Hub Facility for International Cooperation and Contribution Efforts

 

The Hiroshima International Center (HIC), the administrative operator of the Hiroshima International Plaza (HIP), has full-time well-experienced instructors of Japanese language. We offer a wide variety of Japanese language and Japanese cultural experience programs that accommodate a wide variety of needs and levels of participants from beginners to advanced-level students.

Characteristics of Japanese Language and Japanese Cultural Experience Programs Provided by the HIC

1) Programs with the Focus on Participants’ Needs

• Each program is customized to reflect the participants’ levels and needs, as is as the program’s duration.
• Finely-tuned instruction is provided to generate a maximum effect.

2) Teaching Method based on the Achievements Accumulated since the Establishment of the HIP (1997)

• We have provided many programs so far, including those for JICA trainees and other people who study Japanese for the first time, for international students who need to write theses in Japanese at college, and for foreign teachers of Japanese language who would like to further improve their classes.
• This experience has stimulated us to offer even better Japanese language and Japanese cultural experience programs and to further improve our teaching skills.

3) Well-Experienced Instructors of Japanese Language

• Our instructors participate actively in various efforts promoted by the Society for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language and other organizations, and give many research presentations. Moreover, by making the best use of the research results, we always make improvements to increase students’ satisfaction.
• We develop our own textbooks for each program.

 

The HIC provides the following Japanese language and Japanese cultural experience programs:

Japanese Cultural Experience Programs for Young People

For Young People to Refine Their Sensitivity through Various Experiences

We offer Japanese language and Japanese cultural experience programs for foreign young people (elementary school students and junior and senior high school students) visiting Hiroshima from their home countries during their school excursions, etc.

The HIC arranges homestay, school visits, visits to Miyajima Island and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, and Japanese cultural classes, such as traditional Japanese tea ceremony and Japanese yukata (informal cotton kimono) wearing. We also offer preparation classes for homestay, such as those for learning basic Japanese language and Japanese manners.

■Examples of Japanese cultural experience classes provided at the HIP

Traditional Japanese tea ceremony.Flower arrangement.Origami.Japanese yukata (informal cotton kimono) wearing.Writing a letter with illustration.Japanese calligraphy.Traditional Japanese painting and calligraphy Making a doll of Japanese paper Cooking Japanese dishes (such as rolled sushi)
Stencil printing Making taketonbo (bamboo dragonfly) Playing with Japanese toys (stilts, kendama [cup and ball], etc.)

If you have any other requests, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will accommodate such requests to the extent possible.

̶ As indicated in the following schedule, many Japanese cultural experience programs for young people last for approximately one week. However, we can offer a one-day program or a 10-day program. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

Day	Day of the Week	Time	Contents	Transportation
Day 1	Thursday	Afternoon	Arrive from Fukuoka, Osaka, Tokyo, etc. Check in the HIP, attend the program opening ceremony, take a class of Japanese language	Rented bus
		Evening	Japanese cultural experience (such as wearing Japanese yukata [informal cotton kimono])
Day 2	Friday	Morning Afternoon	Visit various sites in Hiroshima City (Peace Memorial Park, Mazda Museum, etc., and try cooking okonomiyaki)	Rented bus
		Evening	Homestay
Day 3	Saturday	All day	Homestay
Day 4	Sunday	Morning	Leave the host family	Rented bus
		Morning/Afternoon	Visit Miyajima Island (Itsukushima Shrine), try making momiji-manju (bun with a bean-jam filling), etc.
Day 5	Monday	Morning/Afternoon	Visit a school (Interact with students, take classes, and participate in club activities, etc.)	Rented bus
		Evening	Japanese cultural experience (traditional Japanese tea ceremony, etc.)
Day 6	Tuesday	Morning	Attend the program closing ceremony, and leave for the next destination	Rented bus

Japanese Language and Japanese Cultural Experience Programs for Foreign College Students

Not Just Accumulating Knowledge But Also Using Knowledge

This is a program for students studying Japanese language or Japanology at foreign colleges.The program mainly consists of classes to help students enhance their Japanese proficiency for a practical purpose. In addition, the program provides opportunities for students to appreciate various experience available only in Japan. For example, they stroll about the city together with Japanese students and interact with them, or visit Japanese companies and speak formal Japanese. Thus, through the program, students can fully demonstrate their Japanese proficiency that they have accumulated so far. In addition, the program includes sessions in which students visit various sites to directly appreciate Japanese culture and stay with Japanese families.

The following is an example of the schedule of a program that lasts for four weeks. However, we can accommodate a wide variety of needs and offer various programs that last for one week to two months. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

Week 1
(Watch and learn):

Orientation session,
visit to Saijo/Miyajima Island, etc.

Week 2
(Experience):

Visits to various sites in Hiroshima City, presentation preparation, Japanese cultural experience (traditional Japanese tea ceremony, Japanese kimono wearing, etc.), college campus tour, etc.

Week 3
(Interact):

Interaction with Japanese college students and preparation for the interaction (learning how to ask questions, etc.)Staying with Japanese families and writing appreciation letters for the host families

Week 4
(Summary):

Opinion exchange session
and preparation for the session

*Expenses (in a case where 12 people participate in a four-week program): Approximately 160,000 yen per person

For details on programs/expenses, please click the Pamphlet

Global Awareness Programs for Companies, etc.

Use the Programs as Part of Your Global Strategy!

This is a program for foreign trainees accepted by Japanese-affiliated companies or companies doing business with Japanese companies and other organizations. While staying at the HIP, such trainees can learn Japanese language and Japanese culture.
It is possible for the trainees to commute to their companies/plants from the HIP and take engineering training programs at the companies/plants during the daytime, and then return to the HIP and take Japanese language classes and enjoy Japanese cultural experience at the HIP.
Upon request, we will hold orientation sessions regarding living in Japan, hold health checkups, submit necessary documents to the relevant public office, provide support for trainees to open a bank account, hold an intensive course of Japanese language, and offer many other types of support.

The following is an example of the schedule of a program that is held for a period of a few months. We organize a program based on your needs regarding a program period and program content. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

However, if you stay in the Hiroshima International Plaza for a long period of time, you need to take a class of Japanese language and Japanese cultural experience at least once a week.

Day	Daytime	Nighttime
Arrival at the HIP – Day 3	Orientation session – Visit various sites in Higashi-Hiroshima City and Hiroshima City – Complete procedures for officially-designated affairs, open a bank account – Health-checkup, etc.
Day 4 – Day 10	Intensive course of Japanese language (for five days)
Day 11 and beyond	Engineering training at the participants’ company	- Japanese language class (approximately three to five times a month) – Japanese cultural experience (traditional Japanese tea ceremony, traditional Japanese flower arrangement, Japanese kimono wearing, Japanese calligraphy, letter with illustration, origami, etc.) – Traditional Japanese entertainment performance and other events held at the HIP lobby
	(Holiday) – Homestay/home visit – Tour to Miyajima Island – Local interaction events, etc.

Global Awareness Programs for Foreign Local Governments and Educational Institutes

We Accommodate a Wide Variety of Needs!

The following is an example of the schedule of a program for teachers that is held for a period of approximately four months. We organize a program based on your needs regarding program period and program content. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

		Morning	Afternoon	Nighttime
	Monday		Arrive in Japan
Day 1	Tuesday	Program opening ceremony Orientation session on living in Japan	Japanese proficiency examination
Day 2	Wednesday	Japanese proficiency examination Explanation on Hiroshima Prefecture	Japanese proficiency 1 Mind map―image of Japan Orientation session on the program (1)
Day 3	Thursday	Teaching method 1: Sharing problems Orientation session on the program (2)	Japanese cultural affairs 1 Learn about Hiroshima City and Miyajima Island prior to visiting the sites	Japanese cultural experience 1
Day 4	Friday	Visit 1 Visit various sites in Hiroshima City
Day 5	Saturday
Day 6	Sunday
Day 7	Monday	Self-study
Day 8	Tuesday	Teaching method 2 Prepare for a mock class 1-1	Teaching method 3 Prepare for a mock class 1-2	Japanese cultural experience 2
Day 9	Wednesday	Teaching method 4 Provide a mock class 1	Japanese cultural affairs 2 “Japanese culture and educational interaction” and campus tour to Hiroshima University
Day 10	Thursday	Visit 2 Visit Miyajima Island (task activity)
Day 11	Friday	Japanese proficiency 2 How to ask questions Manners for visiting Japanese homes, organizations, etc.	Japanese cultural affairs 3 Learn about Japanese manners, etc. prior to home visit Make preparation for school visit	Japanese cultural experience 3
Day 12	Saturday	Visit 3  Home visit
Day 13	Sunday
Day 14	Monday	Japanese proficiency 3 Presentation preparation 1	Teaching method 5 Warming up―introduction
Day 15	Tuesday	Japanese proficiency 4 Presentation preparation 2	Teaching method 6 Task
Day 16	Wednesday	School visit
Day 17	Thursday	School visit
Day 18	Friday	School visit
Day 19	Saturday	Travel
Day 20	Sunday	Travel
Day 21	Monday	Teaching method 7 Prepare for a mock class 2-1	Japanese proficiency 5 Oral presentation /Q&A session
Day 22	Tuesday	Teaching method 8 Prepare for a mock class 2-2	Japanese proficiency 6 Feedback on the oral presentation	Japanese cultural experience 4
Day 23	Wednesday	Teaching method 9 Prepare for a mock class 2-3/Prepare a program report	Japanese proficiency 7 Feedback on the Q&A session
Day 24	Thursday	Teaching method 10 Provide a mock class	Program summary ―questionnaire Prepare a program report―program closing ceremony
	Friday	Leave the HIP

* The content and expenses vary depending on the program. For details, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Advanced-Level Japanese Language Programs [lecture fee: free of charge]

If requested, we can arrange a homevisit program.

The Advanced-Level Japanese Language Programs come in two types: intensive two-week program and six-month program.
It is possible to participate in both programs. Please make full use of the program experience for your research activities, etc.

	Intensive Two-Week Program	Six-Month Program
Time (Schedule)	Two courses from August to September	October to March
Period (Schedule)	60 hours = [6 hours per day × 5 days per week × one week × 2] * Two courses provided in different months	90 – 180 hours ＝[5.3 hours per day × 1 – 2 days per week × 17 weeks] • Two compulsory subjects and two elective subjects
Capacity	12 persons × 1 class × 2 courses	8 persons × 1 class
Eligible	• International students enrolled in graduate school in Hiroshima Prefecture • Research students who are enrolled in college in Hiroshima Prefecture and who wish to go on to graduate school • International students who are enrolled in college in Hiroshima Prefecture and who wish to go on to graduate school
Eligibility for Application	Japanese-Language Proficiency Test N1 or N2
Screening	Tests for reading, grammar, vocabulary, etc.
Training Content	• Acquire advanced-level Japanese necessary to perform research activities at graduate school (Training subjects: Theses-writing, oral presentation, theses-reading, grammar, etc.) • Homevisit (optional)
Tuition	Free of charge
Accommodation	Use of a lodging room: 800 yen/night

* For details, please click here (Japanese only)

Information on how to apply for the Advanced-Level Japanese Language Programs or other details is available also at the HIP website.

Please notify us of the program content that you would like us to organize, as well as the number of participants, the program period, time, budget, etc. HIC staff members will draw up an estimate for your program.

In some cases, in order to organize a training program and schedule, we may ask you about the levels of the participants’ Japanese proficiency and the textbooks that the participants use. Thanks for your cooperation.

Inquiries:
Training Section, Training Department, Hiroshima International Center
TEL: 082-421-5900 FAX: 082-421-5751

Flow from Application to Program Commencement

At least two to three months prior to program commencement	Inquiries/application
At least one to two months prior to program commencement	Prepare program content, schedule, and estimate
At least approximately one month prior to program commencement	Send a contract and a bill
	Pay in full the training fee (Pay into our bank account, in principle)
By program commencement	Complete the necessary procedures for visa, overseas travelers’ insurance, etc.
	If a participant wishes to cancel his/her participation, please notify us each time.
Program commencement

• Please pay into our bank account, in principle. Although it is possible to pay in cash at the time of the program commencement, you are recommended to pay into our bank account for safety.
• Please bear the remittance charge necessary to send the training fees from your country.
• Please note that, after the payment, if a program participant wishes to cancel his/her participation due to his/her personal circumstances, we will not return his/her training fee (i.e. participation expenses excluding his/her accommodation fee).
• As for the accommodation fee, if the cancelation is made on the day before the scheduled check-in date, we will return half of the accommodation fee for the day, as well as the total accommodation fee for the rest days. If the cancelation is made on the day of the scheduled check-in date, we will collect the entire accommodation fee for the day as a cancellation fee, but will return the total accommodation fee for the rest days. Please note that, however, you shall bear the remittance charge necessary for us to send the money to your country.