EF Language Year Abroad in Tokyo, Japan

I went with EF for 6 months to Tokyo in Japan and I had a great time. Japan is an interesting country with many beautiful sites to see with a beautiful language and culture to learn about. Since I was there when Corona broke out, I did not go to all the places I wanted and many things did change/happen, but the school can't be blamed for that.
Overall, even with Corona, I had a very smooth trip.

School:
The teachers at the school are very good at what they do. The classes are immersion style classes so the class is conducted fully in Japanese which can take some time getting used to if you are an absolute beginner, but the teachers, staff and the other students are extremely helpful and friendly if you need help. The teachers also make an effort to plan activities that are more interactive so you do not just have to sit and listen for an extended amount of time (but there are some days where that is the case). The other school staff also are very friendly and can all speak English so if you are having a hard time or something is bothering you, you are able to speak to them comfortably.

Accommodation:
I personally decided to live at the Residence instead of a host family. The residence is not owned by EF instead EF works with the residence to reserve rooms for EF students. Due to this, you get to meet many different people if you live there as other foreigners live there as well as native Japanese. I found the residence to be a lot of fun as you are surrounded by your friends and you have as much freedom as you want. The RAs are very helpful if you have any issues regarding residency. The downside, however, is that you do everything by yourself like buy or cook your own meals, buy your own bath products, clean up after yourself, etc so I would recommend the residence for those that are able to take care of themselves. Another thing to note is that it is sometimes to connect with the native Japanese that live there due to language and culture barrier, but eventually they warm up to you if you keep trying.

Activities:
Tokyo is a busy and exciting city so there was always somewhere to go, something new to see, or something new to try. The school also has activities planned everyday and those range from TeamLabs museum to visiting the shrine from "Your Name" so I would recommend trying to go to those if you are interested. Outside of those, the upper class men usually can recommend places to go to or you can just grab your friends and go spontaneously.

People:
All the students and school staff are so open and friendly. It is very easy to make friends with others even if you are more introverted. Also most students are from different countries around the world so you are able to learn a lot about different cultures along with Japanese culture. Japanese people can be a bit cold and standoffish which is just how their culture is sometimes, but mostly they will be nice to you.

I was very fortunate to enroll in this well organized and enjoyable Japanese language program. The staff is very professional, competent and caring. The classes are in Japanese - even for beginners, but the teachers are supportive and skilled in communicating with beginners as well as the more fluent students. In addition to traditional language instruction, the program utilizes activities and games as well as multi-media tools which make the learning experience stimulating and enjoyable. I lived in the suburbs with a lovely Japanese lady who was a tremendous cook and I looked forward to my evening meal every day. Although she didn't speak a lot of English, we were able to communicate and I enjoyed feeling a part of her household.

Great program! It is useful to get a hang of the basics of hiragana before coming, but not at all necessary. I recommend taking advantage of the SIM cards offered on the first day, since getting around and contacting friends is much easier that way. Don’t be shy when meeting people, they are all really friendly and patient even with very limited Japanese! Services are very nice, and it’s been a great experience so far!

The time in which I did my program, I was between going from high school to college, and due to wanting to attend a university in Japan, I decided to do a study abroad program in order to better prepare myself, and EF provided a great opportunity. Since I was over 18 at the time I was applying for programs, and had a few days in the year that I had to work around, EF was the perfect fit. It allowed me to set my own schedule and work around my own program. Living in Tokyo provided a great opportunity for independence, exploration, and simply felt ecstatic. Already being from a large city (San Francisco, USA), it simply couldn't compare to the rush and feel of Tokyo.

My host family in which I stayed was a little bit outside of Toyko, but the family was extremely accommodating and nice. Some nights we would even speak at the table for hours on end, for the sole purpose of helping my get acclimated to Japanese and to enjoy each other's company. They were also very understanding, and allowing me the freedom to go come and go at my leisure was very helpful in terms of a social life.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the school life was just being able to meet new people, most of which were people who came from places halfway across the world. It's super easy to connect with others and make friends as well, if you find yourself without a way to break the ice, just start with "Where are you from?" and go from there. While you are learning Japanese at the school, he most frequently spoken language between students outside of class is English—at least among the beginner students.

Overal, I found the experience to be something that was a necessary and beneficial part to my career and it helped my grow as an individual and gain a sense of independence.

My EF experience has been nothing but amazing. Even before I came to Tokyo all my questions and concerns were taken care of immediately. EF is a very well put together program. The location is great, and the residence set ups are very convenient. The friends that I've made here say that home stay host families are great too! As well as very accommodating. The school itself is an amazing experience. The teachers are super friendly, fun, and each have a unique way of teaching. It really feels like they enjoy teaching. Which makes asking questions much easier. As they are more than willing to answer anything, and repeat if necessary. I definitely had some fears coming here, but now I'm stress free and having the time of my life. The only thing I fear is leaving! In short, I'm truly greatful for everything EF has done for me. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I hope to do it again, one day!

Living in Tokyo has been an eye-opening experience for me, as I've learned about myself and a different culture separate than mine. Being that this is the first time I have truly been on my own, I was incredibly nervous arriving in Japan, but the EF Tokyo staff and students were very supportive and helpful. I always knew that if I needed help I could go to someone and ask. Now that I have properly studied Japanese in a classroom, instead of at home online, I now know that I want to minor in it. This program has helped me understand myself and what I want to do in many ways, and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in Japanese culture and learning the language.

I studied abroad for two months with EF and had the most incredible experience! I choose to stay with a homestay family and they were the most lovely people. They really made me feel welcome, especially during my fist week when I was still very nervous. But all of the Japanese ambassadors at the dorms are so kind and helpful so you can't go wrong with whatever you pick! Going abroad is something I never thought I would be able to do, and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything in the whole world! I did things I never thought I would be able to do. I became a new person, as cheesy as that sounds. I was really able to break out of my shell. The language program is very comprehensive, and using the language on an everyday basis really improved my language skills. All of the people I met were so wonderful, especially my roommate! You will make so many great relationships with people from all over the world! And don't worry, there's plenty of time to explore on your own. I got to see so many parts of Japan; from Shinjuku to Kyoto! There is never a dull moment, but if you need to take time and just relax, then don't fret, because weekends are perfect for cooling down! I did so many things I never dreamed I would be able to do, and I am so happy I got to have such a wonderful experience! I highly recommend EF!

I attended the EF general program in Japan for two weeks and had an amazing experience. The local people were so friendly and helpful, the EF staff were wonderful, and my accommodations were perfect for me. The classes were taught entirely in Japanese, which was a bit of a surprise for me. However, after a day or two of adjusting to that, I learned so much! The teachers were helpful and made sure that I understood the material. I definitely hope to go again. The experience itself made it all worth it.