Moving to Japan and going to school...Maybe?
My dream in life has always been to be an animator and move to Japan. I would like to go to school in Japan if at all possible. I need to know a couple of things though. 1. What colleges in Japan offer animation 2. how can I get the money to do this? My parents are wealthy but refuse to give me any help and as I am only 21 I still have to use their income which means I don't get very much financial aid. I know there are scholarships but will they be enough, and where do I go to find these? 3. At current I do not speak Japanese. I have been trying to find a local teacher or someone who can teach me but I've had no luck. If anyone knows of anyone in the Denver Colorado metro area that teaches japanese I would love to know! 4. Once in Japan, I need to be able to work so I can afford an apartment or something. My husband would be coming along and we need a place for the both of us. The thing is I'm not sure if you can work on a student Visa. Does anyone know? yes I'm 21 and married but the government still considers you a dependent if you are under 24 even if you do your own taxes and are not relient on you parents at all, its stupid, I know. I am not a dependent if I am married yes, But thats only if you have been married for an entire year. I have not.
Studying Abroad - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
You're married? Then in the US, you don't need to put your parents' financial information on your financial aid documents. Doesn't matter how old you are - you're married. I'm not sure how realistic your plans are, but regardless, start by learning Japanese. Fluently. Check all the local colleges and community colleges. See if any offer Japanese language classes that you can take. Becoming good in Japanese is neither easy nor quick, so be prepared. This could take some time. You could also go to a private language school, like Berlitz, but those are *very* expensive. Or... and this may be a great option... the Japanese Society of CO offers Japanese classes! And they're right there in Denver: http://www.jascolorado.org/ They might also be able to give you advice on the realism of your plan. Why not at least *start* learning animation and art in the US, while you're learning Japanese? In this way, at least you'll have a portfolio done by the time you've learnt Japanese, so you'll be able to apply to animation programs in Japan. I do not know if Japanese schools offer financial aid to foreign students. Don't be surprised if they do not. It's really common that foreign students are expected to be able to support themselves. The good thing about learning Japanese and starting some art classes in the US is that even if you never end up moving to Japan, you've STILL learnt Japanese and you've STILL explored your interests in animation, and to me, that sounds like a very positive thing.
2 :
No, your plan is not unrealistic, but it will take some planning. 1 Google may be your best bet. Another option? Contact a degree program that interests you here in the states and then ask them if they can offer suggestions/contacts/etc. 2 Re: my first response, and potentially an even better option, just find and complete a program that interests you here in the states. Do you have an art background of any sort or any formal artistic training? Might be hard to pursue your dream if you don't, but perhaps not impossible. Its likely that studying here will be cheaper, more geared towards American learning styles, and, best of all, if you choose the right one, it may offer opportunities to study abroad or even intern in Japan. If that's the case, I know from experience that the Japanese govt offers some really nice stipends for American students. All I paid for essentially was my plain ticket. And interning for a few semesters will give you a broad range of experience and allows you to do a lot of networking prior to graduating. Side note: Seriously? You're 21 and married; hardly a dependent. So take that independence to heart and do your own thing already. And everyone is entitled to funding for school, just fill out a FAFSA based on your own income... 3. In most large cities in Japan, English is widely spoken, at least to some degree. I'm sure you can find a tutor in Denver... again, Google is likely your best bet. Or maybe contact a local university's language or Asian studies department? Or try Rosetta stone... works pretty well actually, but it isn't exactly cheap. Actually, you may even be able to use some free CDs from the library. At least you can call and find out. Knowing the language helps, but learning how to communicate by other means (draw pictures, talk with your hand, etc. be creative) is invaluable. 4. No, you can't work on a student visa. Sometimes there are exceptions, and there are always people who work under the table anyways, but I wouldn't recommend it. These are all things that the Japanese consulate can clarify for you. So just give them a call, or go to their website. I'd paste it here, but you can find it quickly/easily yourself (again, Google is amazing). Check out http://www.clscholarship.org/ too... it's a federally funded scholarship program for Americans to study what they describe as "critical need" (aka "less popular") languages abroad. Good luck!
