Dickinson in Japan

Nagoya Programs

• Nagoya, in southcentral Japan, is the nation’s third largest city, with more than 8 million residents living in the greater metropolitan area.

• Nagoya is served by Japan’s famous “bullet trains,” or shinkansen, which travel at speeds of up to 170 m.p.h. The city is located on a line that runs between Tokyo and Osaka. Nagoya also has a major international airport.

• One of the most famous landmarks in Nagoya is a great castle built by the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu for his ninth son.

The Dickinson Nagoya program provides students with an opportunity to experience and learn about the society and culture of Japan while studying its language. The program is language-intensive and designed to advance the skills of students at all levels, from elementary to advanced. Two years of college-level Japanese language study or its equivalent is required for the program. Most students attend courses at the Center for Japanese Studies; however, advanced speakers may enroll in regular classes at Nanzan University, which is Japan’s second largest Catholic university. Nanzan was founded in 1946 as a college for foreign language study and has grown into a university famous for its language programs.

Along with studying the Japanese language, participants also take courses taught in English on politics, folklore, religion, literature and history. Courses in traditional Japanese arts, such as calligraphy and wood-block printing are also offered, giving participants a “hands-on” way to learn about this important aspect of Japanese culture.

Learn about Japanese Culture First Hand!
Dickinson students studying in Nagoya have the option of living with a Japanese host family. For a chance to speak more Japanese and experience Japanese life “up close and personal,” we encourage you to choose this popular option.

Programs and Courses
Dickinson College offers three options for study in Nagoya. Students may spend a full academic year in Japan, or stay for one semester only—either fall or spring. Language courses are conducted in the morning; in the afternoon, students may also take lecture courses, taught in English, that deal with cultural, political and economic issues.

A series of seminars conducted in Japanese are available for more advanced speakers, as is the opportunity to enroll in courses at Nanzan University.

Morning language courses include:
Elementary Japanese (IJ-200)
Pre-Intermediate Japanese (IJ-300)
Intermediate Japanese (IJ-400)
Pre-Advanced Japanese (IJ-500)
Advanced Japanese (IJ-600)

Afternoon courses in Japanese area studies include:
Japanese Business
Contemporary Japanese Economy
Japanese Culture
Language and Society in Japan
Economic Development of Japan
Japanese Folklore
Japanese History
Japan in International Relations
Japanese Literature
Japanese Politics
Japanese Religion
Japanese Society

Seminars for advanced speakers cover:
Classical Japanese
Elementary Translation
Intermediate Translation
Readings in the Social Sciences
Readings in Japanese Literature

Academic Credit
Most students who successfully complete a semester in Nagoya receive up to 4.5 Dickinson credits. Those who complete a full year will receive up to 9 Dickinson credits.

On-Site Administration
The program is administered by Nanzan University, which provides on-site support and advisement to students.

Housing
Students may stay in a dormitory on the Nanzan University campus or with a Japanese family. The home-stay option, which gives students the best chance to speak Japanese and experience life with a Japanese family, is highly recommended and is the more popular choice.

* This is the program fee for 2007-08; the program fee for 2008-09 will correspond to on-campus tuition and fees and will be determined during spring 2008.

** Please note that there are a limited number of spots available to Dickinson students at Nanzan.  Students interested in spring study abroad at Nanzan are strongly encouraged to submit their applications by November 1 of the previous year whenever possible (e.g., students interested in spring 2010 study abroad should consider submitting their applications by November 1, 2008). 

Program Fee Includes
• tuition and fees
• room in dorm or with a host family
• board with host family; allowance for meals not provided by host family
• allowance for subway fares in Nagoya
• allowance for National Health and Accident Insurance
• computer access at Nanzan
• pre-departure and on-site orientations

Program fee does not include primary health insurance, airfare, passport, visa, immunizations, optional travel, personal expenses, meals and housing during vacations, books and supplies.

Special Requirements
3.0 GPA
Students must complete at least two years of college-level Japanese before studying abroad

Links

Nagoya Handbook

Nanzan University

Photos from the Nagoya Program

For more information, contact
Prof. Akiko Meguro
Department of East Asian Studies
Dickinson College
P.O. Box 1773
Carlisle, PA 17013
Phone: (717) 245-1437
E-Mail: meguroa@dickinson.edu