ICA International Conversation Academy – Ask Sapporo School

ICA International Conversation Academy - Ask Sapporo Campus is a language school located in Sapporo, the heart of Hokkaido, offering career-focused Japanese language education, especially for international students who aim to start working in Japan. With a smaller-scale learning environment where staff maintain close communication with students, the school aims to develop Japanese for daily life together with the communication skills needed in the Japanese business world.

The school's long-term programs are structured as the “Employment Course.” The 2-year program starting in April is designed for students starting from approximately JLPT N5/A1 level, while the 1.5-year program starting in October is for students starting from approximately JLPT N4/A2 level. In both programs, the goal is for students to develop their Japanese by graduation to a level at which they can communicate effectively in daily life and in the workplace. The target level of the programs is CEFR B2.

In addition to general Japanese and JLPT study, the lessons include special content on the job-hunting process and working life in Japan. Students work on topics such as Japanese used in job applications, résumé writing, job interviews, Japanese corporate culture, professional communication and work habits in Japan. The education focuses not only on using Japanese correctly but also on developing the ability to explain one's ideas, communicate with others and work together with people from different cultures.

Ask Sapporo aims to develop reading, writing, listening, conversation and presentation skills in a balanced way. The school also uses a Moodle-based online learning system to support students in preparing before class, studying vocabulary and reviewing after class. In-school career support is also provided for students who aim to work in Japan.

In addition to the long-term programs, short-term Japanese study is also possible if there is a class suited to the student's current Japanese level. This means that students who are not planning to study on a long-term student visa but who want to improve their Japanese while living in Japan for a certain period can also consider the school.

The school is located in the Toyohira area of Sapporo. It is about a 7-minute walk from Kikusui Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway Tozai Line and about a 10-minute walk from Gakuen-mae Station on the Toho Line. Sapporo Station can be reached in about 15 minutes by public transportation, and the Odori area is a short subway ride away. Around the school there are facilities needed for daily life, such as restaurants, banks, a post office and supermarkets.

Compared with large metropolises such as Tokyo and Osaka, Sapporo offers a calmer city life while providing easy access to Hokkaido's natural surroundings, winter sports and various seasonal events. For this reason, Ask Sapporo offers a different option for students who aim to work in Japan and want to continue their Japanese studies in a calmer urban environment.