Japanese Language and Culture Summer Experience

Summer 2012: May 11 to June 16 (tentative dates)

Program Location

Tokyo.  Super high tech cell phones.  Super fresh sushi.  Even with over 12 million people, this is one of the cleanest and safest cities in the world.  A maze-like subway system that runs like clockwork.  An amazing variety of foods that goes way beyond the typical American “Japanese” steakhouse.  Tokyo has been the center of Japanese culture and politics for nearly 500 years.  A thoroughly modern city with very deep roots, this is a fantastic place to spend a summer and build a connection to one of Asia’s most important economic, political, and cultural centers.

Academic Program

Students will get an intensive study of Japanese language and culture. During the first four weeks, you will spend three days a week in the classroom (MWF) and will either have excursions or free time to explore on non-classroom days and weekends. You will live with a Tokyo family and commute on the subway. During the final week you will travel around the country. You will experience sumo wrestling, zen meditation, a Japanese bath house, Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, medieval Japanese castles, and the Hiroshima Peace Park memorializing the tragedy of the first atomic bomb. You will come face to face with many of the fantastic contradictions that make up modern life in Japan. This will be a truly unforgettable experience.

Instructional methods: Japanese language study will be conducted via a combination of lecture, classroom exercises involving reading, writing, listening and speaking, and many opportunities to interact with Japanese people and places.  Japanese culture studies will include classroom lecture, outside reading, and many excursions.  Evaluation methods will involve Japanese proficiency tests, and reflective essays/blog entries on the course experience.  A final paper/presentation/project/report will also be due after returning to the US.

Tentative course offerings:

• GHUM 252: Cross-Cultural Perspectives: Japan (3)
• JAPN 111: Introductory Japanese (6)
• JAPN 231 and JAPN 232: Intermediate Japanese Language (6)

Accommodations

Students will reside in hotels and with host families. Most meals will be provided.

Program Costs

For the current projected costs for this program, please click on the following link to the Fees for JMU Study Abroad Programs page.

Trip costs include cell phone rental, but each individual will be responsible for his/her own cell phone usage (air time, texts, etc.).  Cell phone usage costs averaged between $50-100 for past trips.  The trip costs include meals, lodging, and transportation to all course-related events.  Students should budget for additional travel/entertainment costs for their free time, of which there is plenty.  Previous years’ students recommend bringing at least $1,000 for personal spending/travel/entertainment.

Application

For more detailed instructions and to download the application, please click on the following link to the Applications and Forms section for JMU Short-Term Programs.

For More Information

For additional information about this program, please contact the program director:

Morgan Benton
Assistant Professor
Integrated Science and Technology Department
Tel: 540-568-6876
E-mail: bentonmc@jmu.edu