Chinese Foreign Exchange Student?

[Pure3nergy]

Hi, I'm chinese, living in the US, and I am really interested in going to japan. My question is will the foreign exchange programs/organizations accept me or not accept me cause I'm chinese and I want to go to Japan? How old do I have to be in order to be able to qualify? WILL the japanese people or host family accept me there? Lastly, Do I have to know japanese? (I'm planning to learn it in the beginning of a new semester in Septemeber.)

[NERD]

You know, you should see if your school offers such foreign exchange programs in the first place, they probably would be able to offer a better idea about it than any of us, since we have no idea what your situation is. Other than the fact that you are Chinese and in USA, we have no clue if you are in high school/college, etc.

[grace_enyi]

Hi, I'm chinese, living in the US, and I am really interested in going to japan. My question is will the foreign exchange programs/organizations accept me or not accept me cause I'm chinese and I want to go to Japan? How old do I have to be in order to be able to qualify? WILL the japanese people or host family accept me there? Lastly, Do I have to know japanese? (I'm planning to learn it in the beginning of a new semester in Septemeber.)

I don't think there's any need to exaggerate racial problems between Japanese and other Asians. No one can give you a definite answer for whether or not you'll be "accepted" there. People are different, even Japanese, yes. I know people of many different ethnicities who have been accepted to programs at Waseda, Japan Women's University, Doshisha, and the Princeton in Ishikawa program. My Korean and Chinese American friends still keep in touch with their host families who were very affectionate to them.

[羽之助]

Hi, I'm chinese, living in the US, and I am really interested in going to japan.

Meaning that you are from China and are just studying in the States, or you are an American of Chinese descent? (assuming the former)

Your school should allow you to go on exchange even though you are an exchange student yourself (if you understand what I mean) because you are in their program. It'll require some extra paperwork to get a Japanese student visa on a Chinese passport but not too much, I think.

[Pure3nergy]

Meaning that you are from China and are just studying in the States, or you are an American of Chinese descent? (assuming the former)

Your school should allow you to go on exchange even though you are an exchange student yourself (if you understand what I mean) because you are in their program. It'll require some extra paperwork to get a Japanese student visa on a Chinese passport but not too much, I think.

Naw. Haha. I'm an American of Chinese decent. I am currently a junior in High school. I don't know if my school offers it but you know...I can always try and find a program that offers it. Outside of school of course.

[Marqs]

Most of the guys in my dorm are chinese. They pretty much just hang out with other foreigners - say they have some trouble with the japanese. Even if they all speak good japanese.

OTOH lots of people seem to like americans here. Just your japanese accent might influence how they react, but this is just guessing... There have been american-chinese exchange students here too.

oh like pretty much every thread here says - it'll make your life here a lot easier if you learn japanese.

[touche]

lol, i'm chinese american too , Pure3nergy.

I don't think there's that much paperwork and such to do considering you're american, and i don't think there is much prejudice there (in japan) against chinese anyways. If you been to Taiwan or mainland China, it's like that, except it's the other way around. Some people are nice, some aren't, it just depends.

If you really want to go, you should try it out, good luck, sir.

(if you become an exchange in japan can i come with you? XD)

[羽之助]

Ohhhkay now we're clarified lol.
Yeah, as an American your visa will be granted like same day. Anyway, start studying Japanese now, if your school has an agreement with a high school in Japan then after some studying you can go (life is INFINTELY easier if you have at least some grasp of the language). If not, then you will just have to wait until university. Email the school you want to go to and find out about their exchange programs and what suits you. Or the local Rotary/Lions Club.

[Pure3nergy]

lol, i'm chinese american too , Pure3nergy.

I don't think there's that much paperwork and such to do considering you're american, and i don't think there is much prejudice there (in japan) against chinese anyways. If you been to Taiwan or mainland China, it's like that, except it's the other way around. Some people are nice, some aren't, it just depends.

If you really want to go, you should try it out, good luck, sir.

(if you become an exchange in japan can i come with you? XD)

Hell yeah you can come. Its always better to go with people that share a common interest. :D Where do you live? Anyways, Yeah I dont think my school offeres a foreign exchange program because its a inner city high school. But, I will try and learn japanese when a new sememster starts. Then I might go, I might not go. If I go I will be lonley because none of my friends would be going. :(

[touche]

Ohhhkay now we're clarified lol.
Yeah, as an American your visa will be granted like same day. Anyway, start studying Japanese now, if your school has an agreement with a high school in Japan then after some studying you can go (life is INFINTELY easier if you have at least some grasp of the language). If not, then you will just have to wait until university. Email the school you want to go to and find out about their exchange programs and what suits you. Or the local Rotary/Lions Club.

hm....what if no relative education facility or school has the Japanese course either? I also do not completely trust North Ca. education on foreign languages either..are there other solutions? or should i just find a private tutor (if i can afford it, i can't, i'm just asking theoratically) since i'm so picky? >_<

[Pure3nergy]

hm....what if no relative education facility or school has the Japanese course either? I also do not completely trust North Ca. education on foreign languages either..are there other solutions? or should i just find a private tutor (if i can afford it, i can't, i'm just asking theoratically) since i'm so picky? >_<

I know this one Community College that offers Japanese Classes. :D Yay I am gonna take it in like 6-8 Months. :clap:

[touche]

Good Luck :clap: (they need a thumbs up smilie hereXD)

ANother question, do they teach the different levels like i heard (level 1 being the highest, i believe, in HK) or some other format?

[羽之助]

I was speaking Japanese after 7 monThs Of intensive self study (I had boRing jobs so I could always take out some chaRactErs to review, aNd a spare period aT school meanT I could write emails or study wHat I wantEd). That's Pretty much all I did; hell my hMgh school's language prograMS were aLl dEad (UnfoRtunately german and spanish were long gone).

Recommended for self-study:
Pimsleur Japanese http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&isbn=0743533887&itm=1
or Teach Yourself Japanese http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0071431578/sr=8-1/qid=1141710781/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-8146787-0276616?%5Fencoding=UTF8

Later on, a big help ...
The Kanji Learner's Dictionary
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/4770028555/qid=1141710922/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-8146787-0276616?s=books&v=glance&n=283155
and Heisig's wonder work, Remembering the Kanji
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/4889960759/qid=1141711075/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-8146787-0276616?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

Remember, though you may not be able to afford them all at once, they make great birthday/christmas gifts ...
http://www.gakubun.co.jp/JPA/
http://www.alc.co.jp/keypal/
and how to use it: find someone japanese in your area (or someone young whose parents are, maybe), and talk! or ...

[Pierrot le Fou]

In my experience, Chinese are the people the Japanese seem to be the most prejudiced against. That isn't to say that the hostilities will be open, or that you will be treated like crap, it's more that there are MANY preconceptions (generally negative) of Chinese people here. However, you're American, not Chinese, which will probably smooth over the sore spots a lot more than if you were an actual Chinese citizen.

Don't let that discourage you, but I think it's prudent to mention that you may come across some prejudice.

[Pure3nergy]

In my experience, Chinese are the people the Japanese seem to be the most prejudiced against. That isn't to say that the hostilities will be open, or that you will be treated like crap, it's more that there are MANY preconceptions (generally negative) of Chinese people here. However, you're American, not Chinese, which will probably smooth over the sore spots a lot more than if you were an actual Chinese citizen.

Don't let that discourage you, but I think it's prudent to mention that you may come across some prejudice.

Haha will they really consider me American even though Im a CHINESE American? Cause I'm chinese and I will always be chinese in their eyes. Lets hope it smooths over when and if I go to Japan. Right now, I should find myself a job and start saving to go there. :bwitch:

[ManiacalLaughter]

While at an orientation for my exchange trip to Japan with Youth for Understanding, there were several Chinese-Americans. And one native Chinese.

And the language thing wasn't required for me. I went knowing little more than greetings and numbers.
Of course, all that depends on the program.

[jindojim]

Well, I agree that anyone going to Japan should learn Japanese.

But in my opinion, Asians going to Japan should learn MORE Japanese. Because they'll be less accomodating to your needs and less likely to use English. It's possible to get by to some degree, but you'll find yourself in some difficult situations because they'll expect you to use Japanese and act Japanese. So it's prob especially best for you if you have a good amount of Japanese and a bit of knowledge about Japanese customs before you go to study abroad. I think it'll be a lot more enjoyable that way.

[ryobreak]

I'm Japanese, and I live in America. I have a lot of Chinese friends, and hey, we've already determined that all the negative things our governments say about each other is hog-wash.

Japanese people aren't deviously plotting WWIII.
Chinese people don't eat their babies.

That said, en3rgy, you'll be absolutely fine in Japan. The people there are nice, there is no prejudice (well, very little if any), and Chinese people, like any other foreigner, will be greeted with curiosity and hospitality.

I saw your first post, and it went around the lines of Japanese people thinking of you negatively because you were Chinese and I was like "...whoah"

Worry not my friend, we don't bite (hard), and it should be one heck of a fun trip. Hope you might find a nice girlfriend along the way

[Pure3nergy]

I'm Japanese, and I live in America. I have a lot of Chinese friends, and hey, we've already determined that all the negative things our governments say about each other is hog-wash.

Japanese people aren't deviously plotting WWIII.
Chinese people don't eat their babies.

That said, en3rgy, you'll be absolutely fine in Japan. The people there are nice, there is no prejudice (well, very little if any), and Chinese people, like any other foreigner, will be greeted with curiosity and hospitality.

I saw your first post, and it went around the lines of Japanese people thinking of you negatively because you were Chinese and I was like "...whoah"

Worry not my friend, we don't bite (hard), and it should be one heck of a fun trip. Hope you might find a nice girlfriend along the way

Hehe with that said, I'm definitely going to Japan to visit. :D Thanks for the reassurance. Haha. Well getting a "nice" girlfriend there would be nice, but like they say...Long distance relationships don't last. :watson: Well, there aren't any Japanese people in my school but on the forums I often, when there is a "Who's to Blame for What Japan did to China" thread, I hear alot of Japanese people say that they weren't to blame and that China brought it on themselves. I know all Japanese people aren't like that but wasnt there another thread here that said that Japanese people dislike Chinese people the most in some national survey? Of course again, it was based on like two thousand people or so people and I'm not saying all Japanese people are like that. I think that I AM going to Japan but I don't want it to be a living hell. :boggled:

[touche]

Japanese people aren't deviously plotting WWIII.
Chinese people don't eat their babies.


I know nothing of the truth anymore =P

[Plekto]

No, it's the Icelanders, I tell you!

Sigh... nobody believes me when I tell them... But they'll see!

;)

[ryobreak]

Well, there aren't any Japanese people in my school but on the forums I often, when there is a "Who's to Blame for What Japan did to China" thread, I hear alot of Japanese people say that they weren't to blame and that China brought it on themselves.

Well, I don't know about the others, but I think this is really just probing human phychology.

Now, I don't want to go deeply into this topic, but just to give you an idea, Filipino's (the last time I checked) aren't burning American flags because 60,000 American marines massacred thousands of them in the early 1900's. France isn't seeking further reparations from Germany for their anti-semeticism. Japanese people aren't burning American flags and throwing pebbles at American ambassadors for A-bombing them.

So why, might you ask, do the Japanese and Chinese still clash at one another?

Well.. they both have a -very- long history. China boasts the longest recorded history, and Japan records the longest single unbroken reign of a dynasty. So, naturally, both sides don't want to make concessions (deep ones).

To be fair, yes, Japan has apologized no less than 17 times. No, it doesn't justify what happened. Yes, Japan did pay China for a lot of the things that happened (in the form of low-interest loans during revolutionary turmoil). And to every Japanese person, no, the Chinese don't have to stop grieving. As a matter of fact it's wonderful that they honor those who had given their lives to preserve China. But, for the record, I don't approve either side burning flags. That's just a dreadful and uncivilized way to get a point across. It's like pissing on your neighbor's lawn because he can't keep his tv volume low.

Citizens of both nations are spurred by their governments to brawl against each other. It's really just nationalistic fervor on either side trying to gain an economic advantage over their rival.

Well, yeah, everything in a nutshell. But with so much cultural diffusion going on, mainly the Chinese younger generation being attracted to Japanese street / pop fashion, in about 50 years, I'm sure the Chinese and Japanese will get along fine. Besides, both Chinese and Japanese are very calm, kind-mannered people at heart. All this post-war accusations are just a form of brinkmanship imposed by the government. Soon enough, we (the younger generation) will be enlightened with what our government's are trying to do, and hopefully, we'll be able to press reforms.

Yeah.

[Crowley]

Um, the last time the Chinese younger generation tried to press reforms, it didn't go so well.