Kanazawa Gap Year Program for 18+

2011 Gap Year Program in Kanazawa, Japan

   

Is this program for you?

The Gap Year Program in Kanazawa is suited to the student who is looking for a high-quality language immersion program in a mid-size Japanese city! The program is ideal for students who want to combine daily Japanese language classes with afternoons, evenings and weekends that are free to join optional activities and excursions or spend time exploring Kanazawa on their own, with their host family or with new friends. The program is intended for students who are independent, have some travel experience, are comfortable taking public transit, are used to time away from family and are able to effectively manage and advocate for themselves in new and unfamiliar situations. Please see the About Mature Teen & Gap Year Programs page for more information.

Location

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)
• Some photos of the school can be found on the Photo Gallery page

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 school 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 come 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. 

For general information on homestay accommodation please visit our Homestay Q & A page.

The following program features are included in the price:

• 20 lessons per week
• Single room in homestay
• Breakfast and dinner with host family
• Language level test on first day of classes
• Certificate of attendance and achievement
• Cultural activity program three afternoons per week

For more information or to book this program please call us toll-free 1 888 386 1411