High School Study Abroad

[lilsaito2]

I am 17 and I live in the US. I am interested in studying abroad in Japan, after I graduate from High School. I am looking into two programs in particular. The two programs are AFS and CIEE. Does any body know about these programs or have any past experiences with them? Also, i've been studying Japanese for 5 years. Will I come back speaking Japanese fluently?
Thanx in advance!

 

[buffy]

lilsaito2,

I was an AFS exchange student (donkeys years ago!) and it was great. Never heard of CIEE though. I know that when I went AFS didn't like to send people to Japan after they finished school. The idea was that most people that had finished school and were basically being treated like adults would have a lot of trouble adjusting to rigid Japanese school life. Also were worried that exchange students who were placed in third year of a Japanese high school would be too disruptive to Japanese students preparing for the all important exams. Not impossible, but they tried not to do it. Have you talked to either of these organisations yet? As for Japanese fluency, if you put in the effort I reckon you would be pretty fluent by the time you got back.

 

[lilsaito2]

I talked to AFS and they will take you as long as you don't turn 19 while you are in Japan. I think it's pretty hard to find a school in Japan that will take you since you've already graduated. They probably think you have no desire to try in high school. CIEE felt the same way. What grade were you placed in when you went? Did you take the English course? The reason why I am not going in high school is because usually when you go to a Japanese high school. You don't pass so you don't recieve credit.

 

[Elgin]

Are you on any drugs? Since I applied with AFS 2 years ago and 5 months later right before I was supposed to leave they call me up saying "OH your on medication!" and I got shafted.

I`m 17 years old and I graduated high school in Canada but I`m still in a Japanese high school maybe that`s only AFS rules.

 

[DragonChan]

Yes it's true, you won't get graduation credits. However if you really do want to go to Japan you're might have to make a few sacrifices. I'm going, but I have to come back in a year and complete grade 12 so I can graduate. It's not all that bad. I'm just pretending I'm taking a year off.

 

[buffy]

I came when I was 16 and turned 17 while I was here. I came between year 10 and 11, so I had my last two years of school to finish when I came back. It put me a year behind my friends, but it was totally worth it. If you really want to go then make the sacrifice. It is only a year and you will have a fantastic experience, grow as a person and have no trouble making new friends when you go home. I also knew people who went to Japan for a year and got credit for it. But they had to work a lot harder than I did while they were in Japan, and when they got back, to keep their marks up.

BTW, I was in second grade junior high school when I was in Japan.

 

[Knives]

i want to study abroad in japan but i think im goining to do it through my college and get college credits for it cause i want to teach english in japan and i figure i may as well go there through my college and get my credits for it

 

[lilsaito2]

I only take allergy medicine. But other then that, I don't take any drugs. I think I am ready to make a sacrafice. I think I will be placed in the third year because of my age. Is third year the hardest?

 

[Ewok85]

They wont put you in 3rd year high school. I had graduated in Australia and was placed in 2nd year (and put myself in some 1st year classes).

3rd yr students are too busy to socialise so its easier to become friends with 1/2nd year students.