Department of Japanese × Trial Week 2025
Department of Japanese × Trial Week
－A Week of Cultural Exchange Between International Students and Japanese Junior High School Students
In mid-November, five Japanese junior high school students visited Kobe Denshi for a five-day workplace experience program, “Trial Week (トライやるウィーク)”. This is an educational project promoted by Hyogo Prefecture, allowing junior high school students to learn about society and work through hands-on activities.
Every year, we welcome several junior high school students and provides opportunities for them to interact with international students and experience the real atmosphere of Japanese language education. And this year, the students participated in several activities such as assisting in class, preparing teaching materials after school, checking worksheets, and designing and teaching their own “Kansai Dialect Mini-Lesson.” Classroom activities included practicing direction-giving expressions, sharing personal interests, and introducing specialties from their home regions. As for international students, this week offered more chances to use Japanese in real situations and created a different, more active classroom atmosphere.
Impressions and Learning throughout the week
◆ A more lively classroom atmosphere
“Everyone was more focused this week and more willing to speak.”
“The classroom felt more energetic than usual.”
Many international students noticed a positive change in the classroom mood. Students who were usually shy became more willing to speak Japanese when discussing and presenting together with the junior high school students.
◆ Less fear of speaking with Japanese people
“I was always nervous when speaking to Japanese people at my part-time job, but talking with the junior high school students made me feel more confident.”
The junior high school students listened patiently, spoke slowly, and responded kindly. Their friendly attitude gave international students the confidence to speak without fear.
◆ Learning more natural Japanese expressions
“Our teachers teach us correct and polite Japanese, but the junior high school students used more natural expressions used by the younger generation”.
Many international students said it was a valuable experience to hear authentic, casual Japanese from native speakers close to their age.
A Week Filled with Memorable Moments
In the Kansai dialect lesson, the junior high school students introduced expressions such as “nandeyanen (なんでやねん),” “meccha (めっちゃ),” and “erai (えらい)” in a fun and engaging way. During breaks, many enjoyed chatting and talking about anime, filling the classroom with laughter throughout the week.
On the final day, the junior high school students gave a handmade illustrated message card to the international students. Many said, “I was very touched,” and “I’ll always remember this experience.”
Looking Ahead
Through this exchange, many international students said they felt “more confident speaking with Japanese people” and “more motivated to practice Japanese.” We hope they will make the most use of this experience in their future student life, actively seek opportunities to interact with Japanese people, and continue improving their language skills.
During this week, we saw international students and junior high school students naturally communicate and learn from each other. For both sides, it was a truly meaningful and unforgettable learning experience.
