I am looking at creating an elective next year in Korea/Japan, however my Japanese is very limited (haven't done any since school), and my Korean non-existent. Is this likely to be a big problem, or are there places that also teach in English?
I am looking at creating an elective next year in Korea/Japan, however my Japanese is very limited (haven't done any since school), and my Korean non-existent. Is this likely to be a big problem, or are there places that also teach in English?
My friend with zilch command of the Japanese language had a terrific time in Japan and even published in one of the journals during his away rotation. He found the people to be fantastic and very supportive and it definitely opened his eyes to how his specialty was practiced very differently there.
So what you're saying is your friend found a pure-English-speaking elective here in Japan? What that probably was in reality was a vacation to Japan with an ostensible medical purpose. E.g., Many SoMs allow students to do electives anywhere in the world as long as an 'advisor' will sign off on it. I'll be completely frank that that is not having one's eyes opened to how a specialty is practiced here. Your friend must have also had zero patient contact. A research project is completely different from a clinical elective. I'm just putting that out there because people need to be realistic about what to expect coming here, not some fantasy of n=1.
You're not making sense. So "My friend with zilch command of the Japanese language" = your friend knows some Japanese but isn't fluent? Or was your comment supposed to be intentionally vague.No. Why do you assume it is a pure English speaking elective in Japan?
Lets hope others are not misled into believing that there is no patient contact during a clinical elective or that they would not be able to be academically productive in Japan.
I see you are in Osaka, but do you know what you are talking about?You're going to need Japanese under your belt before even considering doing a medical elective. Most universities want a JLPT1 certificate before they'll make a consideration. I've heard there are fewer places that will allow a JLPT2. And that's in an optimistic scenario where a hospital or clinic would even consider a がいこくじん, due to patient comfort, etc.
I've heard Korea is a lot worse btw. And that not knowing the language makes it virtually impossible to integrate.
I hope you haven't given up on the Japan elective. I'm going to Toho University in 3 weeks. It required a chest x-ray and a dean's letter, but it was fairly simple to apply and I did it all in English. They provide housing too.I am looking at creating an elective next year in Korea/Japan, however my Japanese is very limited (haven't done any since school), and my Korean non-existent. Is this likely to be a big problem, or are there places that also teach in English?
Guess it depends on what type of medical elective you're talking about then. If you can't speak Japanese, then what type of patient interaction are you even having.I see you are in Osaka, but do you know what you are talking about?
I am doing an elective in Japan this spring, and I have only passed JLPT N5 (awaiting JLPT N4 score).
I agree that you need to have native proficiency if you actually plan on practicing medicine in Japan, but to do an away rotation you do not.
OP, if you want info on places to apply, hit me up. You don't need to be good at Japanese, you just learn basic courtesies ("Hello, Thank You, I'm Sorry, etc.)
Yes, I won't have patient interaction, you are correct.Guess it depends on what type of medical elective you're talking about then. If you can't speak Japanese, then what type of patient interaction are you even having.
Sorry for bumping but what if I am fluent in Japanese but never took JLPT? Is the test that crucial? I can pass N1 with ease but just a hassle doing it.Guess it depends on what type of medical elective you're talking about then. If you can't speak Japanese, then what type of patient interaction are you even having.
Sorry for bumping but what if I am fluent in Japanese but never took JLPT? Is the test that crucial? I can pass N1 with ease but just a hassle doing it.