Student life

Academic Calendar

April Entrance ceremony / Orientation / New students welcome hike / Traffic safety class / Health checkup
May  
June Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU)
July Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)/ Entrance ceremony / Tanabata festival / School cleaning/ One-day bus trip
August Summer vacation (2 weeks) / Summer festival
September Autumn vacation (1 week)
October Entrance ceremony / Orientation / New students welcome hike/ Traffic safety class / Health checkup / Japanese Language Speech Contest
November Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU)
December Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) / School cleaning/ Winter vacation (2 weeks)
January Entrance ceremony / New Year’s party
February Graduation exams and qualifying exam to advance to the next class
March Graduation ceremony / bus trip

Students’ Voices

AYE MYA THU

  • Nickname: AYE
  • Country: Myanmar

Why did you choose Shizuoka?

The brother of an acquaintance in my hometown in Myanmar is in Shizuoka. He told me that Shizuoka is quiet town. My parents know him too, so I chose Shizuoka because they wouldn’t worry if I went to study abroad in Shizuoka.

What is fun about living here? What has been difficult?

I have friends from a lot of different countries at school, so it’s fun. I’m busying doing my part-time job and studying at school, so sometimes I don’t get enough sleep.

What are your plans and goals after you graduate?

When I graduate, I want to go to university and study fashion design. When I graduate university, I want to get a job at a Japanese company.

Student’s average day

MAGAR RAMITA

  • Nickname: RAMITA
  • Country: Nepal

Why did you choose Shizuoka?

I found out about Shizuoka Japanese Education Center at my Japanese language school in Nepal. I also have friends living in Shizuoka. They told me that Shizuoka is warm and a comfortable place to live, there are people from Nepal who have been here longer I could talk to for advice if I had any problems, and it’s easy to find a part-time job. I thought it sounded like a nice place, so that’s why I chose to study abroad in Shizuoka.

What is fun about living here? What has been difficult?

When I first came to Japan I couldn’t understand Japanese at all. I couldn’t speak any Japanese either, so at first it was really difficult. My part-time job was hard too. I missed my family, but after going to school everyday I got to know the teachers and made new friends. Then little by little I became able to speak Japanese. Now I have a lot of friends so it’s fun.

What are your plans and goals after you graduate?

After graduating from Shizuoka Japanese Education Center, I want to go to university and study communications. At university I want to gain a broad range of knowledge and have many experiences. And if I can, I would like to get a job in Japan. By working in Japan, I want to gain even more experiences. After that I want return to Nepal and make use of what I learned.

Student's average day

MIAH MOHAMMAD EMON

  • Nickname: EMON
  • Country: Bangladesh

Why did you choose Shizuoka?

I decided to come here after finding out about it from teachers at my Japanese language school in Bangladesh.

What is fun about living here? What has been difficult?

Hanging out with everyone at school is fun. My part-time job and studying are difficult.

What are your plans and goals after you graduate?

After I graduate from this Japanese school, I want to go to university and study business. After I graduate from university, I want to work in Japan.

Student's average day

KHAMDEE KANOKWAN

  • Nickname: MINT
  • Country: Thailand

Why did you choose Shizuoka?

A Japanese friend of my parents told me about it. We are very close—the person  is almost like part of the family, so I decided to study abroad in Shizuoka so my family wouldn’t worry.

What is fun about living here? What has been difficult?

What’s fun:
Seeing and talking with friends and teachers at school, and hearing and laughing at funny stories.
There are a lot of sales here, so shopping is fun.
There are a lot of foods I’ve never eaten before that I had for the first time.
I can see new places and things I’ve never seen before.

What’s difficult:
Customs, manners, and etiquette differ from country to country. There are some people who will say and ask anything, so that is difficult for me sometimes. And it’s hard when I don’t understand Japanese or some other language.
I feel lonely sometimes. I thought looking for a part-time job was difficult, but actually doing one is even harder.
The apartment I’m living at now is far from school, so it’s been hard to find a job that fits my schedule.

What are your plans and goals after you graduate?

I want to study nutrition science and get a doctorate, and become a professor at a university in my country. When I finish my education, I want to return to my country and work.

Student's average day

SAMPATH KEERTHI

  • Nickname: SAMPATH
  • Country: Sri Lanka

Why did you choose Shizuoka?

My brother works in Fuji, and when I was thinking about studying abroad in Japan I asked him about Shizuoka. He told me it was a really quiet place, living expenses aren’t too high, and there are a lot of part-time jobs. I chose Shizuoka after hearing that.

What is fun about living here? What has been difficult?

When I have time I like to travel, shop, and have parties with friends.
My part-time job is difficult.
It’s taking time to get used to the rules and manners of Japan, so that’s been hard.

What are your plans and goals after you graduate?

I haven’t completely decided. First I want to study at a vocational college, and think about what I really want to do there.

Student's average day

Advancing to University or Vocational College

Preparing Students for University and Vocational College

At Shizuoka Japanese Education Center, one of our main focuses is helping students enter university or vocational college. Our lessons are geared toward improving communication skills and preparing students for the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) and Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU).

We also offer a special 10-day course over summer vacation that covers English, math, science, and other subjects to help students prepare for university or vocational college.

Thanks to these efforts, every year a large number of students receive high scores on exams and enter the university or vocational college of their choice. And students who receive excellent scores on the EJU are eligible to receive an honors scholarship  from the Japan Student Services Organization.

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