Evaluation of Student Internship Initiative in Japan: A Case Study of Students Majoring in Business Japanese at Chandrakasem Rajabhat University

Abstract

This research aims to evaluate the students’ internship initiative in Japan through the Business Japanese Program, Chandrakasem Rajabhat University and to propose future considerations for conducting the student internship initiative in Japan. The researcher evaluated the results in 4 areas according to the “CIPP”evaluation model: context, input, process and product. The results of the research show that an internship meets students’ needs, but there are not enough students who meet the criteria for internship placement. The students worked at hotels, resorts, and ski areas. Students encountered problems such as 1) not getting along with their colleagues, 2) not communicating well in Japanese, 3) not remembering things or ways to do something, or 4) an inability to initially adapt to their internship in Japan. Most of the internships are customer service related and all students gained knowledges and reported positive experiences. The skills they need to develop before their internships include critical thinking skills communication skills and social skills. What students found most satisfying was getting advice from people at work and doing things related to work. All students expected that their Japanese would continue to develop during the internship, but they worried that they could not listen and speak Japanese well. All students reported positive results from the Business Japanese Program. They reported, however, that they waited too long for to apply for residency status in Japan. All students recommended that students continue to go for an internship in Japan because students will gain experience via working and living in Japan.