Academic Differences in Japan

How does the academic system in Japan compare to Maryville College? :

There are two tests in one semester abroad at Tokyo International University: 1 midterm and 1 final exam. While there will be homework and various other assignments, the workload given at Japanese universities is said to be lighter than that of U.S. institutions.

According to the ISEP website, "Japanese students are typically very quiet during class. Rather than interrupting the professor to ask questions, Japanese students may be more inclined to wait until class has dismissed before speaking with peers, checking their text books, or meeting with professors to ask specific questions. Open questions presented for anyone to answer within the classroom may receive little feedback from Japanese students. Professors in Japan often times call students by name when seeking classroom participation. Japanese students sometimes refrain from using eye contact when speaking with their professors. This does not mean that these students are insincere nor does it suggest that the student is being disrespectful."

The Japanese education system varies from that of the U.S. mostly by its academic calendar. There are two semesters in Japan, and the school year begins in April and ends in March. The spring semester is from April until the end of July or early August. Coursework is distributed pretty evenly throughout the semester.

Students are expected to attend every class (unless there is an emergency or illness) and to be on time. Late work is rarely taken.

Students and teachers are very formal in Japan. While many students try to act this way at MC, it is still a much more relaxed atmosphere than in a Japanese classroom.

Credits:

Language classes at Tokyo International University are worth 8 credit hours each. Electives are worth 4.

While I cannot answer for TIU specifically, I have heard from many sources that the workload at Japanese universities is much lighter than in the U.S.; however, the value is the same.

According to ISEP, "Lecture courses and most language courses meet for 90 minutes 1 or 2 times a week. -With the exception of some programs where Japanese language courses meet 3 to 5 times a week for 50 minutes."

I believe that all of my language credits should transfer directly to MC. However, the elective courses I take will probably not transfer completely. 

Grades:

Grading Scale

Scale U.S. Grade Equiv. 80-100 A 70-79 B 60-69 C 0-59 F

Support:

There is a support system for international students to make sure that they can receive help if needed. There is an excellent library and areas to study Japanese, as well as areas to talk to people in English. Tutoring does not appear to be as popular in Japan than it is in the U.S., so I am not sure if this is available.

Full-time Status:

I could not find any specific information for how many credits are the minimum to be considered a full-time student at TIU, but the recommended amount of hours by most programs (and the MC study abroad page) is 15 hours. 

3 or 4 courses totaling 12 or more credit hours are required for full-time status at both MC and TIU.