CIEE High School Abroad Program in Japan

  Japan

• All Other Areas: 
Akita

Durations of Program: 3-6 months and 7-12 months

Description: The High School Abroad Program is the best way for high school students to become global citizens. Our representatives at the CIEE Tokyo office will be responsible for the placement and support of students while in Japan. They will screen and select host families throughout Japan, depending on the school where the student is accepted. Students will be placed in a Japanese Kotogakko (high school). Students should be prepared to purchase their schoolbooks.

Within the first week of the program, students will be able to sit in on classes to decide on their coursework. At the end of the program, students will receive a report card and teachers' commentaries. Each student will be assigned a local coordinator appointed by CIEE Tokyo. These local coordinators provide complete supervision and support for the students.

CIEE will provide the documentation necessary from our overseas partners to apply for the visa. The application and fees for the visa are the participant's responsibility.

Academic Program

Classes are conducted in Japanese. High School Abroad participants are expected to follow the Japanese school curriculum and to fully participate in the academic program.

Secondary education (National and Private) includes: Lower secondary education, 3 years, Upper secondary education, 3 years. Students on our program will participate in Upper secondary education as full-time students.

Club activities are available after school in the afternoons.

Eligibility Requirements

On the day of departure, students must be between the ages of 15 and 18 years old and have completed at least one year of high school with at least a 3.0 GPA. Although Japanese language proficiency is not a requirement, it is highly recommended that students have some knowledge of Japanese. Students must at least read and write Hiragana and Katakana. A student must demonstrate through the application process his/her flexibility, maturity, adaptability and readiness to face the challenges of living in a new culture.

Highlights: Contemporary Japan is a land of intrigue. It is a country that upholds its ancient traditions and coexists fluidly with a new economic grace. Where else is it possible to participate in a traditional tea ceremony against a backdrop of a suburban sprawl that contains some of the largest corporations in the world? Home of the popular anime such as Pokemon and Yugioh, Japan has created an indelible reputation based on its great production capacity and export of technologically advanced items, while maintaining its cultural signature of elegant formality. Tokyo, Japan's capital> and economic hub, is a shining example of how old traditions and new high-tech culture meld to create one of the most fascinating cities in the world.

Whether you're familiar with the Japanese language and culture or just beginning your explorations of Japan, Tokyo's impact when you arrive for your orientation will invariably leave you in a state of awe. Since 1868, when Japan opened its doors to the West, Tokyo has grown and modernized at a phenomenal rate, blending Western influences and ideologies with indigenous ones. This intriguing mix of East and West has made the city and people more complicated to understand, but at the same time extremely fascinating.

A chain of one-hundred small islands and four major islands: Honshu; Hokkaido; Kyushu and Shikoku make up Japan. The country is divided into nine political regions and further subdivided into forty-seven smaller divisions; prefectures (ken) compose forty-three of these divisions. Each beautiful ken offers a unique cultural experience. From the northern tip to the southern islands, the archipelago stretches over 22° of latitude, offering a varied climate and topography of beaches, mountains, and volcanoes.

Cost in US$: Please visit our website.

    * Selection, interview and screening of an appropriate Japanese family
    * Room and board with family
    * Placement of student in a high school
    * Supervision and support throughout the year by a Local Coordinator
    * Periodic progress reports
    * Transportation to and from a local airport
    * Orientation before leaving USA
    * Orientation upon arrival in Japan
    * International airfare between US departure city and Japan
    * Health and liability insurance

Program does not Include

    * Round-trip domestic travel to US departure city
    * Monthly spending allowance
    * Textbooks and supplies
    * Personal phone charges or other personal items

This Program is open to American Participants.

CIEE's Mission Statement: Since 1947, the Council on International Educational Exchange, known as CIEE, has been in pursuit of its mission, "to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world." Our services to young people studying, working, teaching, and traveling abroad are more important than ever. As we look ahead, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles and values that guide this mission statement.

Year Founded: 1947