At BIL, a variety of events are held throughout the year. Study hard in class and play hard out of class – It’s BIL style!
Entrance ceremony, orientation, start of semester
BIL’s entrance ceremony is held on April 10 when cherry trees are in full bloom. The representative of the current students gives a welcome speech in fluent Japanese, providing a model for the new students who are resolved to study hard. Worries are gone as you get advice on daily life at the orientation, even though this is your first visit to Japan. Students are so excited about the new classes and their new lives that start from now!
Communication camp (3days/2 nights)For: International Interpretation/Translation Course
A communication camp is held in May at the Bunka Hokuryu Lodge (Bunka Gakuen’s facility) in Nagano for the students in the International Interpretation/Translation Course. Students have a pleasant time through a variety of activities, such as outdoor cooking, boating and fishing at Lake Hokuryu as well as a camp fire on the final day. It is a good opportunity to deepen relationships with other students and teachers.
BJT test For: International Interpretation/Translation Course
This test measures the examinee’s communicative proficiency in Japanese required in business settings. The achievement level is evaluated not by “pass/fail” criteria, but by six grades on an 800-point scale, which provides a good opportunity for the examinee to review his/her current level and progress. All the students of the International Interpretation/Translation Course are required to take the test. Students in the Japanese Language Course and the Japanese Language Teacher Training Course can also take the test, if they wish.
International friendship camp (3 days/2 nights) For: Japanese Language Course, Japanese Language Teacher Training Course
An international friendship camp is held in July at the Bunka Hokuryu Lodge for the students in the Japanese Language Course and the Japanese Language Teacher Training Course.
You can find a charming side of your friends or get friendly with those who have never talked with in this camp without borders. It is livened up with a lot of events, including a fashion show using newspapers, and games in Japanese.
Summer vacation (homestay upon request)
A one-month summer vacation awaits after the study of four months. Some students go back to their home countries and some go on a homestay with Japanese families in Hokkaido, Ishikawa, or Yugawara in Kanagawa. About 25 students go on a homestay every summer and its popularity is growing year after year as an opportunity to experience the real life of Japanese people.
Japan Education Fair in Korea (Student recruitment guidance)
BIL participates in the Japan Education Fair held in Korea every year. It is a large-scale fair held in Pusan and Seoul, attracting about 3,000 and 5,000 students, respectively. An admissions officer and/or teachers from BIL answer a variety of questions about the curriculum and life in Japan, from a number of students who visit the BIL booth. We look forward to seeing many new students at our campus who decided to study in Japan through this guidance.
Entrance ceremony For: Japanese Language Course
In October, fall-term students enter the Japanese Language Course (one year and six-month course). With the enrollment of 60 to 70 students every year, the BIL campus increases liveliness. If you have any questions about Japanese language study, life in Japan or whatever, don’t hesitate to ask. Let’s become friends and study together!
School festival
Bunka Gakuen’s school festival is held in November. A special stage is set up, where the students of Bunka Women’s University and Bunka Fashion College present a spectacular fashion show and the BIL international students perform dances and music of their home countries. It is a season when the entire campus livens up. At the Karaoke competition, you can see dynamic singing by international students, who are as great performers as Japanese students. So, you should not miss this festival!
Japanese Language Proficiency Test (for Japanese Language Course), year-end party, winter vacation
Students take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test to check the results of their study. They take the test of Level 2 (N2 level) or higher. All the students of the Japanese Language Course (excluding the one year and 6-month course students who enrolled in October) are required to take the test and many of them pass it every year. After this tough test, a year-end party and a winter vacation are waiting. Many students go back to their home countries, where they enjoy New Year’s Day with their families and friends.
Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test For: Japanese Language Teacher Training Course
Students take the Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test as a preparation to get a teaching job in their home countries. All the students in the Japanese Language Teacher Training Course are required to take this test.
Before the test, special classes are offered to help them pass it successfully.
Internship For: 1st year students of the International Interpretation/Translation Course
In February, the 1st year students of the International Interpretation/Translation Course participate in the two-week internship program to work at Japanese companies. They can get valuable experience that cannot be gained in the classroom through the use of Japanese at Japanese companies and in various business scenes. This experience will be very useful when they start job hunting.
Commencement
It’s time the students leave the BIL campus for a new life. At the commencement, the representative of the fall-term students delivers a congratulatory speech and the representative of the graduating students gives a speech in reply. Their Japanese has improved very much and they are grateful to the teachers. After graduation, some go on to Japanese colleges and universitites, some get a job, and some go back to their countries to become a Japanese language teacher. Although their courses are diverse, they now kick off their new lives!
