College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

World Languages and Cultures

Study Abroad in Japan

Study abroad in Japan--Immersion experiences

Students in the BA in Japanese Language and Culture at CSUMB usually choose to study abroad in Japan for one semester, the full year or a summer. WLC's Japanese program has exchange agreements with:

  • Dokkyo University, Saitama
  • Hirosaki University, Aomori
  • J.F. Oberlin University, Tokyo
  • Nagasaki University, Nagasaki
  • Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, Aichi
  • Nanzan University, Aichi
  • Okayama University, Okayama
  • Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto
  • Toyo University, Tokyo
  • The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu
  • Tsukuba University*, Ibaraki
  • Waseda University*, Tokyo

* Study abroad at these Universities is conducted through CSU International Programs.

Interested in learning more about the various locations in Japan from a student perspective? See the presentations shared by our students!

Campus experiences beyond the classroom

Many opportunities for exploring Japanese language and culture are available while you're here at CSUMB! Events and opportunities are a regular part of campus life!

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Ongoing

Maximizing study abroad resources

In preparation for their year abroad, WLC offers JAPN 420, where students learn about intercultural communications, strategies for enhancing the learning of language and culture in new contexts while abroad, and strategies for dealing with culture shock--and reverse culture shock after returning! The course also helps pre-departure students develop a practice of photo-journaling and blogging about their time away. These blogs and photo-records will be integrated into JLC major graduation portfolios as part of MLO 5: Cultural Internalization and Language Immersion. Help for you to complete assignments while abroad.

The photoblogging assignments use a framework for understanding how culture affects language from Dr. David Victor’s LESCANT Model for International Business Communication LESCANT is an acronym that represents seven areas in which cultural issues arise when dealing with international business communication. The acronym stands for Language, Environment, Social Organization, Context, Authority, Non-Verbal, and Time. Dr. David A. Victor, who is a professor of management and the Director of International Business Programs at Eastern Michigan University, created the model. Victor, David A. 1992. *International Business Communication*. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers Inc.

Project members:

Presentations on this topic

  • SouthWest Association for Language Learning and Technology (SWALLT) Annual Conference Keynote Speech, San Diego State University, April 2016, "Digital Connections: Integrating study abroad into the graduation portfolio through the student lens" (Saito-Abbott)
  • Foreign Language Education and Technology Conference (FLEAT VI), Harvard University, August 11-15, 2015, "Maximizing Study Abroad through Flickr and Weebly", Presentation (Saito-Abbott and Leonard)
  • CSUMB Foundation Board, September 2014 (Saito-Abbott and Leonard)
  • CSUMB Teaching Learning and Assessment Roundtable, April 2014 (Saito-Abbott and Leonard)
  • SouthWest Association for Language Learning and Technology (SWALLT), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), April 2014 Presentation (Leonard)