by Bishal Shrestha | Jan 29, 2017 | News
Studying abroad aids personal development
Studying overseas can have a positive impact on a young individual’s personal development, new research has shown. Published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the study looked at a sample of more than 1,000 students from around 200 German universities for the duration of an academic year, including those who headed abroad and those who stayed in Germany.
It was shown that individuals who studied in a different country tended to be more open minded, conscientious and extraverted than those who remained at home.Dr Julia Zimmerman from Jena University said: “Those who spent some time abroad profit in their personality development, for instance in terms of growing openness and emotional stability.”She explained one of the reasons for this is because individuals who are able to integrate into a different culture will find it less difficult to get to grips with new challenges and cope with new situations.
Chartered Psychologist Dr Kate Sparks comments:
“Studying abroad can certainly aid personal development as it can broaden one’s mind in terms of experiencing different cultures, meeting new people and learning the social rules and etiquette within that culture. It would also increase conscientiousness as they begin to realise that others from different backgrounds may perceive the world differently from themselves and so become more mindful of others in situations.”This can also increase self-confidence as individuals realise that they are able to meet and befriend other people from different backgrounds, especially in circumstances where they may have to make the first step in meeting others. Realising that they can cope in such situations and in cultures different from their own would enhance social confidence whether the individual was an introvert or extravert to begin with.
“And, yes, those individuals who studied abroad would generally be more extrovert and open-minded to begin with, in order to want to study abroad.”
by Bishal Shrestha | Jan 23, 2017 | News
Geography and Demographics
Japan is a small and mountainous island nation, but one of huge regional differences. Before modern roads, rails, and bridges, Japan’s many populations were cut off from each other. Strong regional identities with their own dialects, cuisine, festivals, and specialties emerged over centuries. The Japanese are quite proud to share the unique aspects of their local culture, particularly to travelers coming through town.
Food
Japan has a relatively high cost of living, however, there are ways to live cheaply in Japan. In Japan, it’s possible to eat very well on a budget. The value of the yen has recently begun to edge back down, though, so Japan is actually more affordable lately than it has been in years.
Enrolling a Japanese language institution
Higher educational institutions in Japan, in principle, conduct all their classes in Japanese with only a limited number offering classes in English . It is extremely important, therefore, that international students wishing to study in Japan have an adequate knowledge of the Japanese language. For this reason many international students study the language in Japan for six months to two years before applying to higher educational institutions for admission. In almost all cases, the qualification for entering an institute providing Japanese-language education is to have completed at least 12 years of school education or to have attained an equivalent level of academic ability.
Entrance Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the following requirement
- Have completed at least 12 years of formal education in their home country.
- Students completed 150 hours of Japanese language classes.
- Must have passed NAT, TOP-J or J-TEST that is equivalent to JLPT level 5 examination .
- Sound economic background.
Immigration Procedures
A person who wishes to enter Japan as an international student must complete the following procedures:
Part-time Work
About 76% of international students having the “College Students” status of residence are working part-time, a large portion works in the foodservice industry, followed by sales and marketing, language teacher, clerical work, and others.
The hourly wage varies according to locations but those working in food services are getting about ¥800 to ¥1200 an hour. Assuming that the maximum of 28 hours a week is fully used up to work; their earning will be around ¥22,400 to ¥33,600.
To work part-time, you must first obtain your school’s consent and receive the approval to engage in activities outside the scope of your status of residence from the nearest Regional Immigration Bureau. Upon obtaining these approval you may work part-time under the conditions that.
Working part-time without having necessary approvals, exceeding the permitted number of hours or working outside of the permissible scope will get you penalized and/or deported.
- the part-time work does not affect your studies
- the earned income is meant to supplement your academic cost and necessary expenses and not for saving or for remittance overseas
- the part-time work engaged in is not in adult entertainment businesses
Life
- Medical Insurance
Foreigners who will be staying in Japan for a period of more than 1 year have to subscribe to the “National Health Insurance”.The insurance premium has to be paid monthly once registration is completed. The premium varies according to local councils and one’s income. However, most of the time, the premium is about JPY20,000 per year.Once registered with the National Health Insurance, you will only need to pay 30% of the total medical bill. When receiving treatment for injuries or illnesses, you have to present your insurance card to be eligible for the discounted payment.Take note that the medical cost for treatments not covered by the insurance scheme has to be paid in full at your own expense.
- Accomodation
Accommodations for international students are diverse. About 76.8% of international students are staying in private housing. When looking for private housing, you can inquire from your school’s international student office or you may get a real estate agent to look for a place in the area you plan to stay in.Japanese lifestyle and housing has become more westernized throughout the years. Enduring these changes, Japanese still remove their shoes at the main entrance and many houses still maintain the multi-purpose room called the Washitsu(Japanese room)Though most rooms are not furnished, those facing south or with windows on the east side fetches higher rent because it is warmer and brighter. Other determining factors are its distance from the train station and age of the building. The “shiki-kin” (returnable deposit) and “rei-kin” (non-returnable fee) system differ by area. When the rental contract is signed, the rent,”shiki-kin” and “rei-kin” equivalent to a few months of rent must be pain.
- Further Study
After graduation from the Japanese Language School, you can continue your study in the following areas
Graduate Schools
Fascinating Culture
Japan has a history of over 2,000 years. Traditional culture includes zen, kabuki, sumo and other fascinating aspects with a truly global appeal. These days, Japan is also attracting worldwide attention with its cutting-edge culture of comics, animation, music (such as J-pop) and fashion. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to sample the best of Japanese culture while you study in Japan. Japan has the power to make a deep and positive impression. Everyday life will become just as meaningful for you as your studies!
Life in Japan is safe and convenient. Public safety is outstanding and Japan’s low crime rate is the envy of the world. Medical technology is advanced and you’ll find robust medical systems in place. Public transportation is extremely punctual; travel is reliable and convenient. There are also convenience stores which are open 24 hours a day.
by Bishal Shrestha | Jan 23, 2017 | News
If you plan to live in an on-campus dorm, chances are you’ll have a roommate. Living with a roommate can be very beneficial and enrich your college experience, but at times it can also be difficult to share a living space. As someone who has spent the last two years living with roommates from different cultures in college dorms, I know firsthand the challenges and lifestyle changes that come with rooming with someone else. But don’t worry; with a few tips in mind, you can have a great experience together. Here are some of the golden rules of roommates:
Start communicating early with your roommate
It’s better to try to get to know your roommate well before you move into your dorm so you get a feel for his or her living habits. Does your roommate like to wake up early or does she like to push the snooze button a few times? Is your roommate fine with a lot of noise or does she prefer a quiet atmosphere? Knowing your roommate’s lifestyle early on will make it easier to live with her.
Compromising is key
If you share a room equally, then it is only fair that you compromise equally as well. For example, if you are a social person and like inviting your friends over to your room, but your roommate doesn’t, you should limit how often and when your friends are over. With the habit of compromising, your roommate will be like the yin to your yang.
Talk about any problem as soon as it arises
The last thing you want is for a small problem at home to keep building and manifesting until it’s a major problem and creates a lot of tension. It may seem unnecessary at first to bring up a minor discomfort or issue with your roommate (like how she always leaves her wet bath towel on floor), but trust me; it is a lot better to address it now than later. It will also make your roommate relationship stronger and more transparent.
Create a roommate contract
You don’t have to make a super structured contract with penalties for every time a rule is broken, but a simple set of guidelines can go a long way. In your roommate contract, you could add a cleanliness expectation or even a chores schedule. Setting a roommate contract commits you and your roommate to certain expectations, and having that foundation will make the rest of the year more enjoyable.
These things may be hard to do at first, especially if you’ve never lived with another person outside your family before– let alone someone from another culture. However, having a great roommate is one of the best college experiences you can have, and practicing these tips will create a stronger bond between the two of you, allowing you both the chance to learn from each other!
[Read: Working in the United States ]
by Bishal Shrestha | Jan 22, 2017 | News
Study abroad: Career Benefits
If you are currently studying abroad, you will probably, at some point, have referred to how the experience will look “great on your CV”.
You might have cited the employability aspect of spending time abroad to justify it to yourself or your parents. You may even have fooled yourself into thinking that you’re only going abroad because of how many opportunities it will open up for you, or how it will make you stand out from the crowd.
Of course there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to travel, experience a new culture and be a part of study abroad social life. But ultimately that will all come to an end and you’ll be left wondering how to sell those last few months (or year) to a potential employer.
Luckily for you, most of what you said was in fact correct. You might have been using the employment angle as a means to justify an end, but the truth is that studying abroad can genuinely help you get a job.
There are skills to be gained from moving country and adjusting to a new teaching system. It’s also far easier to identify the skills you are lacking when you step outside your comfort zone – and going abroad to study is a fairly serious step.
Career benefits of study abroad
- Find your career
Whether you realize it or not, your study abroad experience can help you clarify what you’re passionate about and help you gain career insight.
- Enhance Your Resume with an Internship Abroad
While saying you studied abroad is impressive, saying you had an international internship or service learning placement is even more enticing to potential employers and graduate schools.Set yourself apart from other applicants with real stories of working in a hands-on environment, improving your communication skills in a global setting, learning first-hand from international professionals, and making a difference in communities around the world.
- Learn How to Be a Global Leader
Study abroad instructs you to be more respectful of other cultures, political and economic systems, and to increase your willingness to take a stand for the world’s welfare.
- Find a Job Faster
In a survey of recently graduated student, 89% of respondents found their first job within six months of graduation, and 95% secured a job within one year after graduation, as compared to only 49% of respondents in a recent survey of the general college population who had found work within a year of finishing college.
- Make More Money in Your First Job
Along with finding a job quicker, living and learning abroad can actually help you make more money. Talk about a return on your investment!
- Build Confidence
Because you’ve studied abroad, you’ve made the decision to step outside the world as you know it and dive into a new culture, meet new people, and live like a local. In fact, taking the study abroad leap almost guarantees you’ll return home a more mature, confident, and tolerant individual – and ready to take on those job interviews.
by Bishal Shrestha | Jan 22, 2017 | News
International students, in the eyes of employers, boast a range of qualities which domestic students can find difficult to demonstrate in an interview process. This is great news if you choose to study abroad!
Successfully applying for a job is all about making an impression quickly and accentuating your positives; as an international student, you can do all of these in a number of ways.
Reasons why employers like international graduates
- You like to challenge yourself
Having packed up and left home to study elsewhere, you have shown a willingness to explore new opportunities. No employer will want to select someone who will do just enough to get by, or be boring. If you’re a representation of where their business can go if they hire you, you want to emphasise everything which shows that you’re enthusiastic and energetic. Taking initiative is another favourable quality which employers look for; by showing ambition and setting goals for yourself, an employer will be eager to take on someone who will go further when possible. If you can do this, it means you can probably learn quickly and work unsupervised, which will make your supervisor’s job a lot easier.
The best organisations and companies change with the times. Few audiences, sectors or processes remain the same over long periods, and organisations will adapt to these. A good example is the rise of social media in communications and public relations. Studying abroad is an excellent way to show that you can adapt to completely new surroundings, quickly and without problems. Practically, a company will be keen to promote from within, rather than look externally and go through the hiring process all over again. In terms of daily activities, you will have proven you can adapt to circumstances as they arise.
- You bring a fresh perspective
Similarly, no one likes a “Yes Man”, who will constantly agree them and bring nothing new to the table. While you don’t want to appear big-headed, it is important to appear confident in your own abilities. Having studied in another country, you can make yourself invaluable to a business who may be considering that market for expansion in the years to come. Many graduates worry that they don’t have enough experience, or that they are too young for certain positions; the other side to that argument is that you bring an innovative outlook which will appeal to potential new clients in years to come.
It may seem like an afterthought compared to qualifications and experience, but personality and character are important to employers. For all the qualifications and skills a candidate may have, if they appear difficult to interact with, it can sour an interviewer on them. After all, you’ll have to work with them eight hours a day, five/six days a week, for years to come. It takes a friendly, sociable and open-minded person to make new friends in a different country. Your time abroad will likely improve the way you interact with strangers too.
This can be a good thing. While an interviewer will consider how you would fit into the current team, standing out in a positive way is key. It will distinguish your application and CV from the rest initially; something which is important in a competitive job market. Then, if you secure an interview, you will have something interesting to speak about. Either you can use your time abroad as a way to break the ice or lighten the mood in an interview; or you can point to this experience, to answer questions about abilities. If your interviewer has little knowledge about the country you have studied in, you will have something you can talk about from an expert point of view.
When you study abroad, you’re taking in twice the knowledge. The textbook may teach you more or less the same curriculum as it would at home. But the people you’re surrounded by, the culture shock, the everyday occurrences that strike you as odd or different—those are all forms of “teachers” you wouldn’t be exposed to at home, safe inside your comfort zone. Learning about the world hands-on, as you do abroad, is just as marketable to potential employers as what you learned from Powerpoint slides or assigned readings.
Living abroad throws all sorts of new and unforeseen problems your way, and chances are, if you completed your time overseas, you learned to resolve most of them. From seemingly petty problems like smoothing over cross-cultural issues with roommates, to more substantial ones like dealing with a foreign government’s bureaucracy, being abroad isn’t always a walk in the park. Problem solving is a skill employers look for in a strong applicant, so navigating those issues abroad—while surely a headache at the time—gives you a great bank of experience to draw from, and talk up during the interview.
During your time abroad, it’s likely you had to fend for yourself a bit more than you were accustomed to and have several challenges while studying abroad. Being much farther away from friends and family naturally begs you to become more self-sufficient. You’ll need to learn things as you go; pick up and carry on during hard times; even learn to boil pasta far away from your mother’s helping hands.[Read: 6 Things you should do while studying abroad] Your employer will appreciate this autonomy, as it shows you’ll be capable of managing and completing tasks that come your way.
- Appreciation of diversity
Your decision to study abroad demonstrates that you understand the importance of diversity—both cultural diversity, and on a more personal level, that of diversifying your academic experience and views. Hopefully you’ll also be able to appreciate diversity in the workplace, and even come to expect it for a company to thrive.
