Program Structure

The CLS Program in Hikone, Japan provides students opportunities to learn Japanese both inside the classroom and in an immersive cultural setting during an intensive 8-week language program set on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa, where one can experience the traditions of the people who have been settled in Shiga Prefecture for countless generations. Students receive 20 hours per week of classroom instruction where they learn the four major skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing in Japanese.

Additionally, the CLS curriculum in Hikone incorporates extensive co-curricular activities including day and weekend excursions to explore significant sites in and near Shiga Prefecture, cultural seminars, and community projects where participants utilize their Japanese language to learn more about Japan’s culture. Students will also have one-on-one sessions with native-speaking language partners for a few hours a week. Altogether, students will cover the equivalent of one year of Japanese instruction at a U.S. institution during the course of the summer.

The University of Shiga Prefecture (USP) is well known for its programs in engineering, environmental science and human cultures. USP treats their surroundings in Shiga Prefecture as an extension of their university campus by encouraging and providing their students with many opportunities that bring them in contact with the local people and natural environment around them. You can find out more about USP on their website.

Language Levels Offered:

• Intermediate: Minimum requirement: completion of two years of college-level Japanese, or its equivalent, prior to the start of the program.
• Advanced: Minimum requirement: completion of three academic years of college-level Japanese, or its equivalent, prior to the start of the program.