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Asian Studies Internships in Japan and Taiwan

With financial assistance from the Freeman Foundation and the U.S. Department of
Education Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Languages (UISFL) Program
fund, the Department of Asian Studies is offering summer 2012 internship opportunities
in Japan and Taiwan. Up to four opportunities are available in each country.

Students will apply for an internship, specifying either Japan or Taiwan and expressing
preferences among the opportunities that are available. The review committee will make final decisions about recipients and specific internship assignments.

The length of the internship may vary but will extend for a minimum of one month. Selected students must register for 0.5 credit academic internship through St. Olaf College's summer school program. Guidelines for internships are available on the CEL website.

Unless otherwise indicated, language competency is required for these internships. Eligibility guidelines are included in the application form. Financial support will cover in-country ground transportation and provide a housing and per diem stipend, and off-set the college tuition fee for 0.5 credit academic internship.

Applications and recommendations should be directed to Professor Bruce Dalgaard (dalgaard@stolaf.edu, Tomson Hall 351).

To hear stories from the summer 2010 interns, click here!

PROBABLE INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES (final decision by review panel):

JAPAN

• EducationFirst—Shibuya, Tokyo. This international company arranges in-country programs for high school and college students. Intern will participate in interviews of Japanese college students as part of ongoing study of ways to expand appeal of this program for study/travel abroad.
• Japanime—Nishi-Kawaguchi, Tokyo. Small-scale development, design, production and marketing firm that creates manga and anime-related education materials. Intern lives with the owner's family on site. Opportunity for interaction with artists, designers and technology specialists.
• Joy English Academy and Otofuke Town Hall —Obihiro and Otofuke, Hokkaido. Two part internship. With English House Joy the intern will participate in teaching English to children and young adults. At the town hall the intern will participate in life-long education program development and delivery and some middle school English teaching. Intern will live on-site at the English House Joy school.

TAIWAN

• Kingcar Education Foundation—Taipei.  Established in late 1980s the organization’s main work is to create co-curricular educational opportunities for youth.  Intern will be involved in ‘summer camp-type’ activities in and around Taipei. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  Friday, March 16, 2012

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Eligibility Guidelines:

• Internships must be taken for credit and must follow guidelines for International Academic Internships
• Applicants must be currently enrolled at St. Olaf; except in unusual circumstances applicants should have junior standing
• A minimum GPA of 2.5 (with 3.0 or above preferred) will be required, although special cases will be considered
• Students applying for an internship must be enrolled for subsequent Fall term
• Preference will be given to Asian Studies majors and/or Japan/China concentrators
• Unless otherwise indicated language competency (Japanese or Chinese) is required; this is demonstrated by completion of JPN/CHN 232 with a grade of B or better

Terms of Agreement:

• Scholarship recipients shall serve at least 100 hours over a minimum of four weeks
• Upon returning to campus, the scholarship recipients shall submit a short reflection essay (350-500 words) describing the experience and how it contributed to their understanding of the country and its language (submitted to Professor Dalgaard)
• Participants will coordinate with Asian Studies faculty members to present information about their internship experience to other Asian Studies students upon returning to campus (arranged through the Asian Studies Department Chair)

Application Deadline and Process:

• APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY 5:00 ON MARCH 16, 2012.
• APPLICANTS SHOULD REVIEW THE REGISTRATION PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC INTERNSHIPS. Note all required paperwork and signatures. Upon acceptance to the program and placement in an internship site, students should contact the CEL immediately to begin the registration process.
• Students who apply to the program will need to submit a resume in both English and Japanese or Chinese. Use this resource to format your Japanese resume: Sample Japanese Resume. Students will also find the resume guidelines from Going Global useful (click on Country Guides, then Japan or China).

Scholarships will be given based on five primary criteria:

• Relationship of internship proposal to the student's academic goals
• Substance of the written proposal
• Evidence of sound preparation for the internship experience
• General academic performance and demonstrated knowledge of the host country
• Faculty support