Summer Mature Teen Homestay Program in Kanazawa, Japan

  Japan

• All Other Areas: 
Kanazawa

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Dates: Visit website.

Description: Kanazawa is the capital city of Ishikawa with a population of 450,000. It is approx. 4.5 hours by train from Tokyo and 4 hours from Osaka. Kanazawa is a city of business, education, culture and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist town with many historical and cultural attractions and the nearby mountains and beaches are only 30 minutes away by bicycle. Kanazawa's history can be traced back to the 16th century and it has a garden that is considered to be one of the three most beautiful in Japan. Perhaps one of its greatest assets is Kanazawans themselves, who you will find to be very helpful and friendly and will go out of their way to make sure you have a wonderful time while visiting!

The School:

The school is located in the International Exchange Centre in a modern commercial building near the Kanazawa train and bus station. It is within walking distance of the downtown area, places of historical interest, parks, museums and sport facilities. Facilities include:

- 5 classrooms
- Lecture hall
- Student leisure centre
- Internet access at library (in the same building as the school)

The Course:

The General Course consists of 20 group lessons + 5 culture classes per week. Each lesson is 50 minutes and classes are offered every morning, Monday to Friday, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The emphasis in each lesson is on developing communication skills and there are three teachers assigned to each class who each specialize in areas such as grammar, listening and vocabulary development. Please see the sample schedule for more information.

The Culture Program:

There are numerous included cultural activities offered three afternoons per week, from 2:30 to 4:30 PM. These include a Tea Ceremony, kimono wearing, seal making, Japanese cooking, black ink painting and chopstick making. Additional cultural activities offered by volunteers in the community include Japanese calligraphy, origami, Ikebana flower arranging and traditional Japanese board games.

There are numerous activities and local tours included in the course such as visits to Kanazawa castle, the Geisha quarter, a local high schools and a traditional crafts museum. The school also offers, at extra cost, an excursion the first weekend of each course start date. These include a coastal drive with a temple and onsen (Japanese hot spring) visit or a trip to Mt. Hakusan and a visit to a traditional farmhouse village.

Accommodation:

The school offers homestay accommodation on a half-board basis (breakfast and dinner). A homestay is the best place to experience Japanese culture and practice what you have learned in class. Homestays came in a variety of shapes and sizes from single adults to families with children but what they all have in common is their heart-warming hospitality and the goodwill they extend to foreign students.

Your accommodation consists of a single room with shared bath. You will also be welcome in the living, dining and kitchen areas of the house where you will spend time relaxing with your hosts.

Cost in US$: From USD 2,690 for 2 weeks

Additional costs:

- Travel to and from Kanazawa, Japan (it is recommended that you fly into Narita (Tokyo) International Airport where you will connect to a domestic flight to Komatsu (Kanazawa) Airport.
- Departure transfer (arrival is included in the cost of the program) by taxi and bus approximately USD 50
- Optional activities not part of the standard program
- Optional weekend excursions approximately USD 80 to USD 100 each
- Pocket money - it is recommended that you allow for USD 225 per week (this depends on the personal spending habits of the participants)
- Entry visa if required

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Japan Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of Max. 13 students per class

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

The Learning Traveller's Mission Statement: The Learning Traveller offers a wide range of full-immersion language study programs in some of the most interesting and beautiful locations worldwide. Our priority languages are French, Spanish, Italian, German, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin) and Russian. Our programs focus on summer and gap year. Depending on language level, start dates are every Sunday. Accommodation options are homestay or student residence. All schools offer rich and diverse cultural activities and excursions. We aim to provide an unparalleled counseling service before, during, and after an individual or group's language study experience.

Year Founded: 2003