This is an interview with Antonio, one of our alumni from Nichibei Kaiwai Gakuin (The Japanese Language Institute). Interviewed by a former classmate, Antonio shares his experience of the remarkable progress he has made in learning Kanji and conversation skills over the course of two years. He also discusses how and why he chose to enroll at Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin.

I arrived in Tokyo as an expat at Mitsui & Co., Ltd, speaking very little Japanese. My daily lessons with JLI have helped me adjust to life in Tokyo and have allowed me to develop a deeper understanding of the Japanese culture. The teachers at JLI are experienced, confident and work to a well-constructed lesson plan.
I am in a class with 8 others from many different countries, making for a diverse and engaging learning environment. While my Japanese is at a basic level, the reaction I get from colleagues and clients in the workplace when I speak Japanese is always positive. I am looking forward to developing my skills further.

I was introduced to Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin by my sister who studied there and was very satisfied. When I started studying at Nichibei, my Japanese level was very low.

I thought it would take years to start speaking it. However, I was both surprised and grateful to Nichibei because I started speaking Japanese in a few months. Teachers are kind, patient, and professional. We learn speeches, presentations, compositions, etc. All these things will be useful in my future job.I'm sure I'll be able to fluently communicate in Japanese! Many thanks to Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin!

Quote from the NICHIBEI JLI official facebook

Life After NICHIBEI JLI: Mr. Huang (June 27, 2016)
At Nichibei, we have trainees from many different companies.
Mr. Huang, who came to Tokyo eight months ago from a construction company in Beijing, is studying Japanese twice a week at Nichibei while training on-site at Taisei Corporation.

“When I first came to Nichibei, I was worried about my Japanese ability. But in lessons I practice daily conversation and business conversation, talk about my own work and more, so I have gradually become able to speak Japanese better than before. In order to master a foreign language, a good study environment is absolutely necessary. Nichibei seems really good, doesn’t it? I have learned a lot of different things from my teachers. In the future, I want to continue studying Japanese.”
This is what Mr. Huang told us. At the end of the month he is returning home to his own country, but we hope that he continues to work hard in Beijing!

Quote from the NICHIBEI JLI official facebook

Life after NICHIBEI JLI (October 3, 2016)
Mirjam from Finland (a member of the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church) came to Japan in September 2014. She studied at JLI for two years, moving from the Basic 1 class up to the Advanced class.

Before coming to Japan, Mirjam had studied a foreign language, but it was completely different from Japanese, so at first she seemed to be quite perplexed. She told us that as she got used to Japanese she began to understand more and more, and studying became really fun for her.
This year starting in October and continuing for four years, she will use the Japanese that she learned to conduct a variety of activities at churches in Koiwa, Ichigaya, and Ikebukuro, and she will visit the homes of the elderly and talk with them.
In fact, the other day Mirjam participated in The Japan Times’ Study Abroad Symposium as a representative of NICHIBEI JLI. You can read about the symposium on The Japan Times’ website and on Facebook.
☆TheJapanTimes☆
Official Website: https://info.japantimes.co.jp/supplements/reasons-vary-but-more-people-studying-in-japan/

I’m a company employee who came to Japan for my company’s language training.
I studied the basics of Japanese for two months in Korea, but I was terrified about actually coming to Japan and talking and living together with Japanese. I learned about NICHIBEI KAIWA GAKUIN through my senpai’s introduction when I was worrying about how to study Japanese.

At NICHIBEI KAIWA GAKUIN, through its diversified education program, even someone like me whose Japanese was still underdeveloped could learn easily. I was able to learn a variety of practical Japanese, from everyday conversation to business conversation patterns. What the teachers kindly taught me was of course Japanese, but besides Japanese I could also learn the essential things about life in Japan, so I was glad.
I started studying Japanese at the elementary level, but thanks to NICHIBEI KAIWA GAKUIN, I could pass the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N1 after one year.
Another good point about NICHIBEI KAIWA GAKUIN is that every semester, there is an extracurricular class where you can experience traditional Japanese culture. It’s a class that reflects the students’ opinions. You can enjoy participating in it, and I was able to have many different experiences apart from studying Japanese.
I studied at NICHIBEI KAIWA GAKUIN for a little over a year, and I am indebted to the teachers and staff there.
If there are any Koreans who want to study Japanese, I assertively recommend NICHIBEI KAIWA GAKUIN.

I was in charge of the accounting and investment consultation for Japanese companies operating in Korea. Since Japanese is an essential part of my job, I came to Japan to study Japanese for 6 months.

Although I hadn’t formally studied Japanese before, I didn’t have so much trouble learning it, partly because I was frequently exposed to it in the context of working with my Japanese clients back in Korea. At JLI, many of my fellow classmates were also business people for whom Japanese was indispensable for their jobs, and we studied it with high motivation, eagerness and concentration. In the basic level, we covered basic grammar and daily conversation, and in the intermediate level, we focused on business conversation.
In the business conversation class, in addition to the study of phrases and expressions, Japanese business manners and customs were also covered, which was very helpful. Since JLI students come from various countries, I had a great opportunity to get to know their cultures too. It was an experience I treasure.

Quote from the NICHIBEI JLI official facebook

Life After NICHIBEI JLI（August 29, 2016）
Marilyn from Taiwan studied at NICHIBEI JLI for 1.5 years, starting in the Basic 1 class and continuing up to the Advanced 2 class.

Afterwards, she entered a business vocational school in Tokyo. She couldn’t speak Japanese at all when she first came to Japan but after she studied with us, she passed the JLPT N1 exam, and now she is working in sales at a car parts company in Tainan, Taiwan. This company provides Japanese clients with the plastic parts for cars made in Taiwan, and Marilyn uses Japanese at work every day, conveying client requests to each company office and preparing documents.

I had been studying Japanese at Far Eastern Federal University in Russia. At that time, my professor said to me, “Since you studied Japanese at university, you should take the JLPT”. After looking at the 2009 edition of the Complete Survey of Japanese Language Schools, I chose Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin because it offered various courses and the teachers seemed good.

Two months after entering the school, I was able to pass N2 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. I wanted to keep going, so I decided to try JLPT N1. Then, I passed N1 as well.
The courses I took at Nichibei were JLPT N2, JLPT N1, Advanced Business Conversation and Business Writing.
There were students from many different countries at Nichibei, and I could make friends. Thanks to them, I could continue studying Japanese. Also, thanks to the dedicated support from the teachers, I was able to pass JLPT N1. I am very grateful to Nichibei.

I came to Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin after working for a Japanese telecommunications company with the desire to improve my business Japanese, reading and writing skills. Nichibei’s unique course structure, long history and prominence in the industry were what attracted me.
In accordance with the school’s reputation, I have been extremely satisfied with the Institute, its teachers, support staff and overall atmosphere. By combining Nichibei’s full-time program with a variety of specialized classes, I found it easy to create a personalized curriculum which best fit my needs. I am grateful to have the opportunity to study at Nichibei.

The Major reasons for choosing the Japanese language school that I currently attend are quality of instructors, good condition classrooms and having an enjoyable learning environment. I feel to achieve optimum educational performance that those three criteria are the most important to me.

Before deciding to enter Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin, I had visited 3 other Japanese language schools.
My first impression of Nichibei (JLI) compared to other schools was the quality of facilities and small class sizes. I was impressed with the learning environment that JLI offered its students. Once I attended JLI I was very pleased with all of my instructors. The instructors are very professional, patient and accessible. The school curriculum is intense but fair. Each day the students go through well-balanced exercises of reading, kanji, writing, listening and speaking. Since attending JLI I have seen a big improvement in my Japanese. I am very happy regarding my decision to go to JLI.

After 30 years of living in Japan, I became a 'lazy' gaijin who stopped actively learning more Japanese and became complacent with 'just enough' to communicate. I finally decided that I wanted more. A friend of mine introduced me to Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin.
Her Japanese is excellent, thanks to Nichibei, and she found it extremely helpful in furthering her Japanese studies.
I have found the courses and schedule fitting for my needs. The central location is easily accessible. But most important, the faculty are highly trained, supportive and match the needs of the students at all levels. I often take the morning news class to stay abreast of Japanese news issues, while strengthening my kanji and listening skills. I also have taken the prep courses for the N2 and successfully passed the test in December of 2012 and am planning on doing the same for N1 in 2013.