Japanese Language and Japanese Culture Program
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The HIF program was super fun and a great learning opportunity! Getting to meet so many new people who all share the same goal of improving their Japanese provided a great support network and an invaluable experience. The unique atmosphere of Hakodate also provided many chances to expand my worldview and experience Japanese culture firsthand! I am so glad that I got the chance to partake in the program this summer, and I can't recommend it enough!
There are lots of different ways to enjoy your study abroad and they're all valid! Lots of students choose to travel lots or visit lots of attractions, but you can also spend most your time hanging with your host family or just listening to the birds and have just as much fun. That is to say, instead of worrying that you're not enjoying the semester as much as the other students, the more you listen to yourself and seek out the reasons why *you* specifically chose to study abroad, the more you'll achieve and smile.
HIF is extremely rewarding and truly a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I think it's easier to be integrated into a host family as a younger college student compared to a working professional, and HIF has deep ties with Hakodate that show in the activities with local high schools, shops, news, radio, and more. To illustrate, my host family has been hosting for about 40 years. While it can be emotionally and mentally exhausting to be around people all the time (to avoid exhaustion, it may help to set priorities), your host families are hosting on a volunteer basis, meaning that at least one, if not all, of them really wants to connect with you. If you can, don't miss out on this chance to have another wonderful family!
I loved the HIF program! I was able to learn so much - not only the Japanese language but also the culture and background of people who live in Hokkaido. From making Japanese vlogs and cooking Japanese dishes to journaling and writing poetry in Japanese, I immersed myself fully in the experience in Hakodate. The part of me that was changed this summer will walk with me forever.
I'm very grateful I got the opportunity to stay in Hakodate since it's such an underrated part of Japan. My favorite part was visiting landmarks like Goryokaku Park and practicing my Japanese with the locals and tourists there. Just watch out for crows!
If you feel you are struggling to speak, this program will make sure you go back feeling confident. You'll be only speaking Japanese - during class, with your host family and even when you go out in the city! A good connection with your host family will make all the difference. They can guide you, teach you, and help experience Hakodate in a way that would be impossible on your own. In just two months, you'll take part in more cultural activities than you can ever plan for yourself - I honestly can't imagine organizing all of that alone.
It might be difficult, but you will have the experience of a lifetime, something you will cherish for years to come.
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Notre Dame
The HIF program was super fun and a great learning opportunity! Getting to meet so many new people who all share the same goal of ...
Michigan
There are lots of different ways to enjoy your study abroad and they're all valid! Lots of students choose to travel lots or visit lots of attractions ...
Pennsylvania
HIF is extremely rewarding and truly a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I think it's easier to be integrated into a host family as a younger college student ...
I loved the HIF program! I was able to learn so much - not only the Japanese language but also the culture and background of people ...
Notre Dame
I'm very grateful I got the opportunity to stay in Hakodate since it's such an underrated part of Japan. My favorite part was visiting landmarks like ...
Michigan
If you feel you are struggling to speak, this program will make sure you go back feeling confident. You'll be only speaking Japanese - during class ...
Kansas
It might be difficult, but you will have the experience of a lifetime, something you will cherish for years to come.