Japan

In partnership with the College of DuPage and Parkland College, Heartland Community College is proud to offer two different summer programs to Japan. 

College of DuPage Program: Kyoto and Osaka, Japan

• June 21 to July 21, 2023

Immerse yourself in the language and culture of Japan. Held in cooperation with Kyoto International Academy in Kyoto (KIA), classroom instruction comes alive with the surroundings serving as a hands-on classroom and language laboratory. Students practice and improve knowledge of the language by interacting with the Japanese people on the street, on buses and in museums, theaters, shops, restaurants and cafes, as well as with their host family.
The program begins with a field trip in Hiroshima where students are getting to know each other very well. A variety of field trips and excursions are planned throughout the program. These field trips take students to famous temples, shrines, castles, parks and museums. Since Kyoto was a capital of Japan (AD 794 - 1868) and is still regarded as a cultural center of Japan, students will learn a variety of things from living in Kyoto and nearby cities, such as Osaka, and Nara. Transportation and fees for these field trips are all included. Optional weekend trips will also be offered. 

 

Academics

The goal of the program is to make textbook language come alive. The whole community serves as a giant classroom for the students. Students will attend Japanese language classes from 9:15am until 12:45pm Monday through Friday. These classes are taught by faculty from the Kyoto International Academy in Kyoto. In addition, prior to departure for Japan, students will attend an Intensive Weekend Seminar during which they will learn about the culture and civilization of Japan. The weekend seminar will also prepare them for the trip.

Students will enroll in two courses:

• Appropriate Japanese Language (4 credit hours)
• INTR 102 Introduction to East Asian Culture and Society (3 credit hours)

Accommodations

Students are scheduled to stay at the homes of carefully selected families in Kyoto, Japan during the entire program. Breakfast and supper are provided every weekday during the homestay. Lunches are not included.

Fees

Fee includes round trip airfare from Chicago, transportation in Japan, on-site Japanese classes, accommodations, some meals and some excursions.

 

Parkland College Program:

• May 12 to 29, 2023

Experience the ultramodern metropolis of Tokyo, the ancient charm of Kyoto, the unsettling reminder of the nuclear age in Hiroshima, and Osaka, the “kitchen of Japan,” where you'll visit many culturally important places across Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Osaka. A few examples include Shibuya Crossing, the Golden Pavilion, and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Museum.  

Academics

Students will enroll in one courses:

• INTR 102 Introduction to East Asian Culture and Society (3 credit hours)

You will study various aspects of Japanese culture and experience the culture first hand during the trip. The course will introduce a few basic expressions in Japanese, but no previous knowledge of Japanese is required.

Accommodations

You will be staying in hostels most nights. We will also have a night in a traditional Japanese inn called a ryokan and a night in a capsule hotel.

Fees

• Lodging
• 7-day JR Pass for riding the bullet train (Shinkansen)
• Public transportation card for local trains
• Japanese calligraphy workshop and a Zen meditation workshop.

Not included: round-trip airfare, 3-credit hours of tuition, activity fees, meals, passport fee, travel insurance

 

Eligibility:

• 18 years or older
• 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale
• Completion of at least 12 hours of college-level coursework by the time of departure
• Completion of one college writing course (commonly known as English Composition I and/or II, or its equivalent) with grade of B or better, by the time of departure

Application Deadlines:

• Application time will vary by the Program, and you should consult the program websites linked above.

How to Apply:

To apply, please contact Zach Petrea, the Study Abroad Coordinator at 309-268-8613 or zach.petrea@heartland.edu