Courses & Activities

Orientation Session

Classroom at Waseda

The Resident Director leads orientation sessions on living with host families, academic course work and expectations at Waseda, clubs and extracurricular activities, and much more. After student interviews with the Resident Director and Program Associate, final host family placements are made, and students move in with their host families in Tokyo, where they begin classes at the School of International Liberal Studies at Waseda University.

Classes at Waseda University
Language study is at the core of the Japan Study experience. All participants take courses in the School of International Liberal Studies of Waseda University. Two thirds of the students are Japanese; one third international. International students, including year-abroad students, enroll in Japanese language courses as well as other academic courses.

Language instruction stresses the four skill areas: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. For additional credit, students can take an elective Language Development Workshop on topics such as aural-oral, kanji, literature and reading (for advanced students only), and writing.

In addition to language, the School of International Liberal Studies offers a wide array of courses taught in English, covering various topics in Japanese and Asian studies, as well as content courses across the curriculum including science and mathematics. Both Waseda professors and visiting American faculty members, including the Japan Study Resident Director, teach these classes.

The selection of courses taught at the SILS varies somewhat each year. Unless otherwise specified, courses are taught in English. Following is a link to the SILS course catalog.

Course Catalog with Course Descriptions

Fall SILS Syllabus

1. For Term, chose "Fall/Winter"
2. For School, choose "SILS"
3. Click "set" and "Course Category" will pop up.
4. Click "Search" for the entire list of courses or limit your selection under "Course Category"
5. To get course descriptions, click the "choose" button.

*Note that Japan Study students must take intermediate or advanced subjects.

Cultural Practicum, Shimane Prefecture

Cultural Practicum
Many students describe the cultural practicum as one of the highlights of Japan Study. Students spend a month during the February/March winter break living with a host family (or in a comparable setting) and experiencing the local community through an unpaid internship.

Recent practicums have included assisting educators in a rural community in Shimane Prefecture, working in local government in Osaka, experiencing life in a Buddhist temple, assisting in a residence-care facility for the elderly, and working as a member of a student crew at a ski lodge in the Nagano area, site of the 1998 Winter Olympics.

Host families
During the academic year, students live with a family in Tokyo and commute to Waseda every day. Students improve their language skills, discuss current events, participate in holiday gatherings, and enjoy everyday activities with their host families. The home stay participation in Japanese family life is an integral part of the experience abroad. Families furnish breakfast and dinner, and students typically have private rooms.

Resident Director
A faculty member from a GLCA or ACM member college accompanies students to Japan. The Resident Director lives near campus and meets with students regularly throughout the year. He or she may be accompanied by family members.