We ask all students to arrive three days before the semester in order to get over jet lag but consider coming even earlier if you’d like to have some time to enjoy exploring Kyoto. We are happy to make dorm arrangements and give you ideas for fun and interesting excursions around Kyoto if you choose to arrive early.

If you have never studied Japanese before we ask that you learn the Japanese scripts known as hiragana and katakana before you come. Don’t panic, this isn’t the pictographs that number in the thousands called kanji but rather two types of more simplistic syllabaries, somewhat similar to our alphabet. We estimate that you can learn to recognize and write these in about 20 to 30 hours of self study. Do not wait until the last minute to do this. Spaced out over the course of the summer, you can easily learn them with only minimal daily practice. The best way to begin is through using the following websites where you will find printable flash cards and lessons on how to write them.

http://www.jsnw.org.uk/features.htm
http://coffeesigns.com/Resources/japanese/kanji_kana.asp

We will be sending you more information and study tips by email so please make sure that you check the email account that you supplied to Global College on a regular basis.