Information for JYA/JSA in Japan
Information Session by Bates Japanese Faculty
October 14, 2015
7~8 PM in RW 215

Note:
1) There is a list of Japan Study Abroad programs attended by Bates students on the Bates Japanese Program website.  This list includes links to the programs listed.  To access the page, click "Going to Japan" in menu page on your left and click Study Abroad Program on your right.
2) Individually you can talk with Wake-sensei, Laird-sensei, or Konoeda-sensei when you select a program.

I. For students planning on two-semesters in Japan:
Bates is a member of the Associaated Kyoto Program (AKP).  Because of its strengths, we give that program priority in recommending JYA and JSA programs to students, especially those students who are contemplating a major in Japanese, but also for East Asian Studies majors and students completing a Japanese minor.  Applications to the program are done on-line with some components submitted to the Bates Off-Campus Study Office.  Information about the AKP and instructions for applying are at AKP Application Process.  Wake-sensei, the AKP representative at Bates, and Dean Sawyer, the Bates Off-Campus Study officer, are ready to help you with this process.  Any one wishing to apply to the AKP should talk to Wake-sensei in the fall semester and register to apply on-line.  Hard copies elements of the application should be submitted to Dean Sawyer's office (not to the AKP Representative) by January 10?, 2016.

AKP office in the U.S.
Associated Kyoto Program
Bucknell University, 308 Academic West
1 Dent Drive
Lewisburg, PA 17837
 
Tel: 1-800-940-7070
Fax: (570) 577-2017
us_office@associatedkyotoprogram.org        

The Program Administrator at the Bucknell Office is Ms. Kate Bewley, Bates ’12.           

Note:
1) You have to take one content course other than JPN language courses to apply for AKP.
2) Information from other students is always helpful.  Jonathan Pelz jpelz@bates.edu is studying at AKP this semester and is happy to answer questions about it. 

II. For students spending one semester in Japan:
While two-semesters in Japan is always a better choice for strengthening language skills and gaining an in-depth understanding of Japanese society and culture, sometimes students can only fit one semester of study in Japan (JSA) into their schedules. In addition to the AKP, the Japanese faculty at Bates recommend in particular the following two programs for those planning to go to Japan in either the fall or the winter semester (these programs also offer two-semester options): Application are submitted on-line

A. Kansai Gaidai University (near Osaka) & Application process through on-line

Center for International Education
16-1 Nakamiyahigashino-cho
Hirakata City
Osaka 573-1001 Japan                      

telephone when calling from US: 011-81-72-805-2831
fax from the US:  011-81-72-805-2830
e-mail: aspasm@kansaigaidai.ac.jp

*Rolling admissions for the fall semester begins Jan. 10, 2015 for Fall and Aug. 1, for Spring semester.
*It’s your responsibility to make sure if your professor sends his/her recommendation to the Dean Sawyer’s office.  The office doesn’t send your file to Kansai Gaidai until they get everything.
           
DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST WEEKS OF THE OPEN PERIOD TO APPLY: BE EARLY

B. Nanzan University:
Center for Japanese Studies
           
Admissions Officer
Center for Japanese Studies
18 Yamazato-cho, Showa-ku
Nagoya 466-8673 Japan                  

phone when calling from US: 011-81-52-832-3123
FAX: 011-81-52-832-5490
e-mail  : cjs-office@ic.nanzan-u.ac.jp

＊Joanna Moody ’14 spent a year at Nanzan.  If you know her, contact her.

C. The following are also Bates-approved programs.  You can find out more about them on the web and at the Bates Study Abroad Office

• The IES Intensive Language program at Kanda University in Tokyo
• JPN Program at Waseda University in Tokyo through Earlham College (one year)
• CIEE At Sophia University in Tokyo
  

D. Some sites for summer study in Japan are:
ICU Summer Courses (in Tokyo) 
Princeton in Ishikawa (in Kanazawa)
*PII "asks for" an overall high JPN grades and GPA in application.
Hokkaido International Foundation (in Hakodate)  

III. Some points to keep in mind as you apply for study in Japan:

1. All study abroad programs in Japan require a minimum of one year of Japanese study and most prefer two.  The more language study you do at Bates the better off you are in gaining admission to the programs you want to get into and in gaining strong proficiency while in Japan.  Many programs, most notably the AKP, want you to have in addition at least one non-language course about Japanese culture or society before you go.
2. Several programs including Kansai Gaidai and the AKP ask for an overall GPA of 3.0 in applicants.
3. Applying for study abroad means both applying to one or more programs in Japan AND also applying to Bates for permission for study abroad.  A first step is to visit the Bates Study Abroad Office in RW and ask for a personal interview with either Mr./Dr. David Das or Dean Sawyer.  Information about the office and the study abroad process is available at Off Campus Study and Japan.
4. While all programs recommended by Bates include an opportunity for homestays, most also include an option for dorm living.  Both the Bates Japanese language faculty and the Office for Office Campus Study with certain specific exceptions endorse only the option with homestay.   A homestay experience is critical to your success in developing proficiency in Japanese language and culture.
5. Any financial aid you receive from Bates will continue to be available to you if you study JYA or JSA on a pre-approved basis.  In addition, AKP gives grants to all students to help with the cost of cultural activities and incidental expenses.  Kansai Gaidai also offers scholarship rewards for two-semester students depending on your maintaining sufficiently high grades. If you are a financial aid recipient you may also want to apply for a Bridging Scholarship from the Association of Teachers of Japanese.
6. Bates has in-house grants designed to help students engage in research and activities during and after their study abroad programs.  In this regard check out especially the Barlow Grants and the Tanaka Research-Study Grant in Asia in the Dean of Faculty webpage.
7. Evaluations by past students of the AKP and other programs are available for review in the Off-Campus Study Office in RW.