CET Academic Programs Reviews

I had the most amazing time in Siena and traveling the rest of Europe. My experience would not have been the same without my homestay mother. After leaving Siena, I felt like I had become Italian. My language skills improved miraculously.

I chose CET for the chance to be roommates with a Japanese student, and to experience Osaka, a city that seemed to be a loud, fun, vibrant counterculture to Tokyo. My semester abroad turned out to exceed all my expectations and left me with heartwarming memories and a whole lot of personal growth.

HOUSING: CET offers the chance to room (either in a house or an apartment) with Japanese students who attend Osaka Gakuin University. I lived in a house with three Japanese girls and two other Americans, about a fifteen minute bike ride down a gorgeous path from school. I believe my housing option was a happy middle between a homestay and a dorm - I had the independence of living on my own (cooking for myself, no curfews, privacy), and the opportunity for cultural exchange with Japanese my age. My housemates became some of my best friends - some of my best memories are small moments we all shared, sitting around the kitchen table studying together, my Japanese roommate explaining kanji to me, cooking American food for our Japanese friends. This sort of housing option operates as a safety net (you probably won't be isolated or lonely very often) and an opportunity to create lifelong bonds. Also, on a practical note, most study abroad programs in Japan require a significant commute to campus, but all of CET's housing is either within walking distance or a 15 minute bike ride/5 minute train ride.

ACADEMICS: CET academics are rigorous and tough; the standards are high, and include about 2-3 hours of Japanese class daily and a research project. You will spend at minimum one hour studying each night. Although I struggled at times, I completed the program amazed at how much my Japanese improved (especially compared to friends who participated in other programs). Additionally, many of the Japanese roommates (as well as people in Osaka generally) don't speak much English, especially compared to Tokyo, so the environment forces you to become comfortable communicating in Japanese! CET also offers electives in a wide range of subjects (I took a history course and an international law course while there). Finally, the interview-based research project is really what you make of it. I felt like it opened a lot of doors for me and gave me an excuse to strike up a conversation with someone I might never have talked to.

LOCATION: Osaka is amazing! Loud, fun, beautiful, DELICIOUS! People are friendly, talk to you on trains, and help you when you're lost. It's fun to explore the different parts of the city, as well as get to know the neighborhood where CET is. The dialect they speak there isn't as hard to understand as some people might tell you, and people get really excited when you can use it. Also, Osaka is centrally located in Kansai so that Kobe, Nara, and Kyoto are all only a short train ride away. Great for exploring!

This program truly challenged me academically and personally. I grew exponentially as a result of choosing CET and thanks to the incredible people I met while abroad. I hope other students consider this program - while of course I cannot guarantee that you will have an experience like mine, I can attest that the CET program provides a strong foundation for all of these positive experiences.

I always knew that I wanted to study abroad, but it wasn’t long before the date when I had to submit my study abroad application that I found out where I wanted to go. To me, Prague and the Czech Republic were largely off of the radar. I had only passed over the city in readings and knew little to nothing about its culture and history. I only decided to go because the CET program had no language requirement. It turned out that going to Prague; however, was one of the best decisions I’ve made.

The CET Central European Studies program was great. My classes not only taught me about the Czech Republic, but helped to foster a more nuanced understanding of all of Central Europe and ultimately the entire European continent, its history and its culture. In addition to the history, which I really enjoyed, my classes introduced me to Czech Literature and authors such as Milan Kundera who I have continued to read since returning home. While academically stimulating, the classes were not too demanding either. This was good because it enabled me a great deal of free time to enjoy the city and also enough time to volunteer as an English instructor at a local children’s center, adding an important internship to my resume and providing an invaluable experience.

As for Prague and the Czech Republic itself, I don’t think that I could have picked a better location. Being centrally located within Europe, Prague makes it very easy for students to explore other parts of the continent. I was fortunate enough to independently visit Amsterdam, Italy, and even see family in several German cities. Other students on the program also went as far as Spain to the West and Turkey to the East. Many programs would not allow for such opportunities. The program itself also had a large travel component, so students who did not wish to travel independently were able to see many other countries along with the program. CET took us to Krakov in Poland, Budapest in Hungary, Vienna in Austria, and also several other picturesque Czech towns and cities. The cost of these trips were included in the program’s tuition, and this travel component ended up being one of my favorite aspects of the program. Still, even without travel, there is no reason to leave Prague, because the city itself is so wonderful. For a college student, Prague has everything you need: comprehensive and efficient public transit, a plethora of pubs on every block with ridiculously cheap and delicious beer, a vibrant and welcome local college aged population, music and museums, and much more. The only bad part of the Prague program was having to come home.

In addition to the courses and the city itself, the CET staff is very friendly and helpful. Going to another country for an extended period of time can be intimidating, and it is very helpful to have a support group who you are comfortable asking any questions and who really make it their obligation to ensure your comfort. This is exactly what I got. Overall, I couldn’t give the program any higher rating. I wish I was still in Prague and I hope to return soon!

What I loved most about the program was that CET emphasized immersion and experiential learning, by providing Czech roommates for each apartment, the opportunity to volunteer at a local organization through a service learning course, and a traveling seminar to Poland, Austria, and Hungary. I was able to witness firsthand what I learned in my classes about the Jewish history of Central and Eastern Europe and minority issues in contemporary Czech society by attending services with Prague's Jewish community, traveling to Auschwitz and taking Jewish tours of other cities in the region, and visiting local NGOs. Through the service learning class, I volunteered with an organization that does research about the Holocaust and even had the opportunity to interview a Holocaust survivor. I also loved the challenge of learning the Czech language. My Czech class even took field trips to restaurants and a Christmas market to practice!

I fell in love with everything about Prague: the cobblestone streets, the Vltava River, the plaques dedicated to writers on almost every street (Czechs are very proud of their intellectual and cultural history!), and goulash and dumplings. By the end of the program, the city really started to feel like home. I would highly recommend anyone interested in Jewish Studies, Religious Studies, History, or Europe in general to consider this program. The CET staff was very supportive throughout the semester and provided us with tons of opportunities to make the most of the experience.

During my spring 2013 semester, I studied photography with CET's program in Prague. What I really loved and appreciated was the small scale of the class sizes, and the individual attention we received from our professors and mentors. It was great that they also gave us the freedom to create photographs in the specific style we were drawn to, rather than following a strict set of assignment guidelines. I had the opportunity to experiment extensively in the darkroom with alternative photographic processes that led me to explore new ways of developing my artistic practice.

CET accommodated their students wonderfully, housing us in spacious apartments, and making sure our transition to the new country went as smoothly as possible. They hosted many events and dinners so we could all get acquainted with each other, and implemented a great "Czech Buddy" system - where local Czech students lived with CET students and helped them adjust to their new environment, as well as where to go to have fun.

After having a few study-abroad options prove untimely or too expensive, a friend informed me of CET's Intensive Language and Culture Program in Osaka for the summer. After having approval from my Japanese teacher, and researching the program, I applied for CET Osaka. The price was right, and the length of the program gave me plenty of time to do other things during the summer. It helped fulfill several of the requirements for my major, and counted as 2 semesters worth of Japanese class in only two months. The academics of the program are very intense- unlike other study abroad programs that involved barely any work. My knowledge of kanji was greatly increased and reinforced, as we went through most of the textbook. If you want to learn a lot of kanji in a short time, and are serious about improving your verbal ability in Japanese, this is the program for you.
As for the learning environment, there may be a bit of a learning curve in understanding and fulfilling the standards the Japanese teachers have. They can seem a little strict; and unlike American professors, they do count absences against you, so it would behoove you to attend every class. But the teachers are all very kind and willing to help you, and I am still in contact with my former teachers today.
Osaka is a great city, and should totally be considered on par with Tokyo in terms of culture, shopping, and general enjoyment. Though me and many of my classmates and friends did not get to do much traveling outside of the Kansai region, we had a blast making Osaka our home and becoming familiar with the local culture. Overall, Osakans are very funny, and easy-going people, so it's easy to reach out for help, or extend the hand of friendship. Get out of your comfort zone and immerse yourself in this wonderful place. I can't wait to go back there someday!

ALL of the Japanese roommates were amazing people to get to know!! The beauty of CET is that not just your roommate, but all the other roommates too, are your friends and want to hang out with you just as much as you want to hang out with them. Moreover, program participants are welcome to interact with non-CET OGU students as well. Because many students at the university are majoring in foreign language, hospitality, or international studies, they really enjoy getting to know foreigners. I felt like a superstar on OGU's campus because of the very friendly reception. I can honestly say I've made lifelong Japanese friends through this program and communicate with many more even today.

I had a wonderful experience in Siena. I lived with a home stay family and my host was Stella. Stella was amazing and like a mother to me. I had a roommate from my college also and we became best friends. My roommate and me would travel together on the weekends. We would attend class Monday through Thursday in the afternoons and had Friday off to allow a long weekend for travel! We made it to Florence, Rome, and Naples/amalfi coast areas. My classes were fun and I love my teachers. The director of my program was so helpful and I loved getting to talk with we about her Italian experiences. I was surprised by how much free time I had during the week. I spent many afternoons in the medieval fortress park studying and enjoying the beautiful views is Siena. It truly was the best summer of my life and I would do anything I go back.

Shanghai was the time of my life.

I made strong friendships, learned a lot of Chinese, and had a blast exploring the Shanghai nightlife. Most importantly, I learned about myself. Being thrown into a culture and overall lifestyle that is so different from my own, I was forced to adjust. As I've heard others say, "It's China. You either grow or are run over." I can happily say that I grew - academically, professionally, and emotionally.

You are matched with a Chinese roommate through CET, and I'd say around 95% of the CET students were very pleased with their roommate pairing. I am still in contact with my roommate, and I plan to visit him as soon as I can.

The staff is incredible. They made me feel at home! They are courteous, reliable, and always willing to go the extra mile. I remember when a staff member, Nova, stayed up extra late just to help a CET student with flight issues. They are here for the students, and it shows.

The program director did an excellent job making sure that everyone was assigned with an appropriate internship. Whether you are working for a small software company or the largest financial planning firm in Shanghai, your internship will be satisfying and open doors.

My advice: Speak Chinese as much as possible. Go out and explore not only the amazing nightlife of Shanghai, but also the enriching daytime excursions offered by Shanghai and other Chinese cities.

With the right mindset and motivated attitude, Shanghai with CET can be the most thrilling and rewarding ride of your life.

I enjoyed every aspect of my experience in Harbin with CET - if I had the chance to do another study abroad program, CET Harbin would still be at the top of my list, over other programs in places that I haven't been to. CET Harbin had the perfect combination of interesting cultural experiences, rigorous academics, and fun social life that I was looking for in study abroad.