ICA International Conversation Academy – Arao Campus

ICA International Conversation Academy - Arao Campus is a language school in Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture, that offers Japanese language education to international students, especially those aiming to enter working life in Japan. The school aims not only to help students develop their Japanese in the classroom, but also to bring them to a level where they can live in Japanese society and communicate effectively in the workplace.

Arao Campus offers employment-focused programs: a 2-year program starting in April and a 1-year-6-month program starting in October. While students' Japanese levels are developed step by step, the overall goal of the programs is for students to reach B2-level communication skills by graduation. Classes have a maximum of 20 students, and the aim is for students to gain not only grammar knowledge but also Japanese skills they can use in real communication settings.

Connection with the local community holds an important place in the school's founding structure. The cooperation between Arao City, the Arao Chamber of Commerce and Industry and ICA is built on training international students, building connections with local businesses, supporting multicultural living and contributing to the region's human resource needs. For this reason, Arao Campus is structured to build a closer relationship between Japanese language education, the local community and working life.

Arao offers a calmer, more local city life compared to large metropolises. With businesses operating in both agriculture and industry, the city is an area where a variety of work environments coexist. It also offers a more local experience of Japan through the natural areas around the Ariake Sea, important heritage sites from Japan's modernization period such as the historic Manda Pit, and various local events.

The fact that the campus is housed in a former school building is also one of the features that sets Arao apart from other ICA campuses. Offering a more spacious learning environment, this building aims to create a campus environment where students can connect with the local community, rather than simply a language school where they attend classes.

ICA Arao Campus is a school worth considering for students who aim to work in Japan, want to develop their Japanese together with practical communication skills, and prefer to study in an area away from the bustle of large cities such as Tokyo or Osaka.