A Small Birthday Surprise in the Classroom
02/19/2026
Culture
Student life
Uncategorized
Just before class the other day, one of the students said to me,“Sensei, today is Puja-san’s birthday.”
As I looked over at Puja-san, I saw that they were smiling more than usual.
Then Puja-san came up to me and said,“Sensei, today is my birthday. Here—please have some chocolate,”and handed me a piece of chocolate.
At that moment, I was genuinely surprised. In Japan, it feels natural that…
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We had a health checkup.
01/23/2026
Student life
Yesterday, we conducted a health checkup for the new students who enrolled in October.Although it was their first health checkup, there were not many students, so it went more smoothly than expected.
However, since it was their first time, some students seemed confused. All of them have been in Japan for about three months, so it appeared that understanding the Japanese spoken by the doctors an…
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A Colorful Autumn Experience at NILS
12/11/2025
Culture
Student life
Every autumn, NILS organizes a small cultural outing for students, and one of our regular activities is momijigari, the Japanese tradition of enjoying autumn leaves. This year, we visited the historic Hirata Family Residence in Ogori City. It was a pleasant day where we were able to appreciate the scenery, learn a bit about local history, and enjoy a simple seasonal treat together.
Stepping…
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Students Learn About Japanese Traffic Rules
12/01/2025
Culture
News
Student life
Recently, NILS students participated in a special safety workshop to learn about Japanese traffic rules. Since many of our students use bicycles for commuting and daily errands, understanding how to ride safely in Japan is essential. For this workshop, the police borrowed the training course of a nearby driving school and conducted a bicycle safety lesson there.
Police Borrow a Driving School f…
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Japanese Convenience Stores Are Too Convenient!— A Foreign Student’s Experience
10/20/2025
Student life
Hello everyone!I’m an international student currently studying at NILS Japanese Language School.Today, I’d like to introduce one of the things that surprised me the most after coming to Japan — the convenience store (or “konbini,” as it’s called here).
In the U.S. or Europe, there are small supermarkets and stores open 24 hours, right?But Japanese convenience stores go far beyond that. They’re …
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From Arrival to Starting Life at NILS
10/16/2025
Student life
Starting a new life in Japan can feel a little overwhelming, since everything is new and different. But don’t worry — at NILS, teachers are here to support you so you can settle in smoothly. Here’s what the process looks like from your arrival until the beginning of your new life in Japan.
1. From the Airport to the Dormitory
When you arrive at the airport, a NILS teacher will meet you a…
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We Visited Kijima Kogen Park!
10/02/2025
Student life
We went on our annual field trip again this year!Our destination was Kijima Kogen Park, a popular amusement park located in Oita Prefecture. Although the weather was cloudy, it wasn’t too hot or too cold—just perfect for spending a comfortable day outdoors.
A total of 334 people, including teachers, joined the trip this year. The meeting area in the morning was lively and full of excitement. We…
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My Unforgettable Memory（NILS Speech Contest🎤）
09/04/2025
Student life
Uncategorized
On Friday, August 29, NILS held a Japanese speech contest where 17 outstanding students, each representing their respective classes, competed against one another.Each of the 17 participants had their own unique personality and charm. Although they had only been in Japan for a short time, they worked hard and practiced diligently to sound as native speaker.
Now, I would like to introduce a v…
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JLPT Test Day & Tanabata Wishes
07/07/2025
Culture
JLPT
Student life
Yesterday, July 6th, was the day of the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test).
This time, the schedule was a little different from before—N1 and N2 levels were held in the morning, while N3 to N5 were in the afternoon.
For those taking the test for the first time, just getting to the test site can be stressful. So, to help ease their worries, a teacher went along with the students to the…
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Tanabata Festival
07/02/2025
Culture
Student life
Here are some thoughts that NILS students shared about the Tanabata Festival.
🌟 Participating in the Tanabata Festival – A Wonderful Experience at NILS
Today, we participated in the Tanabata Festival held at NILS. Tanabata is one of Japan’s traditional festivals, celebrated annually on July 7th. It is based on a romantic legend about two stars, Orihime (the weaving princess) and Hikoboshi (t…
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