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Akita International University

Japan 2017/2018 Partner universities

Personal data
Mobility type:
study

Faculty at MU:
Faculty of Arts

Field of study:
Japanese studies

Level of study during period of placement:
Bachelor

Language used:
Japanese

Summer/winter school?:
yes

Period of studies:
summer 2018
summer 2019
winter 2019

Period of placement (from-to):
2018-08-27 - 2019-07-29

Number of months:
11

Activities before my departure abroad
Where can information be found about courses taught at the foreign school?:
At their website and information brochures

Which documents were needed for acceptance at the foreign university?:
Visa, health check, bank account info

How far ahead did you have to organise your acceptance?:
Like 5 months or so

Did you need a visa?:
yes

Documents and materials needed for a visa:
Photo, acceptance from school but they usually send it to students

Length of wait for visa:
Week or so

Fee for the visa:
None

Studies
Did you have a Learning Agreement signed before your departure?:
- choose option -

If not, why not?:
We had to sign up for classes after we went to school

Before your departure did you know how your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
No

During your stay did you change your Learning Agreement?:
Yes, once

When and how did course registration take place? Are there any restrictions? Possibilities of making changes?:
During orientation week
Max is 18 credits and min was 12, but you can get more after talking with your teacher

Did you take any examinations at the foreign school?:
Yes

Does the school use the ECTS system?:
yes

If not then explain how the credits there were recalculated into ECTS:

Describe the teaching methods (theory, practical and projects) and assessment of students:
I was in highest level of Japanese, so we didnt really practice our grammar or so with usage of textbooks
It was mostly based on real usage of a language and presentations, readings and their analysis

Quality of teaching in comparison with home school:
Much much better i would say.
Not that i dislike our teachers in home uni or anything, but I had feeling that teachers really cared about our stuff and us. Also they were much more nicer and willing to spend talking to problems of their students.

How did you receive study materials?:
Mostly in class or by mail. Also had to buy books.

Can you recommend an interesting course/subject/teacher?:
ISHIGE Junko and her Writing or anything with her
GYOGI Eiko and her translation class and newspaper class

How well is the school library equipped?:
It was really great. One of the best libraries I've seen.
AIU is famous becouse of it.

Availability of computers, internet access, level of software needed, requirements on notebook:
Everything

Options from printing and copying:
Basically everything you will need

Does the foreign school/student organisation arrange special events for exchange students?:
yes

If yes then what?:
During orientation week there were some things, like olympics and welcome dinners. And many other activities.
Also parties and stuff.

How would you assess your integration with the local students (evaluation like in school from 1 to 5 with 1 as highest):
1

or describe in your own words:

Practical questions on your placement
Where did you live?:
University village on Campus. Nihongo House, one semester as a leader.

Cost of accommodation - monthly:
230 EUR

Additional comments to the price of accommodation (as to what the price includes):

Describe the equipment. Tips for future students – what should they bring with them?:
Something to clean カビ with.
Theres not really need to bring anything, you can buy everything in Daiso in the nearest Aeon.

How and how far ahead should accommodation be organised?:
Like half a year before

What are the catering options?:
You can get meal plan, which is not really good idea imo. Theres AIU shop with onigirs and カレカフェ where they have much better food, but for slightly bigger price.

What are the rough costs of groceries (compare with Czech prices):
Much much higher
If you wanna eat vegetables and fruits, you gonna have hard time

Transport to location of placement:
Easy

Rough prices for transportation:
Don't take taxi, from AIRPORT to AIU they ask for 2000yen, while some students would pick u up or drive to for like 1000. Also, bus is pretty cheap and so is train.

Tips for purchasing cheap tickets and other recommendations:
Buy bus tickets from bus driver.

What are the local transport options (public transport, cycling, on foot, rough prices):
It got higher this year, but i haven't really been going by bus so i am not sure.
I think it was about 220 yen for a bus ride.

What kind of formalities have to be arranged before arrival, for example residence permit?:
You will get residence card upon arriving to Japan.

What health insurance did you use? (rough price, advantages, disadvantages, is it necessary to arrange insurance at the university other than your home (Czech) insurance?):
You will get Japanese insurance from the school.

Did you have any experience with medical treatment abroad?:
No

Did you work during your studies?:
Yes. I worked half a year at our cafeteria, washing dishes.

What are the conditions for working for MU students?:
Speak Japanese at solid level? I guess, none of the workers there speak english so it's hard.

Tips for free-time activities:
Gym, hang out with people which is super easy at AIU. Also, traveling is hard but if you have friends, it's gonna be easy.
There are many clubs at AIU, and not joining any equals not having friends, so be sure to join some.

Financial support and expenses
Total grant from Centre for International Cooperation:
200000 CZK

Monthly grant in CZK:
18000 CZK

Number of supported months:
10

Total number of months:
11

What other sources did you make use of to finance your placement?:
Parents and my own money

If you received another grant, state which and how much in CZK:

 
Total fees associated with enrolment at the university:
0 JPY

a/ amount of enrolment fee:
0 JPY

b/ amount of tuition fees:
0 JPY

c/ amount of other fees (which):
0 JPY

 
What was your average monthly expenditure?:
60000 JPY

a/ of which for accommodation:
0 JPY

b/ of which for catering:
40000 JPY

c/ travel and recreation:
20000 JPY

Any comments to the average monthly expenditure:
Depends on your lifestyle

Recognition of foreign studies at the home faculty
How many credits did you gain during your studies (in the system of the foreign school)?:
31

How many ECTS credits were recognised at MU?:
51

Did you know in advance which of your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
No

What problems did you have with recognition?:
None

Overall assessment
Assessment of personal benefit (1 = excellent):
1

Assessment of academic benefit (1 = excellent):
1

Evaluate the information and support provided by the foreign school (1 = excellent):
2

Did you encounter any serious problems during your stay:
Just human relations problems

What would you recommend to take with you:
Lots of guts and mental strength to endure being one year on campus small like high school playground

What most surprised you at the partner university in a positive way:
Seeing people from different places all around the earth, having so much fun together.

What most surprised you at the partner university in a negative way:
People have this stereotype of japanese people being clean and all, but there are many dirty people.

Further comments: