Quality Language Learning

Education is an acquistion of skills, knowledge, values, beliefs, and habits that bring you towards an enlightening experience. An education can help you improve your situation in life and take you to places especially if you speak more than one language. Communication is key towards your learning and language acquisition. This education may come from a book, mentor, or institution but how do you know if the education is worth the investment of your time and finances? If it is worth it? That is where you would look into the history and identity.

Our story begins with the Nichibei founder’s desire to improve the relations between Japan and the United States of America¹,

“Smooth communication between Japanese and American citizens is crucial in order to rebuild this country (Japan) and contribute to global peace. This can only be achieved by teaching conversation in English to Japanese citizens and teaching conversation in Japanese to American citizens. We, hereby, establish Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin to achieve this business.”

Tomio Muto, the founder of Nichibei

This desire lead to the process of realizing the dream. Founded in 1945, Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin is an English Language School training individuals who aim to acquire an authentic English in a globalized society. Yet Mr. Tomio Muto always had in mind the idea of establishing a Japanese language school, so in 1953, the International Education Center (IEC) was established. Then in 1967, (22 years after Nichibei was founded,) the Japanese Language Institute (JLI) was founded as the Japanese training division of Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin.

The following detailed timeline may give a deeper understanding to the institution’s history²;

The Chronological Timeline

1945, 09 | Preparation of starting-up Nichibei started by the advise of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1945, 11 | Nichibei (English school) founded
1948, 07 | The International Education and Cultural Association authorized by the then Ministry of Education.
1953, 06 | The International Education and Cultural Association changed name to the International Education Center (IEC)
1960, 06 | IEC held the 1st International Speech Contest in Japanese. The Contest has been held annually and broadcast on NHK.
1967, 07 | Japanese Language Institute (JLI) founded
1979, 04 | Evening Course started
1987, 09 | “日本語でビジネス会話 初級” published (lit. Business conversation in Japanese- Basic Level)
1989, 09 | “日本語でビジネス会話 中級” published (the same of Intermediate Level)
1992, 04 | Early morning Course started
2014, 10 | NIHONGO EXPRESS Basic 1 published
2015, 10 | NIHONGO EXPRESS Basic 2 published
2016, 11 | “Practical Japanese Conversation for Business People (Intermediate 1)” published
2017, 07 | “Practical Japanese Conversation for Business People (Intermediate 2)” published
2020, 02 | Relocation to new school building, COMORE Yotsuya, as shown in the images below.

The images above showcases the present location of the Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin, an accessible 3-minute walk from the Yotsuya Train Station. The educational hub is located in the Global Study Square of Comore Yotsuya building – a new and iconic mixed-use development at the heart of the business district of Tokyo. Being only minutes walk from the Imperial Palace and Sophia University.

The institution is dedicated towards creating opportunities for the students to apply what they learn in real-life and in contest. Even with the present COVID-19 Pandemic, the institution has adapted to the changing times through special sanitary and safety precautions in the classroom and a new method of learning.

Anti-Virus Safety

The Offered Programs

There are three programs offered: Regular, Part-time and the Private/Semi-Private Program.

Originally, individuals from across the globe would visit Japan on their 3 month tourist visa and apply for the Regular Program‘s Short-Term Course – where you learn in the classroom setting 5-days a week from 9am to 12:20pm for 3-months. While those interested in a more long-term education, the General Course offers a student visa for those planning to study for 1 to 2 years.

While the Part-Time Program appeals to the busy business person, coporate trainee, embassy employee, adult foreigner or expatriate families, because of only having to be in the classroom 1 to 2 days per week, for 3 months; either in the early morning, morning, afternoon, evening or Saturday.

If that is not enough, there are the Private Lessons (one-on-one) and Semi-Private Lessons (small group of at least 2 participants) for specialized tutoring in business conversation, job interview preparation, Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) and much more.

Now above I mentioned originally, because beyond the classroom-setting, Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin recently launched a more flexible and engaging method of online-based Japanese Language learning for your convience to work around the COVID-19 pandemic at hand.

The Online Method

What makes their online method interesting and more captivating than other language institutes in the market is that online students enrolled in the regular and part-time programs can interact with the in-classroom students. Giving the online and in-person students the ability to interact and apply what they learn because trust me, language learning is more efficient when you can interact with others during the training exercises and making your own sentences with the grammar points you learn. So not only more efficient, but making your investment truly worth it. Especially when it is further supplemented when you devotedly study for the kanji quizes, grammar point exams, and speaking model conversation dialogue practicals.

Globalization and Diversity

Lessons are less challenging when you make friendships with peers who turn the lesson into a joy through engaging classes. Their diverse student body ranging between college and professional adults keeps you on-track and inclined with practical application.

So what are you waiting for? Whether you are fascinated in Japanese Culture, intrigued by their language or interested in pursuing a career in Japan, put the right foot forward into a better future by preparing yourself today with Japanese Language Learning at Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin.

Contact Today

Click here to inquire through their official contact form, or call their reception on Mon to Thu from 9:00-19:30 or Fri to Sat from 9:00-17:00 (Japan GMT+9). Please mention that know Raine Baljak upon your inquiry for enrollment to ease the process.

References:

①　Japanese-United States Relations
②　Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin History