Internship and Scholarship Opportunities

Internship Opportunities

The Asian Studies Department has several organized internships for Asian Studies, Chinese and Japanese majors. Students are also welcome to find their own internship opportunities in Asia, and are encouraged to check with the Piper Center  for more information.

Scholarships for internships are currently available through the Piper Center, the Hayman Fund and  the Henry Luce Foundation, which supports internships in language or research.

Internships in Japan

• Education First—Shibuya, Tokyo. (TWO POSITIONS) This international company arranges in-country programs for high school and college students. Our student interns will be working as part of a marketing team to promote cross-cultural learning and study abroad programs to high school and college students. Interns may provide brush-up English lessons to returning students. They may be responsible for planning a cross-cultural event for college students. In the past, EF provided 40,000 yen (appx. $400) toward housing support, and work-related transportation costs, including between your apartment & EF Shibuya Office. (see: http://www.ef.com).
  Personalities/attributes that they look for: Outgoing, independent, reliable, flexible, and organized students who can speak about study abroad experience positively; someone who can take care of oneself in living and working in Tokyo;

• Joy English Academy Obihiro, Hokkaido. (ONE POSITION) This is a small but well-known English language school in Obihiro. Mr. Urashima, the owner/president, is a charismatic figure in the field of English language teaching in Japan. (See the list of his publication!) Our student intern will participate in teaching English to children and young adults. The intern will live in a house provided by the Academy with full utilities with NO PAY, with a home stay option on weekends. (see: http://www.joyworld.com/english)
  Personalities/attributes that they look for: Outgoing, self-sufficient, flexible, organized, and compassionate student who is interested in teaching English as a foreign language; someone who can appreciate living in a small city in Hokkaido.

• The KIKAI institute for Coral Reef Sciences, Kikai Island. (6-8 weeks, ONE or TWO POSITIONS)
  This very small coral island is located between Kyushu and Okinawa. The KIKAI institute for Coral Reef Sciences (https://kikaireefs.org/) conducts research and research activities in collaboration with governments, researchers, universities and corporations. Their activities include coral breeding, leaf checks for coral reef health checkups, and academic surveys. Our student interns can experience a variety of works, which includes, working as a research assistant, leading the Summer Coral Reef Science Camp (https://mail7806.wixsite.com/website-3) where you teach English to children and high school students, working in PR (writing articles in English for SNS, Website, flyers etc.), and other works such as assisting the management of the institute. This is an unpaid position. Accommodation will be provided with fee. (¥2000/day for private room; ¥1000/day for shared room. Example: if you stay for 6 weeks, it will cost approximately $420 for your accommodation.)
  Personalities/attributes that they look for are: Tough, who can survive and appreciate the isolated small island, social, independent, reliable, flexible, able to swim (optional), curious and interested in science, nature, and Japanese culture. While researchers at the Institute speak English, very few islanders understand English. You should be able to do everyday conversation (to go shopping, use transportation, have a small talk etc.) in Japanese.

Internship in Taiwan

Taiwan Experience Education Program (TEEP)

Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program

https://jetprogramusa.org

The JET Program is an employment opportunity allowing young professionals to live and work in cities, towns, and villages throughout Japan. Most participants serve as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) and work in schools; some work as Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs) as interpreters/translators.

To be eligible for the JET program, an applicant must:

• Be a U.S. citizen by the application deadline
• Hold a Bachelor’s degree by the designated date prior to departure
• Be able to adapt to living and working conditions in Japan
• Have excellent standard pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation in the English language
• Be interested in Japan and be willing to deepen their knowledge and appreciation of Japan after their arrival
• Be both mentally and physically healthy
• Have not previously participated in the JET Program for three years as of the year of departure, have not participated in the program for more than five years total, and have not declined a JET Program position in the last year
• Not have lived in Japan for a total of six or more years in the past ten years prior to departure
• ALT applicants: must be interested in the Japanese education system and working actively with children; must already have qualifications as language teachers or be strongly motivated to learn about the teaching of English as a foreign language
• CIR applicants: must have a strong, functional command of the Japanese language (Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level N1 or N2)

Scholarship Opportunities

Gilman International Scholarship Program 
https://www.gilmanscholarship.org

2,900 scholarships of up to $5,000 will be awarded this academic year for U.S.
citizen undergraduates to study or intern abroad. In addition, students who are studying a “Critical Need” language while abroad can apply for a supplemental award of up to $3,000.

Critical Need languages include:

Blakemore Foundation 
http://www.blakemorefoundation.org/

Blakemore Freeman Fellowships fund an academic year of advanced language study abroad in East or Southeast Asia for graduating seniors. To be eligible for a grant, an applicant must:

• Be pursuing an academic, professional, technical, or business career that involves the regular use of one of the below listed languages
• By the start of the grant, have a college undergraduate degree
• Be at or near an advanced level in the language: must have completed  the equivalent of the third year of language classes at the college level
• Be able to devote oneself exclusively to language study during the term of the grant; grants are not made for part-time study or research
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States

Eligible languages include:

Critical Language Scholarship 
http://clscholarship.org/

Critical Language Scholarships allow U.S. citizen undergraduates and graduates to spend eight to ten weeks abroad studying one of fourteen critical languages.

Eligible languages include:

Boren Scholarship
https://www.borenawards.org/scholarships/program-basics/boren-scholarship-basics

Boren Scholarships provide funding for U.S. citizen undergraduates to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests. The program focuses on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study deemed critical to U.S. national security. In exchange for funding, Boren Scholars commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation.

Maximum scholarship awards are:

• $8,000 for a summer program (STEM students only)
• $10,000 for one semester
• $20,000 for 6-12 months

Both Chinese and Japanese are listed as preferred languages for study. For a complete list of countries and languages, visit their website: https://www.borenawards.org/scholarships/thinking-applying/program-preferences/boren-scholarship-preferences