College of DuPage



Study Abroad Japan Important Information Application 2012 Itinerary Current Faculty For more information, e-mail: Shingo Satsutani
	Purpose This program provides total immersion in the Japanese language and in the culture of Japan. Held in cooperation with Kyoto International Academy in Kyoto (KIA), classroom instruction comes alive because the whole community serves as a giant classroom and language laboratory for students. Participants practice and improve their knowledge of the language by interacting with the Japanese people in the street, on buses, in museums, theaters, shops, restaurants and cafes, and with their host family. Locations Kyoto: With a population of nearly 1.5 million, the former capital of Japan is the most significant historical city located next to Osaka and Nara. The Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake, and Kobe, the port city, are located just a short train ride away. Besides many famous shrines and temples, Kyoto offers a wealth of recreational activities and a wide range of cultural attractions. The large number of museums and art collections and the variety of music and theater events make Kyoto a cultural metropolis of international rank. The city has kept an almost provincial flavor in spite of its hustle and bustle. The natives of the city take pride in their customs and traditions, which come alive especially on their many holidays and festivals. Housing and Meals Students are housed in carefully selected homes. They are provided with breakfast and supper and laundry service during the homestay period. This arrangement provides the opportunity for the student to continue practicing Japanese and to share the everyday life in Japan. These homes are near subway or bus transportation. Lunch is not provided, but there are many excellent and inexpensive eating-places all over the city. Program Cost The total fee is approximately $4,299 plus College of DuPage tuition for 7 credit hours. Many types of financial aid may be applied to study abroad. For information, contact the program director (630) 942-2019, the Financial Aid office (630) 942-2722, or the Study Abroad office at (630) 942-2356. The Program Fee Includes: Round-trip Four-day local orientation field trip in Hiroshima Five-week homestay Breakfast and supper during homestay Full-time administrative staff Transfers to and from airport in Osaka Daily excursions specified in the program schedule Textbooks for language classes in Japan Not Included in the Program Fee: Tuition All lunches Optional trips Passport fees luggage/baggage fees from airlines International Student Identification Card Personal expenses Telephone calls Optional Excursions - information will be provided on a variety of optional excursions which are not included in the price of the program [top of page] Steps to Study Abroad Step 1: APPLY Fill out the Application Packet and send it to: Japan Program Field Studies/Study Abroad, BIC 3509 College of DuPage 425 Fawell Blvd. Glen Ellyn, IL 60137-6599 Step 2: INTERVIEW Upon receipt of the Japan Summer Study Abroad completed application packet, the applicant will be contacted to schedule an interview with the program director(s). The interview may be conducted through telephone. The application packet includes: Application form Essay Two recommendation forms Two passport photos (signed on the back) or sent digitally to FieldstudiesAide@cod.edu Official transcript (non-COD students only) $500 deposit Step 3: REGISTER If accepted into the program, go to/call the Field and Interdisciplinary Studies/Study Abroad office, Berg Instructional Center (BIC), Room 3046 at College of DuPage (630) 942-2356. You must speak to a person and ask to register for the Japan Study Abroad Program. Please note: Prior to registration, non-COD students must first complete the online COD Admission Form with $20 fee. Visit home.cod.edu/admissions/gettingstarted for the Admission Form. Step 4: PAY You may pay by check or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover). Make check payable to College of DuPage. Write on check Japan SA Program, your phone #, and if somebody else will sign the check, include your name. Mail or take the check to: Cashier’s Office, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd. Glen Ellyn, IL 60137-6599 or Study Abroad office, BIC 3509, (630) 942-2356. Questions regarding payment should be directed to the Cashier’s office (630) 942-2206. Step 5: SUBMIT FINAL PAPERWORK Upon acceptance into the program, the student will be required to submit the following: Signed statement regarding the use of Japanese Signed student conduct agreement Signed general agreement Signed sexual harassment form Release agreement Physician’s statement Proof of medical insurance (photocopy) that is valid outside the United States Emergency information sheet Medical insurance information sheet Travel insurance waiver Payments You may make payments directly to the Cashier’s office or the Study Abroad office. Deposit is due with application: $500 Installment due on April 2: $1,900 Installment due on May 2: $1,899 Tuition for 7 credit hours is extra. Late Applicants/Late Payments We welcome students beyond the application deadline if space is available. However, additional charges may apply. Participants who fall behind in their payment schedule will be assessed $15 per payment. Students enrolling late must send application fee and the total fee due up to that point with their application. Changes in Prices The program fees are based on air and land rates in effect at the time of writing and are subject to change, without notice, due to possible increases in the cost of air transportation or land arrangements, devaluation of currencies or other reasons not under the control of College of DuPage. [top of page] Withdrawal and Refund Policy Notification of withdrawal must be in writing. Claims for refunds must be in writing. The $500 application fee is non-refundable unless the applicant is not accepted in the program. If a participant's withdrawal request is received more than 60 days prior to departure, he/she may receive full refund, less $500; If he/she withdraws 60 or fewer days prior to departure, he/she may receive partial refund, but the amount withheld will be at least $2,000 and may be considerably more. No refunds after 30 days prior to departure. Substitutions are not allowed. International Student ID Card All students are required to obtain an International Student ID Card. Basic emergency medical insurance is provided and occasionally bearers are entitled to discounts. http://www.iNext.com/ Transportation Air transportation is provided by regularly scheduled and approved airlines. Arrangements for travel from cities other than Chicago must be made at the time of application. Change in Departure or Return Dates No change is available for departure. Any change from established return date after ticketing would be subject to a surcharge of at least $250 for such arrangements and any additional cost charged by the airline. Participants need to inform us of this possibility at the time of application. Tickets Airline tickets will be electronically issued or distributed at the airport on the day of departure. Passport: You must have a valid passport that does not expire for at least six months from the anticipated return date to the United States. You are responsible for obtaining your own passport: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html Visa U.S. citizens do not need a visa to travel to Japan. Only participants who are not U.S. citizens may need one. Be sure to let us know at the time of application if you are not a U.S. citizen. Insurance All participants in the program will have basic emergency medical insurance through the required International Student ID Card. However, in case of any major occurrence, this would not be sufficient. Therefore, all participants are required to have additional medical insurance which is valid outside the United States and to show proof of such insurance. Insurance can also be purchased to provide protection against cancellations and lost or damaged baggage. We suggest cancellation insurance to cover any payments lost if you must cancel or interrupt your trip due to illness or other reasons. Flight insurance can also be purchased if desired. Information on insurance will be provided at a later date. Photos You will need ID type photos. Two must be submitted with your application and another is necessary for the International Student ID Card. You can submit hard copy photos with your application or send them to FieldStudiesAide@cod.edu electronically. In addition, if you do not already have a valid passport, you will need two passport photos. Money Matters We recommend at least $250 per week for spending money (lunches, incidentals, museum visits, temple visits, theaters, plus more for optional trips). VISA and MasterCard are widely accepted in Japan. It would be a good idea to take one of these with you. There are automatic teller machines in Japan which accept ATM/Debit cards. Mail, Fax and E-mail It takes about one week for mail from the United States to reach Japan. It is very important to remember this during the final week. You may receive faxes at Kyoto International Academy. You can send faxes from various convenience stores in Japan. Faxes cannot be sent from Kyoto International Academy. Besides several Internet-ready computers at school, there are several Internet Cafes from which you can send and receive e-mails. Phone Calls and Visits International phone calls are always expensive. Too many phone calls to or from home can hinder your making a successful adjustment and diminish your total immersion in Japanese. They can interrupt your life in Japan and make you homesick and unhappy. For these reasons we advise family and friends not call unless there is an emergency. In addition, members of the host family may not speak English or understand English, causing considerable frustration. In case of emergency, the director of the program will contact families. The Japanese phone numbers of the director will be provided to families prior to the group's departure. Relatives and friends are strongly discouraged from visiting. The interruption breaks the continuity of the adjustment experience for the student. Rules of Behavior These rules have not been drawn up to restrict freedom, but to ensure that the program is successful. The participants are subject at all times to the guidance and authority of the director(s), who have the right to enforce appropriate standards of conduct. The director(s) reserve the right to cancel any participant at any time for reasons which appear valid in his/her judgment. He/she shall have the right to withdraw a student from the program without refund if his/her conduct causes serious inconvenience for the rest of the group or for any actions or conduct which is considered to be incompatible with the interest, harmony, comfort and welfare of others or the reputation of the program. The use of illegal drugs and/or the excessive use of alcoholic beverages are not allowed and are grounds for termination of participation in the program. Each student is required to indicate his/her compliance with these rules by signing a separate Student Conduct Agreement. The judgment of the director(s) is final in all matters of discipline. Students may not withdraw from classes without consulting with the director(s). Admission Requirements The program is open to serious students, teachers and others who have a strong interest in immersing themselves in another culture. Students are required to complete a medical history as part of the application form. The successful completion of the application process is required for admission to the program. College students must also present evidence of a 2.0 GPA. If a student has special needs, the program will attempt to make whatever reasonable accommodations are possible, but it may be difficult to travel in Japan. Discussion Sessions Time will be set aside regularly, in Japan, for the purpose of discussing topics of general interest, impressions and reactions to the Japanese culture. Language Classes All students are required to enroll in a Japanese language class. Language classes will be held at Kyoto International Academy (Kyoto). They will meet from 9:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. Classes will accommodate students at several levels: Beginning I and II, Mid-level I and II and Advanced. In the language classes, conversation together with grammar is stressed in the small class setting. Prior to the first class, all students will be assessed and placed at the appropriate level. Culture and Civilization of Japan All students are required to enroll in this class. The course of study covers the geography, history, political and social institutions and the arts of Japan. The first mandatory sessions will be held prior to departure at College of DuPage on Saturday, May 21, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 22, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. In Japan the course will continue with lectured field trips, visits to museums and directed independent projects involving interaction with the Japanese people and culture. Field trips are an integral component of this class and therefore attendance is mandatory. All students are required to keep their journal provided in the first class. Kyoto International Academy (KIA) The school was founded in 1988. The institute provides instruction in Japanese in a warm, congenial atmosphere. It is located northwest of Kyoto. The convenient location of the school allows students to observe the culture of this most traditional city of Kyoto. The school uses the direct method of language teaching, which means that lessons are conducted exclusively in the target language. This enables the students to think in the foreign language immediately and helps build their self-confidence. Materials for the program are critically selected by teachers of KIA. All KIA teachers are certified by the Ministry of Education and Science of Japan and have been specially trained in their method of instruction. They all have university degrees and teaching experience. Credits and Grades Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive credit as follows: Japanese 1840 (Japanese Language): 4 credits History 1800 (Japanese History and Culture): 3 credits Faculty and Staff All language classes will be taught by faculty members at Kyoto International Academy (Kyoto). The Culture and Civilization of Japan class will be taught by a College of DuPage faculty member who will also be in residence in Kyoto to counsel, supervise and assist students. [top of page]