A career-oriented Japanese language program where international students receive comprehensive training ranging from company research to business etiquette, company visits, and presentations
The ISI Career and Language Academy Shibuya-Harajuku Campus (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter “Shibuya-Harajuku Campus”), operated by WEWORLD Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Masaaki Ogino), conducted corporate visits and training sessions on Thursday, August 27, as part of its hands-on career Japanese education program “Future Classroom,” in collaboration with The Asahi Shimbun Company, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Gakken Business Brains Co., Ltd., Tokyo Star Bank, Ltd., and Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc., among a total of 19 companies and organizations.
The international students received business etiquette training in advance and prepared their own questions for the companies they visited. Through interviews with employees, they learned about Japanese corporate culture and business communication.
Background: Record Number of International Students—The Role of Career Education at Japanese Language Schools
In recent years, an increasing number of companies have been working to recruit foreign talent against the backdrop of labor shortages and global expansion. On the other hand, it is not uncommon for practical mismatches to occur after hiring due to language barriers and differences in business customs.
ISI Career and Language Academy, which operates at two campuses—Shibuya-Harajuku and Takadanobaba—runs the “Future Classroom,” an industry-academia collaboration program, as part of its career-oriented Japanese language education aimed at employment. Focusing primarily on international students who have already earned a college degree and have some professional experience, the program teaches Japanese business philosophy and practices through actual company visits, assignments given by company representatives, and presentations.
Through this real-world, practical learning—which cannot be gained through traditional Japanese language education alone—many graduates are already thriving in Japanese companies, and the program is attracting more corporate participants every year.
“Future Classroom” Annual Program (Shibuya-Harajuku Campus)
| Program Periods | Themes | Learning Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| April Term | Research on target industries | Gain an understanding of Japanese industries and companies, and reflect on personal interests and future aspirations |
| July Term | Visits to Japanese companies | Experience what it’s like to work in Japan through interactions with actual workplaces and employees |
| October Term | Lectures by guest speakers | Consider career paths based on the experiences and values of professionals in the real world |
| January Term | Presentations on assignments provided by sponsoring companies | Enhance the practical skills necessary for the workforce through research, discussion, and communication in Japanese |
Program Details: Following approximately one and a half months of preparatory work, students proceed to the actual visit
The July “Company Visits” program is conducted with the following three objectives:
- Practicing business Japanese
- Understanding Japanese society and companies
- Improving social skills and foundational professional competencies
Students began by selecting their preferred companies to visit, then worked on researching the companies, assigning roles within their groups, learning proper etiquette for the visits, and preparing questions.
| Session | Content |
|---|---|
| Session 1 | Confirming the purpose of the company visits; completing a questionnaire on preferred companies to visit |
| Session 2 | Forming groups and assigning roles for each company visit; conducting company research |
| Session 3 | Workshop on business etiquette for company visits; preparing a list of questions |
| Session 4 (Visit Day) | Visiting companies in person and conducting interviews with employees |
| Session 5 | Preparing reports; presenting findings to the class; reflecting on the program as a whole |
Highlights from the Day
Here are some of the companies we visited this time.
- Asahi Shimbun Co., Ltd.
- Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
- Gakken Business Brains Co., Ltd.
- Tokyo Star Bank, Ltd.
- Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc.
14 other companies
During their visits to each company, the students received explanations from employees about the companies’ business operations and the rewards of their work, and engaged in lively Q&A sessions based on questions they had prepared in advance.
Left: Participants simulating a news interview = Asahi Shimbun Co., Ltd., Chuo Ward, Tokyo
Right: Participants receiving awards during a workshop = Gakken Business Brains, Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo
[Feedback from Participating Companies: Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)]
At JETRO, we highlighted the appeal of Japanese companies and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through presentations on our operations and corporate research workshops. Many participating students commented that their understanding of Japanese companies had deepened, and we are pleased that this served as a catalyst for them to consider building a career in Japan.
[Feedback from Participating Companies: Tokyo Star Bank, Ltd.]
During this company visit, we helped students deepen their understanding of banking and working in Japan through a panel discussion featuring foreign employees, an office tour, and a roundtable discussion.
At the roundtable, students and bank employees exchanged views on future careers and working in Japan. The session featured lively interaction in a friendly atmosphere from start to finish, with many questions raised.
For our bank as well, it was a valuable opportunity to hear the candid opinions of international students.
Future Developments
At the Takadanobaba Campus, we are planning a corporate partnership course in collaboration with Tokyo Star Bank, Ltd. for the October term. In this course, students will tackle real-world challenges provided by the company through group work, research, and presentations in Japanese. Through such collaborations with companies, the “Future Classroom” program aims to progressively deepen students’ learning.
To Businesses: We Are Seeking Partner Companies for the “Future Classroom” Program
In addition to this company visit, ISI Japanese Language School is always seeking companies willing to collaborate in various ways, such as problem-solving projects where students tackle challenges posed by companies and company information sessions.
Many companies have taken advantage of these opportunities to create avenues for recruiting international talent and to showcase their commitment to multicultural coexistence. Please feel free to contact us for more information.
WEWORLD Co., Ltd. Public Relations Department
Email: koho@weworld.co.jp