On July 14, NILS students and many others attended “Shingakusetsumeikai” at Kurume Plaza Hotel. What is this Shingakusetsumeikai?

It is an information session for Japanese language school students to learn about vocational schools and colleges. After entering NILS, students learn Japanese for two years, and most go onto college or vocational schools. How do they determine which school to apply for? Some start studying at NILS knowing where to go afterwards, but many do not have such specific ideas.

To come to a decision, it is important to identify what you would like to study. For example, would you like to study business administration, cosmetology, interpretation, etc.? Then, choose where you would like to live. You can select from various locations all over Japan such as Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, etc. These days, some NILS students concerned about Covid have decided to stay in Fukuoka.

At a Shingakusetsumeikai, approximately 30 to 40 schools gather to give information sessions and to look for prospective students. A student wishing to learn more about a particular school goes to the booth of the school and consider if the school is indeed the best choice. These information sessions typically last about 15 minutes.

At the end of August, students begin to apply for college or vocational schools by filling out application forms then submitting them to schools of their choice. Each applicant is evaluated on a written examination and interview. Sometimes, students do not get accepted by the school of their top choice and need to apply to their second option. This application process for Japanese language students continues on from August through March.

When accepted, students need to complete the process by paying the enrollment fee within a week. They also have to submit a letter of agreement about complying with the school’s rules and regulations. Once schools receive the fee and letter of agreement, they send out the enrollment certificate. When students receive the certificate, the process is final.

Then, students can start looking for housing and the method of transportation to the new school.