16 year old studying in Japan, possible?//Work Experience

[Harun]

Hi Minna San, I am Harun, currently 15. Umm...basically I want to go to Japan in the summer of 2008 to study, any possible way I can do it? I know through summer camps e.t.c, but does anyone have any recommendations for me? also, consider my age please ... and my language proficiency (below)

ALso! Can someone please tell me if I would be able to do work-experience for 2 weeks anywhere in Japan, as in England instead of going to school for 2 weeks we work somewhere to get a taste of working, andI would like to do it in Japan.

My Level of Japan (by next Summer). JLPT3 + (just more than JLPT3)
thanks~

 

[zeroyon]

I know what you are asking is very possible. I have seen some high school websites in Japan that have pages showing the international students they have hosted over the years. It seems like the schools that do host international students only host 1 or 2 students at a time, and for about 1-2 weeks during the summer. I think you will have much difficulty finding work or getting a work visa in Japan at your age though.

Unfortunately, I am not entirely sure how these students get into the programs. I imagine that some of them went to schools that have partnerships with schools in Japan, and others who did not have the luck of such partnership sought out study abroad in Japan in different ways.

I know that rotary international is one such an organization that allows this, you should also check CSIET as well.
http://www.rotary.org/programs/youth_ex/students/about.html
http://www.csiet.org/mc/page.do
There is also another program, but it seems to be only for US high school students: http://www.newperspectivesprogram.org/index.html
Also, a longer (10 month) study aborad program, but it is only for USA citizens as well I think... http://www.ciee.org/hsabroad/details/japan.html

You should check with your high school and see if they have information for you. Also, google is your friend.

I studied abroad in Japan, but only as a university student, so I am not quite sure how the high school process works.

 

[Harun]

I doubt my school will help ~ but google has been a close friend of mine thanks for the help

 

[maushan3]

AFS, YFU and Rotary clubs have programs just like what you are looking for. Call your local Rotary and go to the other organization's websites; Getting work-experience in Japan is not possible while on a short-stay trip.

Mauricio

 

[Harun]

so no work experience ~
okay, well I will check the summer exchange study program thingies, thanks!

EDIT:
AFS does not do any exchange to Japan (from my country) T_T && I am currently trying to contact staff at YFU via email, thanks --- help is greatly appreciated