Host Families, Language Classes and Community Service

Host Families
The homestay is considered a vital component to the Gap Year program in Tokyo. Homestays provide students with an unparalleled opportunity for language acquisition, cultural immersion and local community involvement. The Gap Year program adheres to a high standard of cultural immersion and expects students to respect and engage with the host family, affectively and intellectually.

Language Studies
GAP students study at the Inter-Cultural Institute, enrolling in 20 hours/wk of Japanese language classes over a three month period. Lessons are taught with special emphasis on the four basic skills. Elementary, intermediate and advanced levels of Japanese are offered. Students with no prior Japanese language study may enroll in the program. Class sizes are typically small and well structured to suit the students' needs.

Community Service
GAP students volunteer at a local public Japanese elementary school, teaching English to children and serving as a teacher's assistant. The volunteer commitment ranges from four to six hours per week. Students are assigned their volunteer placements upon arrival in Japan. The volunteer opportunity is intended to provide students with a hands-on teaching experience within the Japanese educational system.

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