furnished, lots of kitchen supplies and other necessary items provided, don’t have to pay for utilities bills (Summer Term), quick support from staff and residence director if there are any problems, SAFE neighborhood, beautiful scenery nearby, personal balcony, plenty of locks on front door.

Cons: Thin walls and train sounds late at night (also sometimes a chanting lady that says her hymns till very late outside your window ;-;), only one stovetop in kitchen, difficult trash disposal procedures and very small personal trash cans, lots of stairs and very steep, not many common spaces, very small bathroom, will spend quite a bit of money on living expenses.

Academics & Language Pledge- The curriculum during the Summer term is incredibly challenging and affected a lot of students' mental health because of how much is taught and expected during such a short time. I’d view academics as a double edged sword, cause although I personally struggled simply keeping up with all of the work, quizzes, and tests, I went from speaking little to no Japanese before the program to now being able to hold 30 minute conversations with my Japanese professors back home. You will make leaps in your progress as a language learner, and a lot of that is in regard to the unique language pledge CET has, but it’s important to understand how much that’ll cost. As an Intermediate High Japanese (OS-LANG-261) student, I found that learning from the textbooks will prepare you with the grammar and vocabulary necessary to take your skills outside. There are 4 hours of class everyday but you will learn the most from those real conversations after classes end. This can be done with your housemates, other classmates, and random people you come across in Japan! However, this brings me back to the point that socializing is such an integral part of the academics at CET. I believe that the language pledge is the best thing this program has to offer, but don’t beat yourself up if you can’t always meet those expectations.

Another thing to note is that the environment of the classroom might be a bit too intense or intimidating because people are hot, tired from the lack of sleep, and/or naturally competitive when it comes to academics. The language pledge is not for the faint of heart because it will reveal your skill level, so if you get offended by people correcting your Japanese, judging you for your skill level, or are uncomfortable with the feeling of not understanding (lectures, conversations, everything is in Japanese only), this program is not for you.

Fun- How much fun you have in the program is heavily dependent on the connections you are able to make while you are abroad. As it is already challenging enough to get used to being "alone" in a country you are unfamiliar with, reaching out to the resources and people around you is essential and will greatly influence how you look back on this program (specifically for Summer since the curriculum is so challenging). Remember, the housemates you are living with are not obligated to be your friends and they have lives of their own! Going with someone you know from your own school might be something to consider if you are stressed about making friends or not entirely comfortable with being an independent traveler. I didn't find my friend group until much later in the program, but if I'd prioritized the social aspect of the program, I believe I would've made a lot more 大切な思い出 much sooner. I am the first person from my University to attend this program, so please take that into consideration!

Support- LOTS of support from CET staff and OGU staff too! Highly recommend visiting the i-Chat lounge if you want more opportunities to connect with OGU students that are interested in international studies. The CET staff will keep close tabs on you and your progress each step of the way which may be great for some but bad for others. When I got sick, I really appreciated them checking in and giving me updates on how it would affect my grades, what options were available for me regarding health services, and more. It was nice knowing how much they cared and how I wasn’t just another student in their program without a name.

Finances- The program is already pretty pricey but I highly recommend saving more than what you already have planned as you will be spending a lot in regards to transportation, food, and tickets to events like matsuris or USJ. Although the exchange rate is great right now, if you are adventurous like me, you’ll always find places to go especially since you know that your time is limited within those 2 and a half months. Regarding food plans, there are none provided by CET or the host school and many students found that it was easier to pay for their food rather than cooking. Plan wisely and create limits ahead of time so you aren’t feeling the effects of your poor spending habits after. Money Matters!

To review, CET in Japan is a great program if you are up for the challenge. The pace of this course will test your limits but will bring the best out of you if you are focused and willing to be open to the unique challenges your term will bring. Best of travels to you and 頑張って for whatever you choose! <3

If at all possible, go during the fall or spring semester! The summer program is absolutely packed with a year of study packed into 9 weeks. Make sure to savor your time in Japan and get the most out of your experience! During the summer program you will spend most of your time outside class studying and doing homework. If you're okay with that kind of intensive program while abroad, all the power to you! If you want more than that, go during the full semester. However, I would not recommend studying with CET during the summer.

I didn’t really know what to expect coming into this program, but I think that was best case scenario. The people you meet both international students and native students will probably be so much different than what you think! The opportunity to make close friends and have fun shared experiences is so fun and a chance that I don’t think anyone should miss out on. I was in Osaka, Japan for my program and it was just the right amount of urban and countryside for me. I like having the freedom to explore the Kansai region and there was always something new to look for and do! The people are also very kind and helpful wherever you go.

Although my time at CET Beijing had its highs and lows, I found appreciation for the friends I made and the experiences we shared. Initially, making friends at CET felt very difficult. Most students came from Yale, and many already knew each other from beforehand. I felt slightly intimidated by this, but I tried my best to get to know everyone and enjoy my time while I was there. By the end of the program, I found friends in my teachers, my RAs, and even my peers who I had initially been intimidated by. Whether it was playing a game of Mahjong or inviting someone along to eat Malatang with me, I felt a sense of community with those around me.

It was hard not to compare myself with my classmates, who seemed to only have highs and never lows. To see what my peers had around me, and wonder why I was struggling to achieve the same things. But in my last few weeks in China, I realized that I had everything around me that I needed. I had a few good friends who cared about me, teachers who were genuinely invested in my improvement, and dozens of everyday experiences that brought me joy. Reflecting on my program, I realized it was the little things that mattered at the end of the day.