Learning Outside the Classroom

School in Japan encourages all students to make the most of their experience abroad by transforming all of Japan into their classroom, and taking advantage as much as possible of their proximity to the Japanese language and culture. With classes like the Community Engagement course, and the Cultural Portfolio: Exploration course, the academic program is already designed to help facilitate and support student immersion into the local community.

However, we still expect all students to take the initiative in getting involved in community and campus life. School in Japan students are fully matriculated into the program’s host university, International Christian University, and thus have full access to ICU’s sports teams and clubs. Additionally, students who live in dormitories have even more opportunities to get involved. Dormitories are student-governed, and call for volunteers to help out and even step up to leadership positions. Dorms also regularly organize dormitory-wide events, which is a great opportunity to meet new people!

It might seem awkward to put yourself out there at first, but your own individual efforts to integrate into Japanese culture will make a huge overall difference in your experience abroad. Past students who have made these efforts have made significant gains in both their Japanese language ability and their cultural knowledge. Go ahead, take the plunge!