Program Reviews

I found this program to strike a very good balance between support and also promoting independence living on your own overseas. I of course, came to the program with the goal of improving my Japanese, but I also wanted to learn how to function as an adult and I think that this program gave me a good taste of both of those goals. The housing is not the best but it’s livable. Because Japan has so much to offer you won’t be spending much time in the house anyway so I would overall recommend this program. The staff were very kind and I felt comfortable turning to them if I ever had any issues. What I loved most about this program was the fact that our academic sensitive of not only in class learning, but also many activities outside of class such as field trips to local schools, and also things on campus that involved other students outside of our own classrooms. I also liked that school was Monday through Thursday for the most part so that gave us a longer weekend to go and explore Japan, which is relatively easy to do because of the amazing transportation system.

Taiwan is an amazing place to study abroad in. In terms of academics, while I did not get into the Chinese level that I had originally wanted to (it is hard to switch because of the limit of 8 people), I still had a rewarding and academically challenging learning experience. There is no room for slacking off with these classes which is exactly the learning environment I needed. Outside of classes at NTU, there are so many opportunities to learn the language and experience the culture. There is a lot of English in Taiwan! Which is great for the cultural shock but also means I had to be more intentional about stepping outside my comfort zone. For instance, not always asking for the English menu, reading the Chinese directions/signs, ordering in Chinese, etc. The locals here are super friendly as well and provide so many opportunities for practicing Chinese. It is a common occurrence to have conversations with workers at stores or just random curious locals. I also loved that this program paired you up with a language partner as well because it helped my listening and "on the spot" speaking/conversational skills. I loved my language partner! (My first language partner did ghost me...but the staff found a new one which shows how valuable those pair-ups are!). My local roommates were also such a great way to immerse myself in the language and culture.

Studying abroad in Taiwan is also so ideal because of how easy it is to get around with the MRT, local trains, buses, or even HSR (but these are for places farther away). Not only is commuting easy but traveling and exploring is made much easier. Additionally, eating in Taiwan (and most things) is super affordable and accessible (7-11s/family marts, night markets). One thing that surprised me as a vegetarian was how many vegetarian restaurants. There usually are not a TON of veggie options at regular restaurants but eating was never a problem for me here.

In terms of the program itself, the CET staff were super helpful and supportive. There was some miscommunication between the CET staff and me and my roommates regarding some housing/apartment stuff but overall, I was super happy with the staff and support available during this experience. They played a big role in the time I had here.

I could keep raving about Taiwan, but the last thing I wanted to say was that I wish this program was longer because time goes by so fast. Particularly when you factor in the academics to it as well with 3 3-hour class every day. To me, there isn't a lot of time to "settle in" once you get to Taipei or enjoy your last moments in Taipei before leaving. Many of my friends and I especially felt that we would've liked more time at the end of the program because the move-out was the day after the last class. I actually did end up staying longer in Taipei after the program was over for about three more weeks. I think that if I hadn't stayed longer, I would not have felt as satisfied with my time here as I do now (really comes down to the length of the program).

Taiwan is an amazing place to study abroad in. In terms of academics, while I did not get into the Chinese level that I had originally wanted to (it is hard to switch because of the limit of 8 people), I still had a rewarding and academically challenging learning experience. There is no room for slacking off with these classes which is exactly the learning environment I needed. Outside of classes at NTU, there are so many opportunities to learn the language and experience the culture. There is a lot of English in Taiwan! Which is great for the cultural shock but also means I had to be more intentional about stepping outside my comfort zone. For instance, not always asking for the English menu, reading the Chinese directions/signs, ordering in Chinese, etc. The locals here are super friendly as well and provide so many opportunities for practicing Chinese. It is a common occurrence to have conversations with workers at stores or just random curious locals. I also loved that this program paired you up with a language partner as well because it helped my listening and "on the spot" speaking/conversational skills. I loved my language partner! (My first language partner did ghost me...but the staff found a new one which shows how valuable those pair-ups are!). My local roommates were also such a great way to immerse myself in the language and culture.

Studying abroad in Taiwan is also so ideal because of how easy it is to get around with the MRT, local trains, buses, or even HSR (but these are for places farther away). Not only is commuting easy but traveling and exploring is made much easier. Additionally, eating in Taiwan (and most things) is super affordable and accessible (7-11s/family marts, night markets). One thing that surprised me as a vegetarian was how many vegetarian restaurants. There usually are not a TON of veggie options at regular restaurants but eating was never a problem for me here.

In terms of the program itself, the CET staff were super helpful and supportive. There was some miscommunication between the CET staff and me and my roommates regarding some housing/apartment stuff but overall, I was super happy with the staff and support available during this experience. They played a big role in the time I had here.

I could keep raving about Taiwan, but the last thing I wanted to say was that I wish this program was longer because time goes by so fast. Particularly when you factor in the academics to it as well with 3 3-hour class every day. To me, there isn't a lot of time to "settle in" once you get to Taipei or enjoy your last moments in Taipei before leaving. Many of my friends and I especially felt that we would've liked more time at the end of the program because the move-out was the day after the last class. I actually did end up staying longer in Taipei after the program was over for about three more weeks. I think that if I hadn't stayed longer, I would not have felt as satisfied with my time here as I do now (really comes down to the length of the program).

Overall, I enjoyed my time in Florence at CET! The housing accommodations were nice and the apartments were well equipped with all the essentials - furnished with all linens (sheet + towels), cooking utensils, pots/pans, dishes, etc. Almost all apartments were within a 15 minute walk from the school. The neighborhood felt safe. My favorite part about the CET program itself was the number of free events the staff planned and offered for us.

The academics: some of the midterms and finals were more difficult than my home university because of the amount of work required (ex: a final paper, a presentation, and an exam). Quality of instructors varied. CET does a great job of ensuring you are completing school while also having ample time to travel and enjoy life abroad.

My experience with the CET Taiwan program was fantastic. The courses were engaging and tailored to my interests, while the internship opportunity provided invaluable real-world experience. The program staff were exceptional—always available and supportive throughout my time abroad. I also enjoyed the weekend activities, which offered a great balance of cultural exploration and bonding amongst other students. Overall, it was a rewarding and well-rounded experience that exceeded my expectations. Highly recommend!

The CET Jordan program provides an excellent balance of language immersion and cultural experience. The staff and teachers are deeply committed to helping each student grow, and they create a supportive environment for language development—even for native Arabic speakers like myself. Their encouragement and guidance throughout my internship journey were invaluable. This program truly immerses students in the culture while offering opportunities to gain substantial knowledge and insights along the way.

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.