Japan
From AFSWiki
Contents |
Country Information
For questions about any country information materials, contact Leslie Loy.
Country Code: JPN
Placement
- Age requirement:
- Language requirement: "Working knowledge" of Japanese
- Health restrictions: No students with ADD/ADHD/LD/Asperger's Disorder.Candidates with severe allergies are very hard to place. Placement status of these students will be subject to negotiation between AFS-USA and AFS Japan. Most high school students commute to school by bicycle, so all applicants must be able to ride a bicycle.
- Additional health restrictions: See Private:Japan.
- Physical size warning: Students who are outside the typical size range of Japanese students may be required to pay, in addition to typical AFS fees and expenses, a part or full cost of school uniforms (50,000 to 100,000 yen on average). There will be no suitably sized second-hand uniforms available.
- Graduates: In general, no high school graduates are acceptable. However, it is possible to consider some graduate students on condition that they are motivated for school activities and capable of complying with the expectations of Japanese high schools to be a model of Japanese students by showing good motivation and achievement toward both academic and extra curricular activities as well as to interact well with 15-16 age classmates at school.
Students on NH cycle would be enrolled in two different grades (class) during their stay as they are coming to Japan in the middle of our school year; Sept, and going into the new school year at the later part of their stay. Even if students are enrolled in the 2nd grade upon arrival, they would not be able to go with their classmates to the 3rd grade from the new school year for the 3rd grade students in Japanese high schools are very much emphasized in preparatory studies for entrance exams of University with very limited school activities.
- Smoking: In Japan, it is illegal for people under 20 years old to smoke.
- Dietary Restrictions: No vegetarians, no lacto ovo
- Placement in Tokyo are very limited. 70% of placements are in small cities and rural areas.
Travel Information
- Visa:
- Departure Preparation: Language tapes will be sent by courier. Sending Offices are kindly requested to print out and send out three kinds of written materials; "Listen & Practice Japanese" = language textbook, "Konnichiwa" = country information, and Safety Tips, from the Warehouse database.
- Arrival & Orientation: Location of orientation: Tokyo The lessons of the basic Japanese language are provided. Also tips for the students' smooth adjustment into their host families and host schools are provided. Introductory Notes will be given to students at the arrival orientation site for their reference through their stay as well as for the orientation. Some amount of Japanese YEN cash are recommended to carry by them for their personal use during the arrival orientation.
- Departure: Participants cannot extend their stay. Program Release requests are not accepted unless the natural parent(s) or legal guardian personally come to Japan to pick up their son/daughter at the end of the program. PR must be informed at least 3 months before the end of program.
Host Families
- Support Information:
Academics
- Transcript/Diploma:
- Language: Some of the tutoring lessons about the Japanese language may be offered by the host schools.
- Will the applicants be taking an English class? Yes. What they study in English class here are Translation(Japanese into English and vice versa), Grammar, Reading Comnprehension and easy Conversation.
Will the applicants take math, and if so, what type? (Trigonometry, Algebra II, Geometry, Calculus?) Yes, if they can. One math class is composed of several types; Trig, Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, Math Analysis, Statistics, etc.)
Will the applicants take science classes, and if so, what type? (Botany, Chemistry, Biology, Anatomy, Physics, Physical Science) Yes, if they want to. You can usually take up to 2 science courses. Among them are Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Earth Science.
Can the students take a World History class?
- Yes, of course. They can also take Japanese History, Geography or Political Science.
Can they choose which classes they will take?Japanese students don't have a choice, but AFSers usually can choose several subjects among those offered to each class. They often let AFSers take subjects offered in a different class as long as schedule allows.
Are there any classes in US History or US Government?We don't offer these classes in Japan. They can be mentioned in World History or Political Science but maybe several hours in each class.
Are there skill tests given to place them in appropriate classes?No, Students are screened to get into each school, so the level is not diversified.
Can you give me an idea about any other classes that students might be able to choose, or will have to take while in Japan?They can take P.E. You don't have a choice in types, but in each P.E. class you usually take 4-5 types such as swimming(only in summer), track, tennis, soccer, rugby-football, handball, badminton, basketball, volleyball, etc. They can also take art/calligraphy/music. Girls can take Home Economics(cooking/sewing). These are the popular subjects that they can take without high language skills.
Most of the academic subjects (science, social studies, languages) are far beyond some of the AFS students' ability, especially when they don't have enough knowledge in Chinese characters, but they can challenge some of the subjects thinking it's another way to learn Japanese language.
Japanese high schools are very rigid, but some students get some support like extra Japanese language classes from the teachers. It is advisable for AFSers to join some extra-curricular club activities after school. It helps make friends at school. Academically it's not easy to benefit from our curriculum unless you're a very gifted student. It's easier for a Japanese student to get good grades in the US than an American student to try vice versa. Classes are performed all in Japanese. But there are many students who can speak, read and write by the end of the year
Scholarships & Sponsored Programs
See Scholarships or Sponsored Programs for Sending for more information.
General Country Information
- Religion:
Return to the Country Information page.
For information, questions or concerns, contact the Program Information Specialist or countryinfo@afs.org.
