Himeji, Japan
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program in Himeji, Japan provides an intensive 8-week intermediate to advanced-level language program set in the historical castle town of Himeji where one can experience Japan’s traditional community within short reach to major cities in the Kansai area. Students receive a minimum of 20 hours per week of classroom instruction and participate in extensive community engagement activities. Advanced-level students practice domain-specific professional Japanese in authentic contexts. The CLS program in Himeji incorporates a language policy that requires scholarship recipients to speak only Japanese during all program activities.
CLS Himeji’s local partner is Himeji Dokkyo University of Japan, a university known for its strength in foreign language education. Participants live in a business hotel with private bath. The hotel is within a 15-20 minute bus ride from the university campus where classes are held. It is a pleasant and encouraging environment for learning the language, engaging native professionals and peers, and practicing what you have learned in the local community.
The CLS curriculum in Himeji incorporates extensive co-curricular activities including excursions to explore culturally significant sites and community service projects where participants utilize their Japanese language and culture knowledge and skills to function meaningfully in the community. The institute includes a short stay in Kyoto.