東洋言語BLOG

Connecting with Alumni: Expanding Your Future Through Our Alumni Gathering

For those considering studying in Japan, have you ever wondered how former TLS students are doing now?
At TLS, we hold an online “Alumni Gathering” once a month, and current students are also welcome to participate! For current students, it is a great opportunity to hear directly from former students about their actual career paths and personal experiences. This time, we would like to share the warm and friendly atmosphere of the event with you.

The alumni gathering started with self-introductions. Although they seemed a little nervous at first, it was wonderful to see them speak confidently and smile like true seniors.
After that, everyone divided into groups based on their hobbies and future paths for conversations. In the photography group, one senior student gave advice based on their own experience to a current student’s question, saying, “If you want to learn practical skills in the field, I recommend attending a Professional Training College.” By the way, this student has now returned to their home country and is working in the apparel industry. They also enthusiastically shared how enjoyable it was to work as “Student Staff” and help make school events more exciting. It became a valuable opportunity for students to learn about the various career paths available after graduation.

This time, each alumnus was paired with just two or three current students, creating a truly warm and friendly atmosphere.
The highlight of the event was hearing about the graduates’ experiences and mistakes when they first came to Japan. One story made everyone laugh: “I had already passed JLPT N2, but when a convenience store clerk asked me, ‘Would you like chopsticks?’ I didn’t understand what they said and answered, ‘I’m okay.’ As a result, I had to eat my bento with my hands (haha).” However, seeing the senior student kindly encourage them by saying, “Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. It is important to speak a little every day,” gave the current students great confidence and motivation.


We were also happy to hear heartwarming comments such as:
“Even after returning to my home country, I still keep in touch with my classmates every day.”
“The reason I can still speak Japanese after going back home is thanks to the teachers at TLS.” (^^)

It was touching to see that even when students are separated by distance and borders, the bonds they created and the communication skills they gained continue to remain strong. At the end of the event, everyone gathered again and exchanged information about JLPT study methods and useful apps. The gathering ended with everyone encouraging each other and feeling more motivated.

Through this report, we have shared the warmth of TLS students and the strong network they have built. At this alumni gathering, we saw the unchanging bonds and smiles shared among everyone. We understand that many people may feel anxious before studying abroad, but at TLS, there are many supportive seniors waiting to encourage you as they have overcome their own challenges and worked hard. As staff members, we will continue to provide a warm environment where students can always feel welcome to return, and we will keep supporting them wholeheartedly in their daily lives.


日本留学を考えているみなさん、TLSの先輩たちがその後どんな風に活躍しているか気になりませんか？
TLSでは、毎月1回オンラインで「同窓会」を開催しているのですが、そこには在校生も参加できるんです！！在校生にとっては、先輩たちのリアルな進路や経験談を直接聞ける絶好のチャンスです。今回はそのアットホームな様子をお届けしますね。

同窓会は自己紹介からスタート！最初は少し緊張気味でしたが、先輩らしく堂々と笑顔で話す姿が素敵でした。
その後は趣味や進路ごとのグループに分かれてトーク！写真グループの部屋では、「現場の技術を学びたいなら専門学校がおすすめだよ！」と、在校生の質問に実体験からアドバイスしてくれました。ちなみにこの先輩、今は母国に戻ってアパレル業界で仕事をしているそう。また、学校行事を盛り上げる「学生スタッフ」の楽しさも熱心に語ってくれて、多様なキャリアを知る良いきっかけになりました。

今回は先輩1人に在校生が2〜3人という、本当にアットホームな距離感！
なかでも一番盛り上がったのが、先輩の日本での失敗談です。「JLPTのN2に合格したのに、コンビニで『お箸はいりますか』の意味が分からず『大丈夫』って答えたら、手でお弁当を食べる羽目に（笑）」というエピソードには全員が大爆笑！でも、先輩が「間違えを怖がらないで、毎日少しでも話すことが大切！」と優しく励ます姿は、在校生の大きな勇気になったようです。


また、「国に帰った今でもクラスメートと毎日連絡を取り合っているよ」「帰国しても日本語が話せるのはTLSの先生たちのおかげ！」という嬉しい言葉も飛び出しました（^^）国が離れても、一生モノの絆とコミュニケーションの力はしっかり残るんだと、胸が熱くなります。最後は全員で再び集まり、おすすめのアプリなどJLPTの勉強法について情報交換をして、みんなでモチベーションを高め合って終了しました！

今回のレポートを通じて、TLSの学生たちの温かさと、強いネットワークをご紹介しました。
変わらない絆と笑顔が見られた今回の同窓会。留学前は不安も多いと思いますが、TLSには失敗を乗り越えて頑張っている心強い先輩たちがたくさん待っています！私たち職員も、学生たちがいつでも帰ってこられる温かい環境を整えて、これからも学生たちの毎日を全力で応援していきます！