Program Calendar

Monday, June 19	Check-in (9:30 am – 4:00 pm) Opening Ceremony and Orientation (4:30 pm – 6:00 pm) All students are required to attend the Opening Ceremony and Orientation.
Tuesday, June 20	Placement Test (AM) Orientation (PM) Announcement of Test Results (PM) Welcome Party (PM)
Wednesday, June 21	Classes begin
Friday, July 28	Last day of classes and Closing Ceremony All students are required to attend the Closing Ceremony, which is a part of the Summer Program. Students can check-out AFTER the Ceremony on July 28. Bedding and Room Inspection (2:00 pm – 3:00 pm) Check-out (3:00 pm – 5:00 pm)
Saturday, July 29 - Monday, July 31	Check-out (9:00 am – 5:00 pm) Students are allowed to stay in the dormitory after July 28 if they wish. However, they will need to pay for their own meals in cash on their own for all meals starting from dinner on July 28. All students are required to check out during the designated times mentioned above ONLY. Students leaving before 9:00 am must check out during the check-out time (9:00 am – 5:00 pm) THE DAY BEFORE, and arrange their accommodation on their own for that night. All students are required to check out by 5:00 pm on Monday, July 31.

Program Calendar is subject to change.

Courses

The Summer Program 2023 will offer the following three elementary courses. Participants are required to take a Japanese Placement Test upon arrival at AIU. Each student will be assigned to one of the classes according to the results of the test.

Course Syllabi
JPL 120	Elementary Japanese 120
JPL 125	Elementary Japanese 125
JPL 220	Elementary Japanese 220

Daily Schedule

	Weekdays					Weekends & Holidays
9:00 am - 9:50 am	Japanese Language Class					No classes (field trips, events, free time, etc.**)
10:00 am - 10:50 am	Japanese Language Class
11:00 am - 11:50 am	Japanese Language Class
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm	Lunch in the Cafeteria
1:00 pm - 1:50 pm	Conversation Practice*
2:00 pm -	Japanese Culture Workshops* etc.

*Conversation Practice and Japanese Culture Workshops are only on scheduled weekdays.

**In their free time, participants can join AIU club/circle activities, the Foreign Language Conversation Partner Program, and Japanese Conversation Day (Themed House activities), alongside AIU Degree-seeking and regular-semester international exchange students.

Program Schedule

The detailed schedule for the Summer Program 2023 will be posted when finalized.
Until then, please refer to the Summer Program 2019 Schedule (the most recent in-person program schedule before the COVID-19 pandemic) for planning reference.

Japanese Culture Workshops and Field Trips

Summer Program 2023 will offer culture workshops and field trips to local sites and opportunities to appreciate traditional Japanese culture. Participants in the Summer Program 2019 experienced the following culture workshops and field trips:

Japanese Culture Workshops
	Shodo (Calligraphy) is one of the Japanese traditional arts. Students learn how to write Kanji and Hiragana in an artistic way with a brush and India ink called sumi.
	The Kimono, a beautiful traditional garment, is a source of pride for Japanese people. Up until the Edo period, the Kimono was worn as everyday attire by both Japanese men and women. In this program, participants will be taught how to wear summer cotton Kimono called a Yukata.
	Sado (Tea Ceremony) is the traditional Japanese way of drinking tea in accordance with set rules of etiquette. Both the host and guests share a sense of togetherness during the tea ceremony.

Field Trips
Oga Peninsula is one of the most beautiful and famous sightseeing spots in northern Japan. In the Summer Program 2019, students visited the following places on this trip: Oga Aquarium “GAO” Namahage Museum Cape Nyudo Mt. Kanpu (Kanpuzan)
Kakunodate is an old castle town located in eastern central Akita prefecture. Kakunodate was established in 1620 by Yoshikatsu ASHINA, the ruler of the Kakunodate area. This town has been known for its historic samurai mansions since the Edo era and remains popular with tourists from all over the world. It has an atmosphere truly appropriate to its nickname of “Little Kyoto.” The feel of traditional Japan is preserved in this quaint town. The Summer Program 2019 students visited the following places on this trip: Lake Tazawa (the deepest lake in Japan) Samurai Mansion Tsurunoyu Hot Spring Semboku City Sightseeing Information: https://www.city.semboku.akita.jp/en/ Tazawako-Kakunodate TRAVEL GUIDE: https://tazawako-kakunodate.com/en/

*Japanese Culture Workshops and Field trip destinations in 2023 are subject to change.

Optional Activities
	Aikido is a Japanese martial art which does not use weapons but ki, an invisible energy that exists in nature and humans. Ki can be derived by developing proper breathing techniques.
	Exchange event with Nursing School Students The Summer Program 2019 students were invited to an exchange event with local Nursing School students. In this event, the students enjoyed playing games and conversing in English and Japanese.
	Sitting in meditation is known as Zazen in the Zen School, with za meaning “sit" and zen meaning “meditation.” The seated posture is one of stillness and relaxation, and expresses a tranquil mind and a settled body. In the practice of zazen, one maintains the body in a position free of tension and movement, and focuses the mind on a single object of attention. This state is one of union of body and mind deepened through the relaxation and regulation of one’s breathing. During this activity, participants visited a temple near AIU for their zazen experience.

*The optional activities in 2023 are subject to change.