The 11th batch of Filipino nurses and careworkers under the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) will soon head to Japan after completing their six months Japanese language training at NCF Manila. Completion Certificates were awarded to 105 trainees in a closing ceremony held at The Philippines-Japan Friendship Center in Manila last May 21, 2019.

Head lecturer, Josef Orillo-sensei, congratulated the trainees for their effort and perseverance and for working independently in their own private time to improve their language skills. He also acknowledged the huge role of the NCF staff and teachers in supporting the students and making sure that things were very well coordinated behind the scenes. As a final advice, Josef-sensei reminded the students to continue adhering to the good study habits they acquired during the program and to remember they are not alone in their journey. Their fellow trainees, family, and friends are always ready to help and give support.

Mr. Arnel Marzan Balangatan represented batch 11 and gave his message of gratitude during the ceremony. He said that “Learning the Japanese language wouldn’t be possible without the help of our amazing teachers. We had so much fun because of their incredible teaching skills and strategies not only in Nihongo but also in creating an effective study plan.”

Officials and representatives from various organizations supporting the EPA training were also present in the ceremony. These included Japan Foundation Director, Mr. Hiroaki Uesugi; Undersecretary of DOLE, Mr. Jacinto Paras; Director for POEA Welfare and Employment Office, Mr. Virgilio L. Carreon, Jr.; and First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Manabu Yasukawa.

The EPA Japanese language training program is organized by NCF together with Japan Foundation Manila and held at two other partner training institutions: TESDA and the Personal Ability Development Foundation (PAD).

Resources:
EPA Batch 11 Closing Program
EPA Batch 11 Photo Album
Mr. Arnel Marzan Balangatan Speech
Mr. Josef Orillo Speech
Mr. Hiroaki Uesugi
Mr. Manabu Yasukawa Speech
Mr. Virgilio Carreon Speech

PIJLC and NCF students can now avail tuition fee discounts and JLPT registration fee rebates for their July 2019 test date.

Through the Kenjiro Ogata scholarship, the first 20 enrollees for N2, N3, and N4 JLPT review classes will get 20% off on tuition fee while the first 10 enrollees for the N1 review course will also receive the same discount.

Currently enrolled students or those who took classes in 2019, may also have their JLPT registration fee rebate upon passing the JLPT exam scheduled this coming July 7, 2019. Students who are planning to take the said exam are required to submit their exam voucher by July 5, 2019 in order to be eligible for a rebate.

For complete details on how you can avail of these financial incentives, you may also contact NCF or PIJLC branches.

The Philippine Institute of Japanese Language and Culture and Nihongo Center Foundation are now accepting applicants for Full-time and Part-time Faculty positions. Applicants should be a college graduate and have JLPT N4 and above proficiency. 

Requirements:
CV with photo
JLPT certificate (N4 and above)
College Diploma
Brief Lesson Plan

To interested applicants, please send your application requirements to kbiscarrancf@gmail.com by April 30, 2019. 

For more inquiries, email kbiscarrancf@gmail.com.

Six students from the second batch of NCF’s Hotel Nihongo Course successfully passed their Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N4 exam last December 2018. Here are the names and schools of the successful test takers:

1. Maria Fenella V. Regala – Lyceum of the Philippines University
2. Mikka G. Robles – Polytechnic University
3. Gizelle C. Aguinaldo – Jose Rizal University
4. Yomiko Albiño – Lyceum of the Philippines University
5. Jerick P. Marasigan – Technological University
6. Mark Joven B. Laderas – Lyceum of the Philippines University

NCF extends its congratulations to the students who were part of the school’s Hotel Nihongo Course last July to November 2018. The special pre-departure language training program consisted of 600 hours of classroom instruction headed by NCF Academic Adviser, Kenjiro Ogata-sensei.  The training course was a partnership with Ken Corporation in Japan.

Photo/Image courtesy of The Japan Foundation, Manila  [Facebook Page]

PIJLC and NCF extend their congratulations to Ms. Zoe Agatha M. Serrano for emerging as the Grand Prize Winner in the 2019 Nihongo Speech Contest held last February 28 at Shangrila Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City. Ms. Serrano’s speech “私がダイエットから学んだこと” (What I Learned from Dieting) bested other participants in the Open Division of the annual speech contest hosted by Japan Foundation Manila. Other divisions included Student, Non-student, and Special Jury Award.

Ms. Serrano was a former student at PIJLC and took the school’s N1 review class for 6 months under Kenjiro Ogata-sensei. She was also last year’s Grand Prize Winner of the 8th Kake Speech Contest.

The Nihongo Speech Contest is part of the annual Nihongo Fiesta event spearheaded by Japan Foundation Manila. Grand Prize winners receive an all-expenses-paid, week-long study tour in Japan, while all other qualified contestants receive consolation prizes.

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Resources:
46th Nihongo Speech Contest Complete List of Winners