JASIN: Japan Studies in Nagasaki Study Abroad Program

Japan Studies in Nagasaki (JASIN) is a half-year or full-year program specially designed to give students from other countries the opportunity to study and live in Nagasaki.


Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies offers an opportunity for current university students from foreign countries to study undergraduate level courses in Japanese language and in Japanese studies. Besides academic studies, the program emphasizes a wide exposure to Japanese society and culture through field trips, tours, social activities, and the possibility of arranged stays in Japanese-style housing situations.

The Programs

There are two parallel programs offered. The Japan Studies in Nagasaki (JASIN) Program is designed for students from North America and Europe. It offers Japanese language classes for students at all levels, from no knowledge of Japanese through advanced level. The Japan Studies classes in the JASIN Program are all conducted in English. The Nagasaki International Communications Studies (NICS) Program is designed for students from East Asia who are already proficient to at least an intermediate level in their Japanese language ability. It offers language classes from intermediate through advanced. The Japan studies class in the NICS Program are all conducted in Japanese.
This page contains details for the JASIN Program.

Calendar

The JASIN Program offers two 15-week terms, one in the fall and one in the spring. Students may enter the program in either the Fall or the Spring Term and can study for one or a maximum of two terms.

Curriculum

Each term is designed to provide the transferable equivalent of a semester of university study. Students must register for and stay enrolled in a full credit load of study in order to be considered full-time students and to maintain their student-visa status. All students must register for a Japanese language class.

Studies in the university’s regular curriculum are possible depending on the student’s Japanese language ability, scheduling, and availability.

Japanese Language

Graded levels of Japanese language classes are offered, from beginning to advanced. Each class meets for 90 minutes, four days each week. Placement will be according to a proficiency test given to students during orientation.

All the language classes contain a practical component to allow students to get the most out of their experience of living in the native-language environment. The first-semester course is especially tailored to meet the immediate needs of those students arriving in Japan with little or no Japanese knowledge.

The Program also organizes one-on-one sessions each week with native-speaking conversation partners who are volunteers from among the Japanese students at the university. The sessions are intended to reinforce classroom studies, to give a chance for students to hone their speaking skills, to encourage students to concentrate on areas of their language learning in which they feel a need to work on, and to provide an opportunity to practice for special events such as the Japanese speech contest.

Japan Studies

The Japan Studies classes meet once a week for 90 minutes. The Japan Studies classes are conducted in English. Availability and content of these courses may vary from term to term, but will fall under the following areas of study:

    * Business
    * Management
    * Society
    * History
    * Culture
    * Literature

Some of the Japan Studies classes include field trips to related sites and institutions in the Nagasaki area.
Seminars in Traditional Japanese Arts
The seminars are intended to deepen students' experience of Japanese culture through hands-on experience of some of the traditional arts of Japan. Each seminar will contain several components in areas such as calligraphy, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, aikido, kendo, and karate.
Guided Independent Study
Students with a specific research interest may choose an Independent Study course. Students will be assigned a faculty advisor to assist them in their research and evaluate their work. The choice of Independent Study topics will be limited by the availability of resources and faculty expertise.

Activities

The JASIN Program provides opportunities for a more complete experience of Japan, Nagasaki, and its people. Activities may include special lectures, a guided tour of Nagasaki City, social gatherings to meet faculty, staff, and students of the university as well as members of the community, participation in a speech contest or drama production, a program field trip, and an over-night study seminar.

Course-related field trips will visit places of historic, cultural, and social interest such as museums, government offices, schools, businesses, and factories.

Housing

The JASIN Program will arrange housing for the students’ stay in Nagasaki. Most students will be placed in a home stay with a family in the community, providing 14 meals per week.

Female students can choose to take a single room with bath in the university’s dormitory. The new facility is located on the campus and provides 14 meals per week during the college’s ordinary term time. The dormitory has restrictions such as a 10:30 p.m. curfew and no visitors.

All housing is subject to availability.

college’s ordinary term time. The dormitory has restrictions such as a 10:30 p.m. curfew and no visitors.

All housing is subject to availability.

Campus

Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies (NUFS) is a four-year institution offering majors in language studies—English, Japanese, Chinese, French, German, and Spanish. The university is part of Nagasaki Gaidai, which also includes Nagasaki College of Foreign Languages offering two-year majors in English. Both the university and the college are accredited by the Japanese Ministry of Education.

Dating from its founding in December 1945, the school’s credo has been to foster mutual understanding between nations and their people by promoting the study of languages and culture.

The campus is located on the northern border of Nagasaki City and its suburb of Togitsu. In addition to air-conditioned classrooms and a gymnasium, the campus houses a Multimedia Center with three computer assisted instruction (CAI) labs as well as language laboratories.

The campus is served by local bus service and the university’s school bus.


Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies offers an opportunity for current university students from foreign countries to study undergraduate level courses in Japanese language and in Japanese studies.

Besides academic studies, the program emphasizes a wide exposure to Japanese society and culture through field trips, tours, social activities, and the possibility of arranged stays in Japanese-style housing situations.

Eligibility

The JASIN Program is designed as a study abroad opportunity for current university students.

Applicants must
1) have successfully completed at least one year of university study.
2) be in good academic standing at their university.
3) apply to the program through one of NUFS’ affiliated institutions.
4) have adequate English ability to participate in the Japan Studies classes which are conducted in English.

Part-time study is allowed only for Nagasaki residents holding an appropriate visa.
Transfer of Credit
Credits are intended to be transferable back to the affiliated university the student applied through on an official NUFS transcript.

Policies concerning the transfer of credit vary between institutions. Transfer of credit agreements have been arranged with most of the affiliated universities, but it is the responsibility of the student to check with their home university to be sure that their courses taken here in Nagasaki will count toward their degree requirements.

Visas

Full-time students in the JASIN Program must obtain a Japanese Student Visa through the Program before entering Japan. Japanese law does not allow university study with a tourist or temporary visa.

Students interested in studying part time must check with the International Center to see if their current visa status allows part-time study.
Application
Applicants to the JASIN Program fall into two categories:

1) Applicants from affiliated institutions
2) Part-time study applicants

Applicants from affiliated institutions

Students currently enrolled at an institution outside of Japan with which NUFS has an agreement of affiliation are able to apply to the JASIN study abroad program through their home institution. Students should first check with the study abroad office at their home institution for application procedures.

A list of institutions currently affiliated with NUFS is available on the web site under “Application.”

Any student enrolled in a university in North America which is not affiliated with NUFS can still apply to the program through the Institute for Study Abroad Programs at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

Please check UW-Platteville’s web site at:

http://www.uwplatt.edu/studyabroad/
E-Mail studyabroad@uwplatt.edu

toll free telephone (800) 342-1725
international telephone (608) 342-1726
fax: (608) 342-1736

Part-time study

Applicants for part-time study must already reside in the Nagasaki area and hold a visa which allows part-time university study. For application procedures and materials, both of which differ from those for full-time study applicants, please contact the International Center.

Nagasaki

Nagasaki, a city of about 500,000 people, is built around its natural harbor and climbs up the surrounding steep hills. The city boasts spectacular views and the proximity to natural sights such as its rugged coastline, beaches, islands, volcanic mountains, and Unzen National Park. Nagasaki enjoys a mild winter climate and tropical summer weather.

Its location at the end of the Japanese archipelago, nearest to China and the West, made Nagasaki the center of trade in the late 16th century. During the more than 200 years of national seclusion that followed, Nagasaki was the only port open to foreign trade, drawing a thriving Chinese trading community and serving as Japan’s only window to the world. After Japan’s opening in the middle of the 19th century, the port served the entry of modern technology, creating another flourishing community of British, Dutch, American, and Russian traders.

An international flavor remains, even through the ravages of World War II and the Atomic Bombing, and can be seen in its many lively popular festivals, its architecture, its cuisine, and in the welcoming and friendly spirit of its residents. Nagasaki continues to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan.
Contact
Questions and requests for application packets may be sent via email, fax, or post to:

International Center

Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies
3-15-1 Nagasaki City 851-2196 Japan
Fax. ([0]95) 840-2001
jasin@nagasaki-gaigo.ac.jp