Career and Vocational Support

Internships

Not many graduate schools offer internship programs for graduate students. The Graduate School of Language and Society (GENSHA) offers unique internship opportunities for graduate students looking for employment in order to help them establish their vocational qualifications and career plans.

This system began in 2003, and since that time, many companies and organizations including publishers, newspapers, museums, cultural foundation groups, etc., have accepted students from the GENSHA. Although the number of internship spots available at each institution ranges from one to several, the program has experienced steady results.

In principle, each internship includes a total of 60 hours of practical training over a two-week period (10 days). The Graduate School treats this training as a "Practical Work Experience" class, eligible as a post-practical unit (2 credits); students may apply for credit if the prescribed conditions are met. Internship recruiting for all organizations begins around the beginning of the academic year (April) to sometime in June; additional internships may be made available if necessary. Internship applicants will be screened based on their application and interview. As a general rule, first-year Master's students are eligible, though other years may also submit applications (in the case of many applicants, first-year Master's students will be given priority).

Practical Training is often conducted during long vacation periods, but it is possible to participate during the in-school period so long as it does not interfere with other classes. Internship schedules are to be decided between the applicant and internship organization.

If there is space, applicants may participate more than once per year, though the number of credits each person can earn is limited to 2 credits per academic year. If occurring over separate years, additional credits may be earned (up to a maximum of 4 units during the Master's program).

In addition to this internship program, the university offers training outside of the university in the field of curator qualifications ("Practical Training in Museums III"). Unlike "Practical Work Experience," this training is carried out for the explicit purpose of acquiring curator qualifications. Each student shall submit an internship application/petition; upon acceptance, internships will be carried out at participating museums, art museums, archival centers, etc.

Japanese Language Education Overseas Internship

In the 2nd division, we also provide overseas internships for Japanese language education through support organizations such as the Japan Foundation, etc.

In the last three years, participants have been sent to China (Peking University), Turkey (Boğaziçi University), Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City University of Education), Taiwan (Soochow University), and Canada (high schools in Alberta).

At hosting institutions, students participate in class visits and practical training in teaching. The program in Canada is not a training program for teachers, but is rather a long-term dispatch that runs for one year where participants work as TAs (teaching assistants); all other programs run for approximately three weeks.

Details regarding these Japanese Language Education Internships Abroad (Japanese Language Teacher Training) will be posted here (Japanese) during the application period.