Location:

Tokyo, Japan

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Academic Year, Fall Semester, Spring Semester

Program Overview

Program Description:

Intended for students with four semesters of college-level Japanese, the School in Japan provides students with the opportunity to increase their language abilities through constant interaction with native speakers. Whether spending time with local students in their university classes or their colleagues at an internship placement, students use their language in a very real immersion environment.

Students at the School in Japan take a variety of language and content-based courses, the latter being alongside their Japanese peers. Middlebury's host institution, International Christian University (ICU), a non-denominational university founded in 1953, and with an enrollment of 2,900 students, boasts a national reputation for superior language instruction. It was the first liberal arts college in Japan and its academic offerings include Japanese language and literature, history, art history, psychology, linguistics, and international studies, among others. On-campus housing with Japanese roommates provides a personal view of Japanese culture and allows students to meet their Japanese peers through all student-run extracurricular activities and clubs.

Participants in the C.V. Starr-Middlebury Schools Abroad don’t just study a language—they live it. Many of our students major in disciplines other than foreign languages, yet all bring a level of proficiency that supports their commitment to language and cultural immersion. They sign and honor the Middlebury Language Pledge because they want the greatest possible challenge in a study abroad program and an authentic experience in every respect; academic, social, and even professional. Participants take courses in most subjects with host country students, intern or engage in volunteer work, and live with a host family. Indeed, at every juncture of their time abroad, students have the chance to "live the language" and immerse themselves in the host culture.

Setting Description:

Once a small fishing village, Tokyo is now a major international capital of culture, economy and politics. With a population of 12 million, the contrast of Tokyo’s history and modernity can be seen throughout the city and its wards in the fast-paced approach to urban life juxtaposed against its architecture, traditions, and landscape, all of which make it an ideal location for study abroad. Because of the suburban location of the School in Japan—in the Mitaka neighborhood, 30 minutes west of Tokyo—Middlebury students benefit from the advantages and opportunities of Tokyo while living and studying in a campus-like environment.

Cost:

Fall only (Tri. 1): Tuition, room, and health insurance: $21,500. Fall and winter (Tri. 1 & 2): Tuition, room, and health insurance: $33,680. Spring (Tri. 3): Tuition, room, and health insurance: $25,750. Year: Tuition, room, and health insurance: $35,500