197 reviews
3.98 / 5 based on 197 reviews
Useful |
13
tmlee
Housing
Type of housing: On campus
Arranged by: Host university
If returning, I would choose: On campus
Why?
In the first two months I stayed with a homestayfamily and my experience was really bad. I didnt have much freedom and it can be very lonely, especially in boring Osaka. But its up to the family. If you are lucky you would be in a family who always communicating with you or even take you out to show you some great places. But it depends what kind of person you are. If you are an outgoing person who like to hangout with new people, I would recommend on campus. But if you would to have a okasan and a otosan or even siblings and having diner waiting for you everyday, I would say homestayfamily.
Now I am in Tokyo for an internship and I stay at a wonderfull homestayfamily. It depends on the family. But I think in Osaka would on campus the best, cause you will meet people everyday and its always a big party!
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Personal comments
The seminarhouse is only 5 minutes away by bicycle. The location is not Osaka, but Hitakatacity which is on hour away from the city, so its like countryside! But the good thing is that its between Osaka and Kyoto which is only one hour away as well. The seminarhouse is great! The rooms are pretty small, but enough space for two desk and two bed and you share a room with a roommate. The facilities are great! There is a big shared kitchen on the first floor and seconds floor with all the necessairy things you need. There are many seperate toilets and showers and you never have to wait. Although the toilets of the guys can be very smelly!!
There are two floors. The first floor is the one of the maleresidents and the second of the female residents. On the first floor there is a big loung with a comfortable couch and a big TV and a videorecorder. There is also a nice garden where people can smoke. There are vendingmachines in case you are thirsty. The best of all is the computerroom in the secondfloor which has one printer and 10 fast computers where people can email etc. The good point is that we can bring our own laptops and hook it up to their connections and the speed is fast!!!
but the bad thing is that you can not let your friends sleeping over in your room and all visitors have to get out after 10.00 pm!!
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Useful |
1
Steven S
University of Minnesota - Morris, morris, United States
Political Science, Undergraduate, University Agreement
Academic
Course recommendations
They look a million times more interesting on paper. There are a variety of courses that look like they fit exactly this or that quirky specialization. On the inside, they are simplified beyond recognition. Still interesting, but if you want to learn anything, its all up to you. Easy grades though.
Japanese classes are dry and tough. The teaching style is distincltly unflexible. If you have special learning needs though, the office will help you have those met.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
Do not underestimate the Language Lab, audio resources here. And, practice, practice, practice. Party, party, party.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
Useful |
0
FlatlandDan
Overall
I wish I had known...
Bring medication. REMEMBER THAT THIS IS A LANGUAGE SCHOOL. THE AFTERNOON CLASSES GET F#*(ED OVER A LOT.
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
Like I've said throughout this review thing, Kansai Gaidai is for people who want to learn Japanese. I didn't. I came based solely on the afternoon courses. So I'm having a really hard time here with the Japanese being the focus. I wish I would have been able to take an introductory course at home before I left, and I would highly recommend that to anyone who is coming and speaks no Japanese. I have friends who have had a year of japanese and they are in the same level as I am. That doesn't seem fair at all.
But, if you're keen on learning the language, this is the place to be.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Bring medication. Have fun. Travel. Don't stress to much. If you have a break down, don't worry...everyone does...several times a month.
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Useful |
5
dtkemon
Furman University, Greenville, SC, United States
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies, Undergraduate, University Agreement
Overall
I wish I had known...
Language would be taught in English.
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
I personally loved my experiece at Kansai Gaidai. Be wary of homestay...even if you desire to increase your language ability, you may get a family that is fluent in English. If you are interested in the international experience/exposure, want to develop interpersonal/intercultural friendships, desire (relative) freedom, and want an unrivaled study abroad experience, I would suggest the dorms over homestay (I personally had a jaded experience with homestay...after a nightmarish 3 days, I moved out back into the dorms)
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Do a castle circuit...go see every castle within travelling distance. Learn to like sushi...you will not regret it. Meet everyone you can...the divedends are unimaginable if you make them.
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0
Lisel W
Housing
Type of housing: On campus
Arranged by: Host university
If returning, I would choose: With a family
Why?
I originally requested to be placed with a homestay family, but the office denied my request and placed me in the dorms. By my second semester, I was used to my lifestyle here and the freedom of not living with a family (I do not dorm at home) that switching to a family with a strict lifestyle might not have turned out well. In addition, I only heard negative stories about the lack of assistance the office provides.
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Personal comments
The dormatory rules are rather strict- even a friend in the dormatory next door must vacate by 10 PM! Still, it was clean and quieter than expected.
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Useful |
0
Kilikat
Academic
Course recommendations
The courses may not be as rigorous as what you are used to, but I think the school knows that this is a foreign environment and there are so many opportunities for culture and travel that take place outside of the classroom. The teachers live on or near campus, so they are always accessible. And of course, some classes are better than others.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
Standards could have been higher. Some students deliberately went to just enough classes to pass with a "D," since their grades didn't transfer to their home university.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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