Skip to main content

Michael- Yearlong English Interviews

Yearlong English Interviews

Life in Japan has been progressing as usual. We are already starting to get ready for many of the exchanges next year. While for the short term programs it is as simple as accepting applications or preparing information sessions, the yearlong program requires a lot from the student. We already accepted the Hippo applications and provided an informational guidance session at the end of October. However, that is just the beginning.

In order to be accepted into a foreign program, the student must work hard to complete many more pieces - a Japanese interview, a foreign language interview, a Second Language English Proficiency test, and then after passing all of those they must write applications and essays for the foreign program (many times requiring additional revisions to complete proper language). That is why we are so busy with the program already and why we have so many members on the yearlong team.

For the most part, I serve two purposes on the team. First, I am a native English speaker and can provide language interviews to people going to English speaking countries (or countries where no one in the office has proficiency in the language - and because the student will probably have to use a lot of English to communicate). Second, I have experience with yearlong (since I have studied abroad before and am currently on a yearlong program) plus I have first hand experience in an American high school.

The interviews are actually a lot of fun for me though I'm sure they are often very stressful for the student being interviewed. We even had a student who we thought might pass out because he was so nervous! He did do well though and I'm sure he could have done better had he relaxed. The reason I enjoy them so much is because I get to meet many youth from Japan and hear about their excitement (or their fears) about going abroad for a year. Sometimes, I interview students with the help of one Japanese coordinator, but most of the time, Angie (the Romanian intern) and I work together to interview students, while one of the coordinators is there to provide support. With almost 20 interviews already completed, I can't wait for my upcoming trip to Nagoya where I will interview more students!

This is the view from where we held the English interviews.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Hayley- Looking back

Looking Back The Month in Review: As we begin February, it is time for me  to write my monthly report. Technically speaking, I haven’t  been in Japan for a month yet, but this report covers all  that I have done in January. As part of the report, I put together a summary of different categories within my life.  While the following is rather dry, I thought my blog readers  might find it interesting and informative. Host Family: I have a wonderful host family, and I’ve enjoyed settling in and getting to know them. My 8-year-old host brother has adjusted to me, and we get along very well. My 13-year-old host sister has been a great help as I learn Japanese; she has a notebook where she writes down new Japanese words and phrases that I am learning. Sugoi-ne! My host parents are wonderful. My host mom makes me feel like part of the family. She understands about the little things that make one feel “included” in family life. Something as smal...

LEX American Intern: Brittany

LEX American Intern: Brittany Introduction and First Impressions:  On LEX Hippo, and living in 日本 for a week Greetings and Salutations, my full name is Brittany Esther Gautier, but you can call me び [/bi/: BEE], or Brit, or びじ[BEE-GEE], or my official title Japanese resident registration ぶりとに[literally, "bu-RI-to-ni], or Britney Spears, or Brit-Brit, or ぶりぶり, or Estee. Or like a few of my previous Spanish speaking co-workers you can just call me Shakira. I am a year-long intern for LEX Hippo America. I speak English, understand a good amount of Spanish, and am focusing on learning Portuguese, and Japanese. I'm so excited to have been chosen for this wonderful program, and I'm overwhelmingly grateful for this opportunity to travel, learn, and expand my worldview in such an authentic and meaningful way. Background As I said before, I'm Brittany. I'm 22 years old, but on October 8th, I will be 23. Soy de Estados Unidos en California. Mi familia se com...

Daniel- こにちわ!!

こにちわ!! (Daniel) Hello,こにちわ, bonjour,  Привет ! My name is Daniel Panasenko, and I am the 2012-2013 LEX intern in the Hippo office in Tokyo. I am from Sacramento, California, although originally from Dnipropetrovs'k, Ukraine.  I first came across LEX and Hippo when I came to Japan with People to People in 2009. I was hosted by members of the Hippo Family Club for four days, and I enjoyed the experience so much, that I came back to work for Hippo as an intern. Although I am fairly new to Hippo, I have been received warmly and welcomed into the Hippo family. Everyone at the office and at the family clubs are very kind, supportive, and incredibly patient as I unintentionally butcher their language. As the year progresses, I will blog about my experiences in Japan as well as my insights into the language and culture. Although I am a bit overwhelmed by the novelty of the lifestyle and language, but I am more than happy to be here, making fascinating new discoveri...