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Discover Japan with LABO

Summer Programs

The Nihongo Program and Summer Homestay Program

During the summer Labo offers these two programs which allow North American youth to learn about Japan first-hand by living with a Japanese family.

Labo's "Discover Japan" program

is for students who want to participate in one of Labo's In-Japan programs, are unable to join one of our US or Canadian exchange partners and reside in the US or Canada at the time of application.

Nihongo Program Schedule	Summer Homestay Program Schedule	Travel in Japan
General Information	Host Family Assignments	Program Fees
If you are unable to participate in Labo's programs through 4-H or another of Labo's exchange partners, you can still participate in Labo's programs as an independent traveler. Please click here for a Discover Japan brochure (362k .pdf/5 pages) Click Here for a VIDEO about the Discover Japan program It is best to view this video in Internet Explorer. If you need to download Windows Media Player, click here Click Here for a Discover Japan application (232k .pdf 9 pages)

The NIHONGO Program

The NIHONGO program is a three-week intensive Japanese-language program. The Labo NIHONGO Institute offers small classes, team teaching by certified instructors, a ‘learning by doing’ curriculum and field trips. Students live with families who help them use what they learned in class that day.

The SUMMER HOMESTAY Program

The four-week Summer Homestay program begins just after the NIHONGO program. By living with a Japanese family with a host sister or brother their age, exchangees experience Japan as a Japanese teen does. During the summer the exchangee goes to Labo camp with his/her host, and there are two nights in Tokyo (one at arrival and one at departure).
Most NIHONGO delegates choose to extend their stay in Japan for the Summer Homestay, where they can use their newly-acquired language skills. In that case, the Summer Homestay host family will be different from the NIHONGO host family.

LABO

Labo is a family-based Japanese youth organization. Children between the ages of 3 and 18 join Labo in order to improve their English-language ability as well as to learn about other cultures and expand their personal horizons.
Using bilingual songs,stories and plays from around the world,members learn about the world, and about working with one anothe. At weekly Labo Party meetings ,children of all ages work together to bring these stories and plays to life.At seasonal camps, Labo members also enjoy practicing and performing their plays in addition to hiking,games,and other outdoor activities.
Labo is volunteer-driven.Thousands of Labo Tutors,trained by local Labo offices,recruit young people from their neighborhood to join their Labo Party club. Tutors often remain an important part of their members’ lives into adulthood..

Labo International Exchange Foundation

The non-profit Labo International Exchange Foundation has been organizing homestay and academic exchange programs since 1972 for young people between the ages of 12 and 18.
Labo families welcome a foreign child into their family in order to make friends,learn about a new culture,introduce Japan,and practice their English. If an exchangee has plans to spend time with personal friends or to explore Japan on their own,a Labo homestay would not be appropriate.
During the summer, Labo staff,Canadian and US university Interns,and bilingual Labo Tutors are available to assist both the families and the exchangee with problems,question or concerns.

NIHONGO Program
2008 Schedule

SUMMER HOMESTAY Program
2008 Schedule

TRAVEL TO JAPAN

• Exchangees must purchase their own tickets to and from Japan (Narita).
  
• Students must arrive in Japan on the specified date and depart on the specified date. Labo is not able to accept students on different dates.
  
• Labo’s office in Seattle will be happy to help by serving as a ‘contact point’ during travel to and from Japan using our toll-free phone number but Labo will not assume responsibility for students during their trip to or from Japan.
  
• Labo will not assume responsibility for students who arrive in Japan prior to the start of the program, or who stay in Japan after the program ends.
  

Host Family Assignments and Orientation Materials

Labo will do their best to see that Host Family Information Sheets and orientation materials are sent to participants by May 14 for applications postmarked by March 14, and within 45 days of receipt of the application if applications are postmarked later than March 14.

Accidents and Sickness Insurance

All exchangees will be enrolled in an accident and sickness insurance plan. Details will be sent to participants upon receipt of their application. It is a $250,000 zero-deductible insurance policy. Pre-existing conditions are not covered, and there are other exclusions.
If there are any medical expenses while in Japan, Labo or the host family will pay those costs, and Labo will bill the insurance company directly. However, any expenses not covered by insurance, or claims denied by the insurance company will be the responsibility of the exchangee’s family.
Families may purchase additional coverage (i.e. travel insurance) if they wish.

Termination of Program Participation

If a student is not able to follow the rules of Labo or of their host family, they may be returned to the United States or Canada. Before such action is taken, though, Labo will discuss the situation with the parents in the US or Canada. All costs involved with such an early return will be the responsibility of the exchangees’ family.

HOST FAMILY ASSIGNMENTS

Both Summer Homestay and Nihongo Families

• Host families must be members of Labo, and the US and Canadian student must be willing to participate in Labo club activities and Labo camp.

• Students are expected to abide by the rules of their host family. They are expected to follow the host family’s schedule, and participate in planned activities.

• Exchangees are responsible for taking the initiative and contacting someone from Labo (Tutor, Intern, or staff member) if there is a problem they cannot resolve with their host family directly. Labo will give all students 24-hour phone numbers and pre-addressed and pre-stamped post-cards to use to contact the office if they have a problem.

• Exchangees are discouraged from calling home during the exchange. This is to help prevent homesickness and to allow the student to join into their host family’s life. Likewise, US and Canadian families and friends are asked not to call Japan during the exchange.

• Exchangees are not allowed to travel on their own to visit friends or others in Japan unless the trip has been approved by the Labo office and host family before arriving in Japan. Requests (with detailed contact information, etc.) should be sent in writing to the Labo office in Seattle. Labo is happy to help estimate trip costs and make travel arrangements, but all expenses are the responsibility of the exchangee. Please limit private trips to two days.

• Trips or activities planned by the host family will be paid for by the host family.

Nihongo Program Host Families

• Students will be assigned to a family living within a two hour commute of school.

• Host families may not have children, and if they do, the children may not be the same age/sex as the exchangee.

• Host families will be involved in the educational progress of their students. They will be given a copy of the daily lesson plan and texts, and will help students review their daily lessons.

• Host families will provide all meals for the exchangee except for lunch on school days. There are many inexpensive restaurants and take-out places near the school. NOTE: If a student chooses to eat away from their host family, they must pay for their meals.

Summer Homestay Host Families

• Host families will have a child of the same sex as the exchangee. The host sister or brother will be within 2 years (older or younger) of the age of the US/Canadian participant.

• Host families will provide all meals for the student.

• Labo will try to assign host families in accordance with any special requests.

2008 PROGRAM FEES

(all prices are in US dollars)

Nihongo Program

The NIHONGO program fee is $1,050 for applications postmarked by the 15th of March.

This fee covers: All travel in Japan; All meals and lodging while in Japan except for lunch on school days; Travel pass to get to school; Tuition and school supplies,school activities and field trips; Labo supervision throughout the exchange; Yen packet upon arrival ($30 worth of yen), Narita airport User ’s Fee; Accident and Sickness Insurance; Exchange T shirt,and activities planned by the host family or by Labo.

The NIHONGO fee does not cover personal purchases (souvenirs, snacks, newspapers, film, etc.), activities not planned by the host family or Labo, or lunch on school days.

Applications will be accepted after March 15 on a ‘space available’ basis only, and there will be a ‘rush application’ charge of $100 for applications accepted after April 1.

Summer Homestay Program

The Summer Homestay fee is $1,300 for applications postmarked by the 15th of March.

This fee covers: All travel within Japan;All meals and lodging while in Japan; Travel to camp and camp fee; Labo supervision throughout the exchange;Yen packet upon arrival ($30 worth of yen);Narita airport User ’s Fee; Accident and Sickness Insurance; Exchange T-shirt;and activities planned by the host family or by Labo. The fee does not cover personal purchases (souvenirs, snacks, newspapers, film, etc.) or activities not planned by the host family or Labo.

Applications will be accepted after March 14 on a ‘space available’ basis only, and there will be a ‘rush application’ charge of $100 for applications accepted after April 1.

Summer Homestay and Nihongo Program Discount

Students participating on both the NIHONGO and SUMMER HOMESTAY programs will be charged $2,150 for both programs. Application fees, deadlines and ‘rush application’ fees apply as above.

Payment Dates

A non-refundable deposit of $100 is due with the application form.

The balance of program fees is due on June 1. Payment may be by check or money order.

If payment is not received by June 4, Labo will consider that the participant has cancelled.

Refund/Cancellation Policy

The $100 deposit is not refundable.

Other fees are 100% refundable if cancellation is made in writing or email to the Labo office within 14 days of arrival in Japan. A $250 cancellation fee will be charged if cancellation is made less than 14 days before arrival in Japan.