Below is a selection of links useful for students
researching study abroad options. The first three are comprehensive
links and are the best place to start. The remainder are links to
a few programs from which we have received literature. Please e-mail
tm5x@virginia.edu information
on any other programs you think should be included here.
U.Va. East Asia Center Programs
U.Va. International Studies Office Programs
WWW Virtual Library Study Abroad Asia Page
Council on International Educational Exchange
Association of Teachers of Japanese (ATJ) Study Abroad Japan Program Links
Japanese language studies make up the core of the KCJS academic curriculum and very student who participates in the program is required to take a double course in Japanese language. These classes are held every morning, Monday through Friday, for two hours. Led by a small group of dedicated and experienced language instructors, the classes are designed to cover all areas of language study.
Students are divided into small classes of about four to eight students according to their proficiency level that is determined by a placement exam and interview given during orientation. . . Instead of a single textbook, practical materials such as newspaper and magazine articles are used. In-class discussion, essays, and weekly quizzes on kanji, reading comprehension, and writing are based on these readings. . .
Advanced students have the option of taking a disciplinary class taught entirely in Japanese in the second semester. With permission of the director, some may even opt to audit a class at a local university (this can usually only be done during the first semester due to the construction of the Japanese academic calendar [April-March].
The University of Virginia, a consortium member of the Kyoto Center of Japanese Studies, offers an excellent opportunity to study Japanese in Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, either for one year or one semester. In order to qualify for the program, a student must have completed the first two years of Japanese in the UVa Japanese Language Program. A selection of successful candidates will be made by a local selection committee comprised of Japanese language and studies specialists.
The two-year language requirement for KCJS is designed to ensure dramatic improvements in language acquisition in all four areas of speaking, listening, reading, and writing, beyond the basics. Simply living abroad does not guarantee proficiency in a host country's language. However, if you live in a foreign country and at the same time formally study the host language after you have learned all the basics at your home institution, it has been shown that the rate of improvement will be exponential.
If you are interested in applying for the KCJS, please contact Michiko Wilson for further information.