Northwest Student Exchange's Japan Program is a cultural immersion and study abroad opportunity for high school students aged 15 to 18 who spend a full academic year or a single semester living and studying in Japan. Participants are placed with carefully screened volunteer host families and attend a Japanese high school alongside local peers, joining school clubs and activities while developing real profworld proficiency in the Japanese language. The program is available in three formats, a full academic year of approximately 11 months, a fall semester, or a spring semester, giving students flexibility in how they pursue this transformative experience. It is one of the most meaningful opportunities available to high school students, offering a chance to develop cross-cultural understanding, independence, and a global perspective that will last a lifetime.
Communicating and understanding content in a language other than your first.
Understanding and respectfully engaging with people from different backgrounds.
Adjusting quickly and effectively when plans or circumstances change.
Fully focusing on and understanding what someone else is communicating.
Guiding a group toward a shared goal and keeping everyone moving together.
Extended immersion in Japanese culture and language directly prepares students for cross-cultural diplomacy and international relations work.
Students develop deep foreign language proficiency and cross-cultural understanding valuable for teaching Japanese or other languages.
Community Experiences
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