CET Japan

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.

This program takes place at Osaka Gakuin University (OGU) in Osaka, a 50 minute train ride to Kyoto, Kobe, and most of the busier streets of Osaka. Though class was every weekday for 3 hours, it was in the morning, giving time to explore after class was released. I was also able to visit many areas around Japan on the weekends, especially during holidays and when Mondays started becoming free.

Housing: I lived a 7 minute walk to campus, making getting to and from school easy. Some of my classmates lived further away, requiring a 30 minute commute. My apartment was well furnished, including a stove, shared/free laundry machine, and small balcony. As typical in Japan, I did have to get used to drying my clothes on drying racks.

Academics: Being in the 100 level Japanese class, we finished Genki 1 textbook. However, most valuable was the constant practice we got speaking to the Japanese students at OGU. I am extremely fond of the Japanese friends I made in this program, who also helped me improve my Japanese. However, the CET class moved a bit too slow for the amount of immersion we got studying abroad in Japan. Some topics we covered should have been brought up earlier in the semester, as they were necesarry to communicate. Genki 1 curriculum seems not optimal for people studying abroad in Japan. I would recommend additional self study in your free time for more growth in Japanese, which you will be motivated to do when seeing your classmates work hard on learning Japanese as well.

One downside in my academics was, besides Japanese, being required to take 3 extra afternoon classes by my US university, and OGU offered only 5 elective options for those 3 spots. Also, attendance in the OGU electives was very strict. With limited choices, the classes were a time suck, and I would have preferred more options in the classes I had that didn't require me being in class for 4 additional hours in the afternoon when I would rather be exploring Japan and studying Japanese.

The semester was unforgettable to me. However, if you are paying full tuition for this program, be aware that CET is one of the most expensive options at ~26k tuition and there are cheaper alternatives. Being on a scholarship, I chose this program for fulfilling my objectives of studying Japanese intensely and having many perks, like weekend field trips and very attentive staff. For my first time studying abroad I felt extremely safe, with the CET staff always answering my questions. The health insurance on the program is also extremely generous, and it is built in to the cost of the program. I loved my experience in Japan and would highly recommend studying abroad here.

My CET study abroad was my first time leaving the United States. While I was excited to travel for the first time and put my language skills to work, I was also really nervous about experiencing a new culture and being in such an unfamiliar environment. My mind raced with anxious thoughts like, 'Will I make friends?' and "I'm not sure if I will enjoy it there'. However, once I began taking more Japanese language classes and started to break out of my shell, I met so many unique, wonderful people, and made memories that I truly will never forget. My study abroad helped me develop the confidence in my Japanese to interact with locals in Osaka, learn more about Japanese culture, and go to so many iconic places throughout the Kansai Region! I'm truly grateful for the experience and everything that it has taught me.

Living in Japan felt like a fever dream. The immersion in the culture was great but challenging at first. Being a foreigner was hard because I had to overcome language barriers and cultural customs. Sometimes it was hard to be away from family at 18. But being in Japan taught me lots of discipline. English is not really spoken throughout Japan so it had forced me to use Japanese skills. The language pledge was challenging at times because I was not fluent but it taught me perseverance. Another part of just being a foreigner in Japan was the way I dressed and just my look had been uncomfortable for some locals. I remember sitting in the trains and having people move away from me. It made me feel sad sometimes because I didn’t know if I was making the people feel uncomfortable but overtime I realized that they’re not used to seeing foreigners as much as I am in the U.S. The CET program did a very good job at explaining the way Japanese people may act towards you and also giving a good explanation of DOs and DONTs in Japan.

I had a great time in Japan thanks to CET. They set up excursions for the students to do and it took us to places one wouldn't typically go to while traveling. Housing only a 10 to 15 minute train and walk from the school. It was located in a neighborhood filled with different restaurants and supermarkets. It was a really safe and convenient area, only a couple stops from the heart of the city of Osaka. I personally had a great relationship with the Japanese teachers, however I know of a couple friends that did not have the best experience with them. They were forced to move to a lower language class even when they had a higher language ability.

I didn't quite know what I was getting myself into when I applied for CET Japan, but it truly changed my life. The location of CET Japan is unbeatable. Being in Osaka, especially as a student at the beautiful Osaka Gakuin University, is as good as it gets while abroad. Being in the Kansai region was a great balance of city life, accessibility for traveling, and escaping to nature. After a few mere weeks in Osaka, I could picture myself living there long-term. The endless support from CET staff, teachers, roommates, and the local community is exactly what I needed while spending 3 months in a foreign country. Students in the program were very friendly and open to exploring and trying new things. I made some of my best friends while with CET. The language program is rigorous and my language skills significantly improved. The elective classes offered an opportunity to engage with other international students at OGU. I can confidently say that I was able to create a daily routine in Osaka and try at least one new thing every day. It was great to be around other students who had similar goals of travel and exploration. Boarding my return flight home, I definitely felt accomplished, and left with no regrets.