Japanese Language and Culture Summer Experience

Summer 2010: May 15 to June 20 (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 include lectures, guided tours, field work, journal and blog assignments, papers, and tests/exams.

All students will enroll in 9 credit hours—GHUM 252 plus 6 credits of language study.

Tentative course offerings:
GHUM 252: Cross-Cultural Perspectives, (3)
JAPN 111: Elementary Japanese Language (6)
JAPN 231 and JAPN 232: Intermediate Japanese Language (6)

Accommodations

Students will reside 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.

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:

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