Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Japan
Language Requirement: None
Academic Standing by Program Start: Sophomore
Location: Asia, Japan
GPA: 2.5
Program Overview
In this 4-week program, you will learn about the linguistics, language, and culture of Japan by immersing yourself in the city of Kyoto. Each week, your coursework and excursions will explore a different themes: food and language, writing, gender and language, and dialects. Program excursions will include a multi-day trip to Tokyo, a day trip to Nara, and various cultural sights in Kyoto and Osaka.
Kyoto was once the capital of Japan, and is famous for its many temples, shrines, gardens, and traditional wooden houses. Located in Japan’s Kansai region, Kyoto is one of Japan’s most popular tourist destinations and is home to many iconic cultural sights, including the red torii gates of Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera temple, and Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion. Kyoto’s location also offers easy access to other parts of Japan: Osaka, Kobe, Nara, and Nagoya can be reached in less than an hour by train, and Tokyo is just 2.5 hours away by high-speed Shinkansen (bullet train).
Scholarships: Applicants to this program have the option to apply for a program-specific scholarship. Award recipients are chosen based on academic merit, financial need, and overall quality of their essay. Individual awards range from $500-$2500. To be considered, the Scholarship Essay must be completed by February 15. Please refer to the Scholarship Essay instructions in the program application or speak with your GEO advisor for more details.
Dates and Deadlines
| Term | Year | Deadline | Arrival Date | Departure Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | 2024 | March 15, 2024 | June 22, 2024 | July 21, 2024 |
Academic Details
You will enroll in one class for a total of 6 UO quarter credits. The credits are approved as JPN399 at the UO, and satisfy major and minor elective requirements for Japanese.
Note for non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.
Course Equivalencies
UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.
Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.
Application process
This program has a rolling admission application process: GEO staff (and the program faculty leader, if applicable) will complete a review of the application materials of complete applications in the order that they are submitted (“first come, first serve”). Decisions about acceptance will be made shortly after you submit a complete application. There are some programs that fill fast, some even before the deadline. Students are encouraged to complete applications and commit to programs early.
Acceptance is based on a holistic review of your application. This includes a review of your GPA, transcripts (including courses taken and in-progress), any additional requirements or prerequisites (see section "Additional Requirements"), and the short statement.
Scholarship Opportunity: Applicants to this program will have the option to apply for a program-specific scholarship. If interested, please refer to the Scholarship Essay in the program application, and speak with your GEO advisor if you have questions. Award recipients are chosen based on their scholarship essay, GPA, overall program application related to academic merit, and financial need. The due date for the Scholarship Essay is February 15, 2024.
Faculty and Staff
Kaori Idemaru is a Professor of Japanese Linguistics in UO’s East Asian Languages and Literatures department. Her primary areas of research are speech perception and speech learning. She also has research interest in second language speech learning. It is well known that second language learners, particularly adult learners, sometimes have severe challenges in learning certain second language sounds. The ongoing research in this area attempts to provide an account for learners’ challenges at the level of fine acoustic detail as well as to explore effective instructional/training regimens to aid second language speech learning
Housing Description
You will be housed in conveniently located hotels or ryokans in Kyoto and Tokyo. You will share your room with another program participant, though you can select a single room for a surcharge. Please contact your GEO advisor for more information.
Accommodation will include internet access, private bathrooms, and daily breakfast.