語学体験レッスン

 

 

Frequently asked Qestions

Who can I talk to about study abroad?

Our study abroad advisers are always at your disposal to give you information about the programs that are available, answer basic questions about studying abroad, and direct you to where you can learn more about related matters.

Why should I study abroad?

Have you considered studying abroad, but are not sure whether it's worth your time? If you ask anybody who has studied abroad, s/he will most certainly tell you that it is a life-changing experience and one of the most rewarding things s/he has ever done. There are countless reasons why everyone should study abroad.
Here are 10 excellent reasons why you should study abroad:
1. Study abroad is the optimal way to learn a language.
2. Study abroad provides the opportunity to travel.
3. Study abroad allows you get to know another culture first-hand.
4. Study abroad will help you develop skills and give you experiences a classroom
setting will never provide.
5. Study abroad gives you the opportunity to make friends around the world.
6. Study abroad helps you to learn about yourself.
7. Study abroad expands your worldview.
8. Study abroad gives you the opportunity to break out of your academic routine.
9. Study abroad enhances employment opportunities.

Will a study abroad experience enhance my employability?

Employers increasingly seek people who have international experience, and therefore a study abroad experience will enhance your employability. International knowledge, cross-cultural communication skills, flexibility, resilience, and the ability to adapt to new circumstances are skills enhanced through study abroad.

Who can study abroad?

Generally, ICC Study abroad programs are available for anyone above the age of 16. For further details, please contact one of our study abroad advisers.

How long should I study abroad?

It all depends on your objective, your budget and the time you are willing to invest in studying abroad. Of course, the longer the course is, the more effective it will be. It is possible to plan a study abroad experience for short term study that lasts just a few weeks or a few months, or a full academic year.

How long will it take me to learn a foreign language?

That will depend on a number of factors, including the relative difficulty of the language you wish to learn, whether you’ve studied the language or a similar one before, your level of motivation in learning, and the amount of time you are willing to spend practicing between classes. Please call us, and one of our advisors will be happy to discuss your situation and make recommendations.

Where can I study abroad?

ICC offers study abroad programs in about 50 cities worldwide, in countries that are politically and economically stable and secure. With the help of a study abroad adviser and with some consideration of the kind of living situation you prefer, you should be able to find a program that meets your needs.

What types of programs are offered?

Detailed brochures are available free of charge. You may also contact one of our study abroad advisers if you have questions that can’t be answered in the brochure or if you want to know which kind of program best meets your needs and goals.

How will I choose the program that is right for me?

The possibilities for study abroad are abundant. Before researching programs you will want to have made some preliminary decisions as to the type of experience you want to have. Start by realistically assessing your academic, professional and personal objectives. Consider the following questions to help you think about the kind of study abroad experience that would be the right fit for you:
Location

  • Where do you want to go?
  • Why?
  • Do you want to study in a less-developed or more-developed country?
  • Do you want to be in a big city or a small town?
  • What do you need to study to meet your personal, professional or academic objectives?

Academics

  • What do you want to study to meet your academic objectives?
  • Are there specific academic requirements that you need to fulfill during your study abroad?
  • How will study abroad positively affect your academic program?

Structure

  • To what extent do you wish to integrate yourself into the host culture?
  • Do you prefer to participate in planned excursions included in the program or to arrange your own sightseeing and travel?

Living Arrangements

  • Do you want to live in a university dormitory, in an apartment or in a hotel room?
  • Do you prefer to live with a local host family?
  • Do you wish to live alone or with other students?

Cost

  • How much time can you afford to spend abroad in terms of economic resources?
  • How much money can you spend on the study abroad experience? Consider not only tuition and fees, but also food, personal expenses, and international travel.
  • If necessary, are you willing and able to take out loans or use personal funds in order to pay for your study abroad?

Duration
How long do you want to study abroad?
Are you interested in a short term program or an academic year?
If you'd like to talk to a study abroad adviser, we can help guide you through the selection process.

What types of living accommodations are available?

The options range from stays with local host families, to school dormitories, to apartments or hotel rooms, and are sometimes dependent on the city that you choose.

Who will I live with?

If you chose to live with a host family, ICC will match you with a carefully selected family, who will open their home and share their lives with you. There’s nothing like the experience of living as a member of a family and community in another country.

Will I be placed in a big city or a small town?

Both are possible. However, most students prefer to be hosted in small-to medium-sized towns. Families in big cities often live in small apartments, so they don’t have a lot of room. Also, outside the major cities you often get a better feel for what a country is really like.

Will I be able to fit in with people my age in another country?

Yes, you’ll fit in fine, and we’ll help you out, too. Before you travel, you’ll attend an orientation that will also help to prepare you for your study abroad experience. Remember that the people you meet abroad will be just as curious about you and your culture as you are about them and theirs, which will give you plenty of opportunities to talk, practice the language skills you have acquired and gather experience.

How do I go to another country if I can’t speak the language?

Many participants begin a program with little or no experience at all in the language of their host country but learn to communicate at a basic level very soon. There is no better way to learn a language than by speaking it! Do your best to communicate, even if you are using just basic words and phrases. You’ll get better each day and, depending on the length of your course and on your efforts, by the end of your term you’ll likely be fluent in the host country’s language.

When should I apply for a passport?

A passport is an international form of identification showing a person’s nationality. It is required of all individuals traveling internationally. If you have not already applied for a passport, apply for it as soon as possible. It can take six to eight weeks to receive it and you will need it in order to obtain your student visa, if it should be necessary. Not having a passport can jeopardize your chances of going abroad since you can’t travel anywhere without one. If you already have one, make sure it is valid for at least 6 months after the end of your program. If not, start the renewal process as soon as possible.

What’s a visa and will I need one?

A visa is a stamp or other notation generally placed in your passport that will allow you to enter and temporarily reside in your host country during your program. Depending on your nationality, the host country and on the length of your stay there, a visa might be required.

Is a visa hard to obtain?

The answer to this question depends upon your nationality, your destination and the length of your stay there. For some countries, the process is straightforward and relatively quick, but for other countries, obtaining a visa can be time consuming. For this reason, please check with your travel agent or with the embassy or consulate of the host country to learn about visa requirements. You will need to begin preparations for obtaining your visa upon receipt of your country specific visa information. Please note that some visa applications require you to apply in-person at your host country’s embassy or regional consulate.
Also, if your program requires you to apply for a student visa, you may have to submit your passport to the consulate along with your visa application. For this reason, we suggest that you not plan any international trips in the months prior to your departure on one of our programs.

If I need a visa, where can I get it?

Visas are obtained through the consular offices of a country’s embassy. While most embassies are in Tokyo, there are a number of consulates located in some major cities in Japan. Please note that some visa applications require you to apply in-person at your host country’s regional consulate.

What can ICC do to help me get a visa?

ICC will provide you with visa information to give you an idea of the process. However, our visa information tends to be very general, because it is not ICC who will issue your visa, it is the embassy or the consulate of the country where your program will take place. Therefore, it is critical that you obtain detailed information on the visa process for your program directly from a consular officer at the embassy or consulate of your host country. While ICC verifies visa requirements and fees before the start of our programs, we have found that these requirements can change suddenly without notice, and that requirements can sometimes vary from one consulate to another across Japan. ICC will provide you, when necessary, with visa support documentation. This documentation usually consists of an official letter from ICC stating that you have been accepted on our program, and documents containing your host family and school placement information from overseas. Sometimes these documents have to come from the appropriate ICC partner country, so we cannot always control when we will be able to send them to you.

What if the visa is not issued?

Unfortunately, in very rare cases these scenarios do happen. Since consular officials are the persons who  issue visas, ICC has no control over these situations or the overall process itself. If you are denied a visa, ICC will do everything possible to offer you an alternative program in another country. Since you will not be able to travel before you have secured your visa, it is very important that you do purchase a refundable and changeable domestic ticket to your gateway departure city. Please note that not all programs require visas and that some visas are easier to obtain than others.

How much money should I bring?

The amount of money needed depends on your habits as well as the exchange rate in your host country. Generally, spending money needed ranges from \30,000 to \50,000 per month. Depending on the arrangement, the costs for lodging and all or part of the meals, will usually be covered. However you should bring enough money to cover incidentals during travel and the first few weeks of your stay, in the event you are not able to go to a bank immediately upon arrival. You can exchange money to the new currency at a local bank upon arrival.

Who will support me while I am there?

There are local offices and staff of our partner schools in the host countries to support you during your experience. Each student has an assigned local staff who is trained in providing support in English, Japanese or the local language.

Is there anything I need to be careful about staying abroad?

All participants must be law abiding in their host country as well. There may be country-specific rules and regulations that apply and that you need to know and abide by. In a new environment, it’s important to be more aware than you might be at home. Remember that you are a student ambassador for your country, so it will be important to act correctly and respectfully toward others and to give extra attention to being culturally aware.

Do I need health insurance?

A health insurance is highly recommended. It ensures that, in an emergency, you can be treated as soon as possible, anywhere in the world. This medical coverage is a prerequisite for your participation and is not included in your program fees.

Do I need to get any vaccinations before I go?

Most countries do not require special immunizations. We recommend immunizations based on the information provided by the Japanese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. All participants should be immunized against the seven childhood diseases: measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DPT), and polio. We recommend that you check with a physician to determine which immunizations are appropriate based on your medical history.

When do I find out the name and address of my host family?

It depends on several factors. Some students learn of their host families soon after they are accepted into the program; some right before departure. However, most students learn of their host families about 1-2 months prior to departure. Rest assured that we will get your host family contact information to you as soon as it is available. Note that if you have placement restrictions such as allergies to pets or to the environment, if you require access to religious services, or if you have any dietary restrictions, the placement process will likely take longer.

How do I get to my host family’s home?

We suggest that you request a pick up arrangement upon registration. If you do, then, after you arrive in your host country, and after collecting your luggage and passing through customs, you will be met by the local staff who will escort you to your host family’s home, school dormitory or apartment. If you do not request a pick up arrangement before departure, you may have to travel by bus, train, or taxi on your own.

What kinds of gifts should I take for my host family?

Things that represent your country and culture might be a suitable gift. Small gifts such as pins, pictures, mugs, t-shirts, or caps are also popular items. Be careful not to overindulge. A small token of appreciation for your host family should be enough. Expensive gifts may make the receiver uncomfortable and should be avoided.

What clothes should I pack?

Get as much information as possible about your host country, and learn more about the climate and on how people of your age dress. We suggest that you take things that you’re comfortable wearing. Avoid trendy outfits because they might not be in fashion in your host country and you may feel out of place. Also bring one or two nice outfits for special occasions.

How much luggage can I take?

We recommend that you pack a small carry-on bag with a change of clothes, a towel, and personal toiletries. In some cases access to your luggage is restricted during the arrival orientation and it’s important to have these items with you. For safety reasons, most airlines have introduced stiffer carry-on baggage rules, so keep your carry-on bags limited to a backpack or something similar in size. Once packed, weigh your luggage to make sure that it is less than 20 kg. Even though most international carriers permit you to take more than 20 kg of baggage, you may have to take a domestic flight within your host country. These flights often have more stringent rules regarding baggage. If you chose to bring additional or overweight bags, you may have to pay extra fees that may be charged by the airlines. Please remember that you will have to carry your own bags.

What is included in the ICC fees?

It depends on the course and on the location. For exact details, please see the study abroad brochure or contact our office.

When do the program fees have to be paid?

ICC requests that a \100,000 deposit be submitted with your application. Your application will be sent to the host country only after your completed and signed application form and the \100,000 deposit have been received. ICC incurs expenses on your behalf and this deposit shows us that you are committed to participating. The remaining balance of your tuition must be received at least two months before the scheduled program start.

When should I start planning to study abroad?

Early planning is the key to successful study abroad. Hundreds of study abroad opportunities exist; they differ in location, duration, curriculum, language, degree of cultural immersion, cost, and many other factors. In order to find the program that is the right fit for your personal, professional or academic objectives, you should begin planning your study abroad experience at least six months before you actually depart.

How do I apply for study abroad?

Once you have either decided on a program or made some preliminary decisions about the type of program you are interested in, please call us or send us an e-mail to info@icc-net.jp to schedule an appointment with one of our study abroad advisers.

How long will it take to complete the application procedure?

The time it will take will depend on the length of your course, and on the documents you might need to submit, such as a health certificate. We recommend that you give yourself several weeks to complete the application procedure. Be sure to submit your completed and signed application form before the deadline.

I still don't see the answers to my questions. What do I do?

If you can't find the answers to some of your questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us anytime. We will be very happy to help you. Just call us and speak to an ICC adviser or email us at info@icc-net.jp, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.