special feature international sporting events and english

136Vol.

Nov. 2018

The Institute for International Business Communication

Part 1: Gearing up for the Rugby World Cup 2019TM in Japan

Part 2: Initiatives for sporting events

Part 3: Volunteer sports interpreters and global HR training

Part 4: IIBC Initiatives

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International Sporting Events and English

The Turning Point English Brought to My Life 12

14IIBC TOPICS

Daichi HaraFreestyle mogul skier

Special Feature

Special Feature International Sporting Events and English

Traditionally within the world of rugby, the influence of the Commonwealth

countries has been immense. Since its debut in 1987, the Rugby World

Cup has only been held in countries that have been traditional rugby

powerhouses.

This was the situation in which Japan launched its bid in 2003 to

become the first Asian country to host the Rugby World Cup. At the

outset, our effort to win the bid felt a bit like trying to open an ice-

encrusted door, as the obstacles we faced were daunting.

The decision regarding what country will host the Rugby World

Cup is made by the members of the Rugby World Council, composed of

regional and national representatives. In 2011, the candidates to host

the event were South Africa, New Zealand and Japan. In approaching

the Council representatives for each country, we exchanged business

cards and introduced ourselves, whereas the New Zealand and South

African representatives were already on a first-name basis with their

counterparts and engaging in frank discussions. The promoters

for New Zealand in particular highlighted various benefits to their

counterparts, such as the possibility that the famous All-Blacks team

could play away games in their countries.

At the time I had dinner with the director of the Rugby association

of Wales, with whom I had good personal relations, and he told me

that there was no way that Japan, which lost 100 points to zero to

Wales, would be able to host the Rugby World Cup. That comment

showed me for the first time just how our bid was being viewed. I

became painfully aware of how difficult it would be for Japan, which

lacked the personal networks of the traditional rugby powerhouses,

to win the right to host that international sporting event. And in the

end, New Zealand was chosen as the host country in 2011.

But that experience of failing to win the bid the first time also

taught us the importance of international communication. The chief

executive of the International Ruby Board (IRB) at the time, Mike

Miller, emphasized to me the importance of using communication not

only to “cultivate” with regard to particular issues, but also to engage

in regular communication with no specific aim so as to always be

building relationships. I also learned that the style of communication

is not limited to exchanging business cards, but rather centers on

building frank person-to-person relationships.

International Sporting Events and EnglishHosting international sporting events not only offers the world’s top athletes a chance to shine, but also contribute greatly to the promotion of sports and to international goodwill. With the upcoming 2019 Rugby World Cup and 2020 Olympics and Paralympics to be held in Japan, interest in international sporting events is steadily rising.

Such major sporting events are expected to attract many foreigners to Japan and raise demand to put in place the environment and human resources necessary to respond to the influx of visitors.

In this issue, we address the theme of “international sporting events and English” including interviews with experts to find out more about volunteer interpreters and human-resource training.

Part 1

Gearing up for the Rugby World Cup 2019TM in Japan•Interview with Koji Tokumasu

General Manager, 2019 Rugby World Cup Organizing Committee

•Preparations in the host cities: Fukuroi, Shizuoka Prefecture; Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture

Part 2Initiatives for sporting events•8th Kobe Marathon•2018 Fig Trampoline World Cup in Maebashi, Japan

Part 3 Volunteer sports interpreters and global HR training•Park Jeong Yong, Kanda University of International Studies

Part 4IIBC initiatives•Chichibunomiya Minato Rugby Festival 2018

1st (1987) Australia / New Zealand

2nd (1991) England

3rd (1995) South Africa

4th (1999) Wales

5th (2003) Australia

6th (2007) France

7th (2011) New Zealand

8th (2015) England

9th (2019) Japan

10th (2023) France


Pursuing the Rugby World Cup Highlighted the Need for Global Communication

Rugby World Cup Host Nations

In 2019, Japan will become the first Asian country to host the Rugby World Cup. Given the strong influence of Commonwealth countries within the rugby community, the process leading up to Japan obtaining the hosting rights was full of challenges.

We interviewed the general manager of the 2019 Rugby World Cup Organizing Committee, Koji Tokumasu, to hear his views on the path leading up to Japan’s winning bid and what it felt like when the announcement was made.

Globalization of Rugby and the Benefits of Hosting the Rugby World Cup

Special Feature

2 IIBC NEWSLETTER Vol.136 Nov. 2018


The deadline for applying to be an official volunteer for the Rugby

World Cup was reached recently, and fortunately there were many

applicants. According to one of the organizers, only 17% of the

applicants had any connection to rugby. In other words, the vast

majority were interested in becoming a volunteer even though they

knew little if anything about the sport.

People tend to assume that the main joy from being a volunteer

comes from helping others, but I think there is also value in the

enjoyment derived from going to a place and spending time with

others. In that sense, I think participating as a Rugby World Cup

volunteer could be a “once in a lifetime” experience for many people.

I would like to see many other people get involved in the 2019

Rugby World Cup. There are lots of ways to help out, not only as

a volunteer at tournament matches but also through international

exchange opportunities that arise

from the event. I also hope that the

experiences people gain from the

Rugby World Cup can be used the

following year at the 2020 Olympic

and Paralympics and at other

international sporting events.

The process of choosing the next host nation got started in 2007, and

in the end the hosts of the 2015 and the 2019 Rugby World Cup were

selected at the same time. This was related to the effort then underway

to have rugby chosen as an Olympic sport. The International Olympic

Committee (IOC) pointed out that, looking at the host countries for

the Rugby World Cup to date, the sport could hardly be described as

“international.” Taking this criticism to heart, the idea was proposed

of holding the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, following the 2015

Rugby World Cup in England, so that the event would be held for the

first time in Asia. This was a golden opportunity for us, and we began

our effort to win the bid, based on the slogan of “globalizing rugby.”

Despite the circumstances, however, not everything was smooth

sailing for us within the rugby community. Our rivals to host the event

were South Africa and Italy. On the evening prior to the final vote, the

representatives from each host country were in the lounge of the hotel

where we were all staying to do some last-minute lobbying. We all

stayed up until three in the morning to plead our case. Astoundingly,

the lobbying picked up again the next morning at breakfast, with the

South African and Italian representatives continuing to showcase their

bids. That gives you some idea of just how intense the process was.

In the end, Japan won by a vote of 16 to 10, giving us the right to

host the 2019 Rugby World Cup. This led to a flood of congratulatory

calls and emails from rugby officials from other Asian countries that

quickly drained my cellphone battery. That experience left a deep

impression of how Asian rugby officials deeply cherished the same

desire of making rugby a global sport.

Right after Japan was chosen as the host country, the director of

the New Zealand rugby association told me something that also left a

deep impression: “I voted for your bid,” he said, “based on the belief

that Japan hosting the event would do more for the future of rugby

than choosing South Africa. But now I’m headed off to South Africa

to issue my apology for not supporting their bid.” New Zealand had

in fact been in an alliance with South Africa. So it was very satisfying

to learn that they had decided to prioritize the globalization of rugby,

over that relationship, by supporting the Japanese bid. Spurred by the

decision to choose Japan to host the Rugby World Cup, the IOC made

the decision at its general assembly three months later to include

rugby sevens as an official Olympic sport.

After a stint as a journalist following his graduation from International Christian University, Koji Tokumasu studied rugby coaching at Cardiff College of Education (now Cardiff Metropolitan University). Upon returning to Japan, he taught English and coached rugby at Meikei High School, leading the team to the 1989 national championship. In 1995, he began working for the Japan Rugby Football Union, and in 2003 was appointed to organize Japan’s bid to host the Rugby World Cup. For a three-year period, starting in 2015, he was the President of Asia Rugby.

Globalization of Rugby Sustained the Japanese bid

Rugby World Cup Fosters International Exchange and New Communities

Residents Get Involved as VolunteersGet involved in the 2019 Rugby World Cup

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Matches in the 2019 Rugby World Cup will be played in 12 Japanese

cities, and team camps will be set up in 59 different municipalities,

stretching from Hokkaido in the north all the way down to Okinawa.

This means that players and fans from around the world will be visiting

every corner of Japan. The world’s rugby fans are a passionate group,

and it is said that many will come to Japan for an extended stay to

enjoy the World Cup. During their time in Japan, the fans will combine

tourism with attending matches. For Japanese people, this is a great

opportunity to interact with people from other countries. If towns and

cities can showcase their own attractions during that time, it may lead

to more tourists visiting in the future.

Hosting the Rugby World Cup may also give birth to new communities.

The key will be how to maintain those communities even after the event

has ended. I think that is a key task for the 2019

Rugby World Cup Organizing Committee and for

each municipality involved.

1 Sapporo city

2 Kamaishi city, Iwate Prefecture

3 Kumagaya city, Saitama Prefecture

4 Tokyo

5 Yokohama city, Kanagawa Prefecture

6 Shizuoka Prefecture

7 Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture

8 Higashi-osaka city, Osaka Prefecture

9 Kobe city

10 Fukuokacty, Fukuoka Prefecture

11 Komamoto city, Kumamoto Prefecture

12 Oita Prefecture

12 Host Sites for 2019 Rugby World Cup

Koji Tokumasu General Manager2019 Rugby World Cup Organizing Committee

3IIBC NEWSLETTER Vol.136 Nov. 2018

The city of Fukuroi had the experience of hosting matches for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Much of the legacy of that time remains in terms of the “hard” infrastructure, such as the Ecopa Stadium constructed for the event and the opening of Aino Station. But there was much room for improvement when it came to the “soft” infrastructure, such as our level of international exchange. So we have tried to improve those elements.

Based on our past experience, a proactive effort is being made, under the mayor’s leadership, to use the Rugby World Cup as an opportunity to internationalize Fukuroi. Along with enhancing interaction between the foreign players and city residents, we are also aiming to raise global awareness throughout the city by promoting exchanges that involve the numerous foreign tourists who will visit the area to attend the matches. One aspect of this are the trial homestays begun in 2016. We think it will promote international exchange to have city residents welcome overseas visitors on that grassroots level.

Starting last year we also launched a major initiative to set up English conversation classes that will help city residents become more comfortable using English. At first we set up a class for parents and their children from the junior-high age and older, but it proved so popular that nearly every class was over capacity. Along with offering instruction on everyday conversation, the lessons use a variety of methods to familiarize students with the use of

English, including tablet computers to teach content or Skype sessions for spoken communication.

We are confident that hosting Rugby World Cup matches will be a huge step forward for our internationalization efforts. Already the activities led by the International Exchange Office are changing awareness among residents. A new website has been launched, called Fukuroi Marugoto International (literally: “Fully International Fukuroi), to diffuse information related to international exchange and English. Those interested in participating in international exchange can also register on the Hello Friend site, and around 600 households have already done so, which gives some idea of how interest in taking part in Rugby World Cup events is growing among city residents.

Now we are planting the seeds for internationalization in Fukuroi. Moving forward, we want to continue to promote a variety of initiatives that will put in place a legacy that will remain long after the Rugby World Cup has ended.

Message from City Organizers

Jun TsujimotoRugby Hosting Preparation OfficeSports Promotion Section, Citizen Affairs Department, Fukuroi City

Hiromasa SuzukiHead of International Exchange OfficePlanning and Policy Section, Planning and Finance DepartmentFukuroi City


Four preliminary round matches of the 2019 Rugby World Cup will be held at the Shizuoka Stadium, also known as “Ecopa,” in the city of Fukuroi, Shizuoka Prefecture.

Fukuroi set up the International Exchange Office in 2017 to use the opportunity of hosting the Rugby World Cup to deepen exchange between city residents and foreigners. The organization is involved in various initiatives, including the promotion of homestays to host tourists coming from overseas to view the matches as well as special English courses taught by Coordinators for International Relations.

Preparations in Host Cities: ❶Fukuroi city, Shizuoka Prefecture

Starting in 2016, Fukuroi hired two coordinators for international relations (CIRs). We interviewed them to find out about their preparations for hosting of the Rugby World Cup matches, including the teaching of English classes and organizing of events.

Rachael Meehan My first impression of Fukuroi was its beautiful abundant nature. I’m very proud of my activities as a CIR in this laidback, friendly city.

During summer vacation, I taught English classes to children at after-school centers. We played games and did other activities using English, and I was impressed by how eager the kids were to communicate, even if they couldn’t speak English well. I hope that they will continue to have an interest in English and international exchange.

I’m excited that the first match in Shizuoka for next year’s Rugby World Cup will be Japan against my home country Ireland! Viewing a match live is amazing, so I hope many people will come to have that experience. In preparation for the event, now we are working to expand the scope of international exchange for Fukuroi residents.

Samuel Weegenaar I taught one special English course for firefighters. The content included practical English for emergency situations. This gave me the sense that in the run-up to the Rugby World Cup there will be a growing demand for such initiatives.

Instead of just teaching English for adult classes, I also try to tell students about the culture and customs of my home country, New Zealand. They have shown a keen interest in New Zealand, and the topic

has stimulated communication, with students pointing out certain customs or practices in Japan and asking me if things are the same or different in my country. I have also planned English-language events related to the Rugby World Cup for participants to learn rugby rules and specialized terms.

Many foreign tourists are expected to visit Fukuroi during the Rugby World Cup. I want to do whatever I can for the preparations so that the city residents can actively communicate with those visitors.

Rachael Meehan from Dublin, IrelandCIR from August 2018

Samuel Weegenaar from Christchurch, New ZealandCIR from August 2016

Fukuroi city

Using World Cup as an Opportunity to Promote City-wide Internationalization


Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs) in Fukuroi


Ecopa was built to host matches in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The 50,000-seat stadium is the second largest Rugby World Cup venue, after Yokohama’s Nissan Stadium. The superbly maintained turf at Ecopa has won high praise among soccer players and coaches. In preparation for the Rugby World Cup, two 9.6m by 19.2m full-vision displays were installed on either side of the stadium. The displays, which are the largest of their kind in Japan, allow spectators to easily follow all the action of a match. Various preparations are underway to prepare the facility and staff for the Rugby World Cup, including weekly English conversation lessons.

Ogasayama Sports Park Ecopa (Shizuoka Stadium)


Trial Homestays

Our reason for agreeing to take part in this trial homestay is that we wanted our two sons, who are in high school and university, to have the experience of spending time with foreigners.

Our guest from America, Levay, also did a homestay in Japan 18 years ago. During his stay this time, he talked to our sons about many things. When we asked them about the experience, they said it was every exciting to have the chance to speak a common language (English) with someone from a different culture, and that it made them want to continue studying English so that they could engage in everyday conversations. Even though the encounter was brief, it was very stimulating. When I saw my sons speaking English with Levay it made me realize that English speaking ability is not something that can be measured by school test scores alone. If we have the opportunity to be involved in the Rugby World Cup, I definitely would like for us to actively communicate with foreign visitors.

Initiatives are being promoted in Fukuroi for the Rugby World Cup to serve as an opportunity for people to experience international exchange on the grassroots level. One such initiative is a large-scale homestay project. Trial homestays have been carried out since 2016, with an eye to having around one hundred households welcome visitors for homestays during the Rugby World Cup. We talked with three of the families that participated in the most recent trial that was held on August 25 and 26, 2018.

Kimura household

We have hosted three different foreign guests since the trial homestays started in 2016. Our reason for taking part is that we want to raise children who do not feel any inhibitions about interacting with foreigners.

Before our Ukrainian guest, Lily, arrived, my kids were so curious about everything, like what her country was like or what words people used there to greet each other.

She told us that she was a bit nervous because she normally doesn’t encounter children so often, but from the first she got along great with my kids. One thing that surprised my children was that Lily ate noodles without making any slurping sound. It was a great experience for them to see that custom that is different from Japan. We are really excited about next year’s Rugby World Cup. Even though I can’t volunteer as an interpreter, I’d like to do whatever I can to help.

Our family decided to take part in the trial homestay because our kids have reached the age where they are able to understand many things. We hope that one day our children will also be able to live overseas as my husband and I have done.

Unfortunately, during the period of the homestay my husband, who speaks good English, had to take a sudden overseas trip to deal with an emergency, so I was left alone to make do as best I could, using my rusty English that I haven’t spoken for over 10 years. Thankfully our guest from Saudi Arabia, Torquey was very kind and got along well with our children, so that put my mind at rest. Soon the children and Torquey got along so well they were inseparable. My daughter is a third-year elementary student who is studying English after school, and although she was nervous she managed to introduce herself in English and say that when she grows up she wants to do something that will let her interact with foreigners. We would like to build on this experience so that we can also welcome homestay guests during next year’s Rugby World Cup.

Matsuura household

Uchiyama household


The “Rugby Cafe” for learning English conversation began in 2016, the year after Japan was chosen to host the Rugby World Cup. The aim of the conversation lessons is for residents to prepare to warmly welcome foreign visitors during the event so that the city can broaden its connections to the rest of the world.

Currently, English conversation lessons for beginner and intermediary levels are taught once a month by Kamaishi’s two coordinators for international relations (CIRs), Emily Hallams and Aisling Barry, at the Aoba Building community center.

On the day we visited, Sunday June 17, Emily was teaching the morning beginner class. The class is intended for those who want interact with foreigners and start speaking English in a casual setting, and simple theme-based conversations and games were

used to accustom the students to using English. In the afternoon, Aisling taught the intermediary students, using a board-game format to have students give short speeches on various topics as a practical activity for speaking English.

Around 10 students participated in each class. The class members were from diverse backgrounds, including company employees, local retailers, housewives, retirees, and municipal employees who have been dispatched to Kamaishi to provide assistance for recovery. In the beginning-level class, some parents also took part with their children. The level of interest in learning English in the area was clear form the fact that residents of nearby cities also took part.

Upon being selected to host matches in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Kamaishi decided to hire two coordinators for international relations (CIRs) under the educational ministry’s JET Program. The two CIRS are involved in a wide range of activities that include not only conveying municipal information in English, teaching English, and training volunteer interpreters, but also advising stores and restaurants on how to accommodate foreign customers and providing various English support such as translating menus into English.

Kamaishi reputation as a “rugby town” was forged by the so-called “Northern Iron Men,” the nickname of the Nippon Steel Rugby Football Club that won nine straight national championships—a record that remains unbroken today. In 2011, the city was devastated by the tsunami that struck northeastern Japan, and over a thousand city residents lost their lives.

The disaster-recovery plan for the area included from the outset the construction of a stadium that could host international rugby matches. The city hosting matches in the 2019 Rugby World Cup will be a symbol of its recovery eight years after the disaster. Kamaishi wants to use the event as an opportunity to convey to people around the world its status as a “rugby town,” while also carrying out various activities to raise the English level of city residents.

Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs) in Kamaishi city

Report on “Rugby Cafe”

Preparations in Host Cities: ❷ Kamaishi city, Iwate Prefecture


People of all ages—from children to grandparents—have participated in the Rugby Cafe. They are all highly motivated but have not had many chances up to now to speak English, so they are taking advantage of the Rugby Café lessons. Some of the students have even thanked me for giving them such an opportunity, and it made me very happy to hear that.

I hope that by hosting the Rugby World Cup Kamaishi will not only be able to showcase itself to visitors but also have its own residents become more aware of the city’s great aspects through their interaction with many people. Recently, I have been involved in preparations for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, such as translating restaurant menus into English. I hope that city residents will take advantage of the various activities the CIRs are organizing.

Aisling Barry Coordinator for International RelationsMallow, County Cork, Ireland CIR from July 2017

Prior to being posted to Kamaishi, I didn’t know anything about the city, but after living here I have come to know its many charms.

Up to now, not many foreigners have visited Kamaishi because it is a small town. In that sense, I think the Rugby World Cup is a great opportunity to attract more visitors. The participants in the Rugby Café are all highly motivated to learn English, and are striving to learn English words and expressions that will let them actually interact with foreign visitors. In addition to the official volunteers for the Rugby World Cup, Kamaishi also plans to solicit other volunteers. I hope that many city residents will enjoy using English to communicate without worrying about making mistakes so that they can interact with many foreign guests.

Emily Hallams Coordinator for International RelationsFrom Canberra, AustraliaCIR from July 2016


Conveying to the World Kamaishi’s Charms as a “Rugby Town”


Kamaishi city

The city of Kamaishi grew together with the iron and steel industries, starting from the late Edo period, and at one point its population exceeded 100,000. But with the decline of the steel industry, the population also shrank—and now is just a third of its peak size, at around 35,000 residents. The Nippon Steel Rugby Football Club that won seven-straight national championships also no longer exists, but the spirit of the team lives on in the Kamaishi Seawaves rugby club, the first “community-based” club team in Japan. The team is keeping the flame of rugby alive in Kamaishi.

Proof that Kamaishi is a “rugby town” is reflected in the fact that the fundamental plan for recovery following the 2011 tsunami that devastated the area was named the “Scrum KamaishiRecovery Plan.” When the basic framework of the plan was being formulated in July 2011, the idea of building a rugby stadium that could be used for international matches was incorporated. In this sense, rugby has been a great pillar of support for Kamaishi, and the stadium is a symbol of how the city has overcome difficulties on the road to recovery.

Once we learned in 2015 that Kamaishi would host Rugby World Cup matches, we proceeded in earnest on the effort to build

the stadium and implement measures to attract and accommodate visitors. The city has been supporting a wide range of activities, including the training of volunteer interpreters, provision of English support to stores and restaurants, and the hiring of two coordinators for international relations.

There has been very little reluctance among city residents to interact with foreigners, and residents have made an active effort to use English. This reflects, in part, the fact that Kamaishi is a port city with a history of interaction with people from other areas, and that there has been an increase in foreign players on the Kamaishi Seawaves rugby team.

Traces of damage from the 2011 tsunami remain in Kamaishi, and there are still vacant lots in the city, but we think that hosting Rugby World Cup will be a spark that will hasten our recovery.

Hisashi Masuda Deputy Director GeneralRugby World Cup 2019 Host Promotion Office

Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium in the Unosumai area of Kamaishi, which was devastated by the 2011 tsunami, is the only new stadium constructed for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The stadium was built on the former site of an elementary school and junior high school. Almost all of the roughly 600 school children managed to escape the tsunami by fleeing to higher ground in what came to be known as the “miracle of Kamaishi.”

The main stand of the stadium includes wooden seats made from cedar trees reclaimed from a forest in nearby Ozaki Peninsula that was struck by a fire in May 2017, and plastic seats donated from stadiums around the country, including the recently demolished National Stadium and Tokyo Dome. Two Rugby World Cup matches are scheduled to be played at the stadium, including the match between Fiji and Wales.

Message from City Organizers

Kamaishi Usunomai Recovery Memorial Stadium

View of the stadium site just before completion (June 17, 2018)

From the main stand, the new location of Usunomai Elementary School and Kamaishi Higashi Junior High School is visible (atop the hill).

The main pitch of the stadium uses a hybrid turf that combines natural and artificial grass.

Visible from the main stand are the seawall and sluice under construction that are scheduled to be completed by the opening of the Rugby World Cup.





Theme of “Thanks and Friendship”

Watanabe The Kobe Marathon was launched in November 2011 under the theme of “Thanks and Friendship,” with the aim of expressing our appreciation to everyone inside and outside Japan who had lent Kobe a helping hand during the period of recovering from the devastating earthquake that struck the area in 1995. By a strange coincidence, the Great East Japan Earthquake struck Japan in March of 2011, just as preparations for the inaugural marathon were underway. This led to the event being positioned as a means of expressing encouragement to those in disaster areas inside and outside of Japan.

For the 8th Kobe Marathon, held on Sunday November 18, we made various efforts to enhance the attractions for participants, including the obtaining of “bronze label” certification as a road race under the International Association of Athletics Associations and inclusion as one of the Marathon Challenge Cup series races that encourage people to take part in marathons.

Volunteers Are “Communicators”

Hagioka Around 20,000 runners take part in the Kobe Marathon every year, including some 1,200 runners who live overseas. Successfully holding such a large-scale event depends on the work of volunteers. We plan to have around 7,200 people take part as volunteers for the 8th Kobe Marathon this year, including around 120 to 130 interpreters to help foreign runners.

The various tasks of volunteers include staffing the reception and information areas and providing support along the marathon route. We mainly ask our volunteer interpreters to provide support to speakers of foreign languages in the reception and information areas or at the aid stations.

We use scores from the TOEIC® Listening & Reading Test to gauge the language ability of volunteers, with a score of around 700 points as the standard for interpreters and 400 for those involved in everyday types of conversation. Around 90% of the volunteer interpreters use English as their means of communication during the event.

Watanabe Along with performing their assigned tasks, we would like the volunteers to make an effort to actively convey to the runners the charms of the Kobe Marathon and of Kobe. It is no exaggeration to say that the impression that foreign runners have of the volunteer interpreters will shape their overall view of the event and the city as a whole. I’m very happy that we have many volunteers who are not only providing interpreting but also communicating with runners in a hospitable and enthusiastic way.

The event could not be success without volunteers

Hagioka It is said that a sporting event involves those who do, watch, and assist. When it comes to the volunteers, who are providing assistance, I think there are many cases where they not only “give” but also “receive.” Volunteer interpreters in particular are able to have out-of-the-ordinary experiences by coming into contact with foreign runners and building relationships with their fellow interpreters.

Watanabe After past events, many of the volunteers have said “thank you” to members of the Kobe Marathon Committee, and we too are also full of gratitude to them. Without the help of volunteers there is no way that the event could be a success. Together with all the volunteers, I hope that we can make the 8th Kobe Marathon a splendid event.

Kobe Marathon Committee Tetsu HagiokaCompetition Management Division

I have participated as a volunteer since the first Kobe Marathon. And for this year’s eighth marathon I will be a group leader of volunteers. Our group includes people of all ages, many of whom have volunteered at past marathons, and I’m looking forward to working together with them.

I decided to become a volunteer as a great opportunity to come into contact and speak with other people. When I come across foreigners in my everyday life, I make a point of asking if I can help them. 　

Three things are important, I think, to being a volunteer. First, you need to be in good physical shape. Being healthy and energetic are key. The second important thing is to be considerate to your fellow volunteers. Since they are all doing something worthwhile, I make a point of always

seeking to learn from them. The third and final thing is to never forget to greet foreign runners with a smile.

The biggest thrill of volunteering was the chance to meet new people and have fun with them. When I traveled overseas myself, I was touched by how strangers were willing to help me. So I want to do the same thing for foreigners who visit Japan. For all those reasons, taking part as a volunteer has been a tremendous opportunity for me.

Fukuko Takeuchi Volunteer interpreterKobe Marathon

Every year, nearly 20,000 runners participated in the Kobe Marathon, held under the theme of “Thanks and Friendship.” The annual event is one of Japan’s leading marathons open to the general public. Around 1,200 runners from overseas also take part in the marathon. To find out more about the event, particularly how volunteer interpreters are supporting foreign participants, we spoke TomoakiWatanabe and Tetsu Hagioka of the Kobe Marathon Committee.

8th Kobe Marathon

Conveying to the World the Charms of KobeThrough the Theme of “Thanks and Friendship”

Tomoaki WatanabeAdministrative Manager

Feedback from a Kobe Marathon Volunteer Interpreter



International Competition in Maebashi Thrills the Crowd of Spectators

Sports thrive in Maebashi, particularly trampoline gymnastics and soccer, which the city is actively promoting. One of Japan’s few trampoline facilities is located in Maebashi, which led to its selection as the host of the 2018 FIG Trampoline World Cup, held on August 4 and 5 of this year.

This is the third time for Japan to host this international trampoline event, which was previously held in Osaka and Kawasaki. Around 200 athletes and coaches from 19 countries participated in this year’s highly competitive event.

The number of spectators was roughly three times the number that had been expected, with around 1,000 people attending the preliminary round and 1,200 attending the final round. This turnout reflects the high level of interest in trampoline gymnastics among Maebashi residents. The spectators had a chance to enjoy the amazing, graceful movements of the world’s top trampoline gymnasts.

Number of Volunteer Interpreters Greatly Exceeds Exceptions

Since athletes from all over the world would attend the competition, we decided to recruit volunteer interpreters, following the advice of the Japan Gymnastics Association, which overseas trampoline competitions in Japan.

Over twenty years ago Maebashi hosted an international Under-12 soccer tournament, but at the time the teams were accompanied by their own interpreters, so no interpreters were chosen from among the city’s residents. The trampoline competition this year was the first time for us to recruit volunteer interpreters. Our basic concept was that the volunteers would not only provide support for the event, but would also have fun through cultural interaction with the athletes and other people involved.

Around a month before the event we started recruiting volunteers. Around 500 people applied, of whom we chose around 60 interpreters to be involved in the event. We had been concerned that there might not be many people volunteering, so it was wonderful that the number of applicants greatly exceeded our expectations.

The ages of the volunteers ranged from high-schoolers to those in their 60s, but the most common age-brackets were 30- to 40-year-olds. Most of the volunteers spoke English, but there were also some who spoke Chinese. The levels of English ability included those adept at business English from their jobs, as well as those who were extremely fluent after living overseas for many years. Most of the volunteers were residents of Maebashi or other places in Gunma Prefecture, but we also had some volunteers from Utsunomiya in neighboring Tochigi Prefecture. Since the number of volunteers exceeded expectations, we were able to provide interpreters not only for the reception areas and head office, but also dispatch an interpreter for each country to provide guidance to the facilities and support at meal times.

Bolstered by the Strong Awareness of Volunteers Exceptions

In line with our expectations, the volunteers proved very effective, as we confirmed from the positive feedback of participating athletes. And many of the volunteers told us how much they enjoyed the experience. Some of the volunteers who involved starting two days before the competition began said on the final day, “Is it over already?” The event won praise, and some are talking about having Maebashi host the Trampoline World Cup again.

I realized that it would be difficult to make the Trampoline World Cup a success based only on the efforts of the event organizers. Clearly one of the main factors behind the success of the event was the cooperation of the skilled interpreters, as well as the highly considerate athletes, coaches, and others who were involved.

We positioned the hosting of the Trampoline World Cup as an opportunity to attract national teams interested in using the Maebashi facilities for their pre-camp training for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Already we have signed an agreement with the Hungarian team, and are seeking to also attract Belarus, which is very strong in trampoline gymnastics.

We are also trying to attract other international competitions for such sports as bicycle racing. The next time we hold a major international sporting event in Maebashi, I hope that we will again make active use of volunteer interpreters.

Shinichi HagiwaraSenior Assistant Manager Maebashi City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Sports Division Culture,

The city of Maebashi hosted the 2018 FIG Trampoline World Cup. The city has outstanding facilities and equipment for the sport of trampoline gymnastics, which is popular among city residents. The event, which was participated in by around 200 athletes and staffs from 19 countries, was also an opportunity to attract teams as a pre-camp location for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

We interviewed Shinichi Hagiwara of Maebashi City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Sports Division to find out more about the volunteer interpreters who played a key role in supporting the management of the competition.

Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture

A view of the 2018 FIG Trampoline World Cup in Maebashi.

Some of the volunteers at the 2018 FIG Trampoline World Cup

Abilities of Volunteer Interpreters Contribute toSuccess of the City’s First International Sporting Event



Volunteer Sports Interpretation × Global Human Resources

The merits of volunteering as a sports interpreter go beyond just improving your language skills. In order to smoothly perform one’s duties as a volunteer interpreter at an international sporting event, the sort of qualities listed below (Fig. 2) are necessary.

Many of the elements needed to be a volunteer sports interpreter are likewise necessary for global human resources. Looking at the written feedback from the first five seminars on volunteer interpreting, around 93% said that by participating in the seminar they were able to not only learn about the skills needed to be a volunteer translator but also deepen their understanding of a global mindset and the elements needed to foster global human resources.

Around 100 students were sent to the 2018 Pyeong Chang Winter Olympics as the first volunteer interpreters dispatched abroad under the Consortium program. This shows that the field of activity for our student volunteer interpreters will not be limited to Japan. With the globalization of sports increasing every year, I think that volunteer sports interpreting will be a valuable area of practical application for the field of language education in Japan. I hope that the awareness and experiences that students gain through volunteering as interpreters will contribute to the fostering of global human resources in Japan.

Park Jeon Yong of Kanda University of International Studies is actively involved in encouraging students to volunteer as interpreters at sporting events, based on his own experience. We talked to him to discuss such topics as effective language education for volunteer sports volunteers and the fostering of global human resources.

Began Promoting Volunteer Sports Interpreting Based on Personal Experience

My first encounter with volunteer sports interpreting came during my second year of studying abroad in Japan, when I volunteered as an interpreter to assist the Korean team at the International Chiba Ekiden race. At the time, I was attending university while studying Japanese, and through the experience as a volunteer interpreter I could get a real sense of the “living” Japanese language. After that, I volunteered as an interpreter at various other international sporting events, which allowed me to polish my Japanese ability and communicate with competition organizers and athletes. This experience made me think that I’d like to do a job that would offer me global connections.

Around the time I started working for Kanda University of International Studies, in April 2007, I realized that I wanted to convey to students the experiences I had as a volunteer interpreter. Drawing on those experience and my personal connections, I introduced a program for volunteer sports interpreting on September 1 of that year. Many students were immediately interested in the program, and it made me realize that the field of volunteer interpreting is extremely interesting to university students, particularly those studying foreign languages.

High Demand for English at International Sporting Events

In 2015, the president of Kanda University of International Studies proposed the introduction of a joint program on volunteer sports for the seven foreign language universities that form the Consortium of Foreign Studies in Japan. Based on the achievements at Kanda University of International Studies, the proposal was accepted, resulting in the introduction of a seminar to train volunteer interpreters introduced as a Consortium-wide program

The sixth seminar was held in August 2018, and prior to that around 1,334 students had participated in the previous courses, with 1,261 of them registered as volunteer sports interpreters. Many of the students were skilled in languages, and around 90% of them registered as English-language interpreters. English was also the language most in demand among the organizers of sporting events seeking volunteers, reflecting how important the language has become to competitions.

The program has had great significance in terms of not only raising the language and communication skills of the participating students but also increasing their motivation to learn foreign languages. According to one US-based National Training Laboratories, only about 5% of learning is acquired from attending classes and lectures, but when a person actively and practically applies what is studied at school, the level of learning is increased to around 80 to 90% (see Fig. 1). Volunteer sports interpreting is a good example of a practical application. Bringing students into contact with places and conditions they can’t experience in the classroom or their everyday lives, is a great opportunity for them to practically apply the language ability they have learned at school while becoming more aware of the need to study a foreign language.

Park Jeon Yong● Full-time lecturer at Kanda

University of International Studies● Director of the Volunteer Center’s

Volunteer Sports Interpretation Promotion Office

After completing a course in sports health system management at the University of Tsukuba’s Comprehensive School of Human Sciences, he continued to pursue his research on that subject at a doctoral program within the same university while also teaching for it as a part-time lecturer. Other universities where he has taught include Sophia University and Waseda University. His recent research interests include the role of education in the 21st century in relation to “sports liberal arts.”


Part 3: Volunteer Sports Interpreters and Global HR Training

Artistic Gymnastics World Championships—Tokyo

2018 Pyeong Chang Winter Olympics

Language and communication ability

Sense of responsibility and missionGood physical condition

Specialized knowledge of sports

Six Key Elements for a Volunteer Sports

Interpreter Proactive and willing to take on challenges

Cross-cultural understanding and hospitality

From “Experience and Practical Language Use from Volunteer Interpreting at International Sporting Events” (Park Jeon Yong, 2015)

Diagram 2

World Junior Badminton Championships

LectureReadingAudio-visualDemonstrationDiscussionPractice doing

5%10%20%30%50%75%90% Teaching others

Source: National Training Laboratories’ Learning Pyramid

Fig. 1

Develop Global Human Resouces Through Volunteer


Chichibunomiya Minato Rugby Festival 2018

The festival is one of the world’s premier Rugby festivals. The event,

which took place from June 12 to 17, includes friendly rugby

matches involving clubs from the rugby powerhouse Australia, as

well as various interactive events. Seven individuals chosen by IIBC

among applicants took part in the festival as volunteer interpreters.

The festival welcomed two teams from the Super Rugby league*:

the Waratahs and the Brumbies, as well as the NEC Green Rockets

and the Suntory Sungolaith from the Japan Top League. Fans at the

lively festival had a chance to watch world-class friendly matches

between the teams.

IIBC recruited volunteer interpreters and dispatched them to

the event. The main task of the volunteers was to offer English

guidance at the welcome party and provide interpretation support

for participating coaches, players, officials, and spectators, as well

as interpretation for after-match functions and display booths. In

addition, the volunteer interpreters accompanied players on their

meeting with the head of the Japan Sports Agency Daiichi Suzuki and

the members of the 2019 Rugby World Cup Organizing Committee.

Information about applying to be a volunteer interpreter was

posted on the IIBC website, social-networking sites, and emails

sent to TOEIC Square members. The applicants were required to

be university students or adults residing in Japan with an interest

in sports (and rugby in particular) who had scored 750 points or

higher on TOEIC L&R and scored 140 points or higher on the TOEIC®

Speaking Test. Applicants who passed the first round of online

evaluation were interviewed, resulting in the selection of seven

volunteer interpreters.

The selected volunteer were a diverse group that included a

university who plays rugby at university, a person who studied

sports overseas, an adult who learned English during a working

holiday overseas, and a graduate from an American university who

negotiates with overseas departments for his job.

The volunteers facilitated the interaction between the

participating players and staff from Japan and Australia and local

companies, helping to build anticipation for next year’s Rugby World

Cup in Japan.

* Super Rugby: A 5-nation, 15-club professional rugby league involving Argentina,

Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Feedback from Volunteer Interpreters at the Rugby Festival

Part 4: IIBC Initiatives

Part 3: Volunteer Sports Interpreters and Global HR Training / Part 4: IIBC Initiatives

“Interpreting requires a lot of training and study because you have to make snap decisions relying on your own judgement. The experience made me grateful that I have learned to speak English because I am keen to do work that will allow me to act as a bridge between countries.”

“I tried to use more polite forms of English than are normally used in everyday communication. But it was really hard to convey the meaning of unique Japanese expressions like yoroshiku onegai shimasu in English!”

“It was so much fun for me to use communicate with foreigners using my English skills via a sport that I love.”

“I was given this rare opportunity to also interpret at a social event, and I did my best to make it a success. I am very grateful for gaining such precious experiences.”

Seven Interpreters Volunteer at Event Involving Powerhouse

Australian Rugby Teams


Daichi HaraFreestyle mogul skierSilver medal in dual moguls at the 8th Asia Winter Games (Sapporo 2017)Bronze medal at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics

The school I attended in Canada was located in the ski resort town

of Whistler, outside of Vancouver. Mountain biking and all sorts of

other sports are popular in Whistler, along with skiing, so there are

language schools geared to foreign athletes. During my first year

in Canada, I attended a language school to learn English while also

participating as a member of a local ski team.

At the beginning I really had a hard time with English. I was

living with a host family, but many times I hesitated to communicate

in English because it was so scary for me. For example, my dirty

clothes piled up because I was afraid to ask the host family to do

laundry for me, and when I went out to eat in Whistler I had no idea

what sort of food was served at this or that restaurant. Since it is a

mountain resort, many of the establishments were geared to adults

and served alcohol, and there was no Japanese food like ramen

or sushi. I remember how it seemed at the time that there was no

place suited to a 15-year-old like myself.

By studying for a year at the language school I was able to

gradually familiarize myself with English. In the morning I studied

grammar and vocabulary at the school, and in the afternoon at

ski practice I would try to apply what I had learned by talking to

my teammates. I tried to make full use of my limited vocabulary.

(Laughs.) When I came across words and expressions I didn’t know

in my conversations, I would look them up in a dictionary and also

ask my friends directly, and in this way I expanded my ability to

express myself. So the basic pattern was to learn the fundamentals

at school and then put them into practice in talking to people.

By doing that, communicating in English started to become

fun. And in turn, I could also pick up a lot of the specialized skiing

terms I wanted to know and enjoy hanging out with the members

of my team.

After graduating from the language school, I entered a

local high school in Whistler. The school had a lot of foreign

students, particularly from Europe. The atmosphere among

them was different from my ski team since the students had all

sorts of different future goals. And if I didn’t make an effort to

find a common topic, it was hard to sustain a conversation. My

experience at the school taught me the importance of being

proactive when it comes to communication.

From the age three I went skiing almost every winter weekend

with my parents, who love the outdoors. But actually I wasn’t so

crazy about skiing at first because it was so cold and I soon got

bored from skiing the regular slopes.

But a few years into elementary school I had the thrilling

experience of making my first jump when I skied over a little bump

in a slope. Soon I was hooked. Around the age of 12, I began to

get seriously involved in mogul skiing. Already I had the goal of

winning an Olympic medal in mind.

When I reached the third year of junior high, I began to

consider what path to take toward that goal. At first I had the

vague idea I would go on to attend high school, but my parents

suggested that if I was really serious about mogul skiing I should

consider the option of studying in Canada instead. I quickly

agreed to the idea, since I was eager to improve my skiing skills,

but I didn’t give any thought to such things as the need to speak

English. As for my English ability, I hadn’t done anything special

apart from studying it at school. (Laughs.)

Leaving for Canada on My Own at 15 to Pursue a Gold Medal

After One Year Abroad Communicating in English Became Fun

Mental Toughness from Competing Overseas and English Ability to Enjoy My Life Contributed to the First Skiing Medal for a Japanese ManAt the Pyeong Chang Winter Olympics, held in February 2018, 20-year-old Daichi Hara became the first Japanese man to win an Olympic medal in a skiing event in the freestyle mogul event, also setting a new Japanese record for the event.

We interviewed Hara to find out more about how the English ability and communication skills he picked up from the experience of training in Canada from the age of 15 contributed to his success at international competitions like the Olympics.

The Turning Point English Brought to My Life (Part 4): Daichi Hara


Learning English Greatly Reduced My Anxiety at Competitions

Pyeong Chang Olympics Were a Nervous But Fun Experience

Enjoying Mogul skiing and Communication While Aiming for the Top

The four and a half years I lived in Canada were a sort of “training.”

Of course there were lots of fun times, but on the whole the

significance was that I acquired the huge benefit of getting used

to living overseas and accustoming myself to many difficulties, and

overcoming my problems with communicating in English.

I really benefited from those experiences when I participated

in the World Cup. Every season around 10 World Cup events

are held around the world, but even when I spent around 10

days in a given country it felt like a short time to me and I didn’t

really feel like I was overseas. Also, I did not have any problem

communicating with skiers from other countries, whereas many

of my Japanese teammates could not speak much English, which

made things hard for them.

When I first moved to Canada my main aim was to improve

my skills as a mogul skier, whereas English was just a means

toward that end. Basically my thinking was that improving English

was necessary for mogul skiing. But after four and a half years my

English improved to the point where I felt comfortable using it,

which allowed me to stay focused on competitions.

Now I feel relaxed enough that I can enjoy talking to

competitors at events. And with that laid-back attitude I can have

the sort of easy-going conversations that allow me to know what

the other person is really thinking, which in turn makes me feel

even less anxiety.

In that sense, I really think that English skills are an essential

tool for any athlete aiming to reach the top.

My biggest impression from the Pyeong Chang Olympics was how

cold it was! (Laughs.)

It was my first Winter Olympics, and it felt like the most

important competition I’d ever been in. For any athlete, the

Olympic Games are special, and the atmosphere seemed

completely different from an ordinary World Cup competition.

Even though I saw the same faces among the competitors, the

level of tension was completely different. It wasn’t possible for us

to have the sort of casual conversations we might have at another

event. Even at the World Cup events leading up to the Olympics,

the conversations between the skiers had naturally tapered off. I

felt just how important the Olympics were as an event that only

came around once every four years.

It was amidst that atmosphere that I strove for my goal, and

even though I was nervous I was able to enjoy myself. I think this is

one reason I was able to become the first Japanese man to come

away with a medal by winning the bronze.

Looking back, I can see how my style of trying

to enjoy myself has brought good results.

I think one of my strengths is to create a

relaxed environment where I can really express

myself.

One interesting thing is that once I

returned to Japan the thing that struck me

most was how easy everything was. Whereas

overseas I had to take care of everything on

my own, back in Japan there were lots of

people around me to help. But actually the

style that suits me best, I realized, is what I

experienced overseas, where you can express

yourself and the other person has no problem

with that. In that sense, I realized that learning

the communicative skill of English had given

me a lot of power.

Moving forward, I want to aim for my

big goals, like the World Cup competitions

and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, while

enjoying my interaction with skiers from other

countries. I’d like to enjoy the competitions

at my own pace while aiming to reach my

highest goals.

The Turning Point English Brought to My Life (Part 4): Daichi Hara


IIBC TOPICSIIBC TOPICS

Seminar for HR Staff and Trainers

Since Hilton Tokyo Bay is the official resort of Tokyo Disney Resort® and welcomes many overseas visitors, there are very many cases where our employees need to speak English. But our staff are chosen based on the Hilton Group vision, which is “To fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality,” and at the selection stage language ability is not the main focus. Even if a person is not so skilled at English

at the beginning, we provide training for English learning after he or she enters the company. One important aspect of our in-house efforts to improve English ability is the connection between staff, management, and HR.

Our employees, or “team members” as we call them, receive training upon entering the company so that they can thoroughly acquire the proactive skill of seeking out information on their own and conveying it to others, based on the principles of our company vision. We think that both of those skills are effective when it comes to improving English ability as well.

Let me just give you one example, One of our team members who was not so fluent in English was asked by a foreign guest how to go to Tokyo Station, and used English mixed with Japanese and gestures to explain. The next day we received thanks from that guest, who mentioned the team member by name. This raised the motivation to learn English of that team member, who asked a coworker skilled at English how to use expressions in the language to please customers. This effort by one team member to convey information to customers, has thus had a positive effect on others. We think it is important to have a structure in place that will allow the team members at Hilton Tokyo Bay to raise each other’s levels in that way. I don’t think that structure can be obtained just by having the HR Department offer training.

It is important for management to understand the importance of training personnel for their given work tasks. I would like for management to understand that training has to be carried out not only for the needs of today but also to offer the sorts of services that

will be required five years from now, and we are focusing on fostering a cooperative stance toward that end. In addition, since management tends to prioritize the day-to-day operations, I am trying to convey to them that raising the level of English ability among staff will definitely be a plus for our business. One outcome so far has been that we have been able to create a culture and environment in which it is easier than before for team members to participate in English training, tests, and the like.

For our human-resources department, I think it is important to provide all sorts of tools to suit the individuality of each employee. There are various needs among them: some want to gauge their English level, others want to polish their speaking skills by engaging in lots of English conversations, and others find it hard to study unless there is some sort of outside pressure. For those who want to gauge their own level, we offer the TOEIC Listening & Reading Test (TOEIC L&R) twice a year. Those looking for more English conversation opportunities are encouraged to take conversation classes online. In order to gauge the needs among our team leaders, I think it is important for us to regularly visit their workplaces and communicate with them. By engaging in that close communication, and sometimes encouraging employees directly to take TOEIC L&R, I think we have been able to raise the motivation to learn English and generate results.

The Hilton Group only has a minimal manual for staff with regard to customer service. This is because we want our employees to act proactively based on the company visage. And the same applies for the learning of English.

Drawing on our proactive team members, we are aiming to leverage the interaction between team members, management, and human resources to foster a culture that encourages English learning.

Ideas on How to Improve Customer-service Response in English

A seminar for human-resource staff and trainers was held in Tokyo on July 18 on the theme of “hints for improving English-response capabilities for customer service.” As the number of visitors to Japan increases, there is growing demand at hotels and restaurants for staff that can provide customer service in English. The seminar included lectures and information exchange on how to improve the English ability of customer-service staff and raise their motivation to study English.

JunichiChida, the CEO of ICC Corporation and leading formulator of training methods for English learning, addressed the subject of how to improve English ability and raise learning motivation. During his lecture, which dealt with specific methods, he responded to many of the concerns from the seminar participants. The subsequent lecture was delivered by Keiko Kuroki, who is in charge of human-relations development for the personnel department of Hilton Tokyo Bay. The main content of her lecture is presented below.

English

Staff

Manage-ment

HR

Seminar

Examples of English Training at Hilton Tokyo Bay

Hilton Tokyo bay (Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture）A resort developed by the global Hotel group Hilton. The facility has 828 guest rooms and 5 restaurants. As the official hotel of Tokyo Disney Resort®, the hotel welcomes many guest from around Japan and the world.


To the World, with English!

The event was held on July 25 at Fish Bank Tokyo, a French

restaurant located on the 41st floor of Shiodome City Center.

A total of around 40 guests were in attendance, including

the fiscal 2016 and 2017 winners of the IIBC Award of

Excellence, individuals who worked as volunteer interpreters

at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships and the

Chichibunomiya Minato Rugby Festival 2018, and those with a

strong interest in actually using TOEIC Test scores

The name of the event, “To the World, with English,”

expresses the IIBC’s hope that people will actively seek out places

where they can actually use their English ability.

A special guest at the event was Sascha, a radio DJ and

narrator born to a German father and Japanese mother. The

participants listened with interest to his story about how he

strived to learn English in pursuit of his dream to be a radio DJ.

Participants engaged in lively discussions around the tables

where they were seated, while enjoying the delicious food that

was served. The volunteer interpreters chosen to assist the Four

Continents Figure Skating Championships based on their TOEIC

scores recounted the great experience they had communicating

in English with their counterparts from Taiwan and South Korea

in order to help manage the event. The IIBC Award of Excellence

recipients, meanwhile, spoke about how they have been able to

expand the scope of their work to participate in multinational

projects.

Participants who are actually using English for their activities

spoke in unison about how seeking to improve their TOEIC

scores had encouraged them to undertake new challenges, and

that view was also embraced by those who are keen to also use

English in practical ways.

IIBC hopes that those taking the TOEIC Tests will continue to

make use of their scores for various activities.

Be Successful in the World with English

This summer IIBC held its “To the World, with English” event in the Shiodome area of Tokyo. Invitees for the event included the winners of the IIBC Award of Excellence, persons who are active in fields that make use of TOEIC® Test scores, and individuals who want to use English in their future activities. The event was a chance for these participants to share their experiences.

IIBCSpecialEvent


Public testing schedule

TOEIC® Listening & Reading Test

TOEIC Bridge® Test

TOEIC® Speaking & Writing Tests

TOEIC® Speaking Test

*The application periods above are for applications by private individuals. For information on the application period for group testing (excluding the TOEIC Speaking Test), please consult the official IIBC website.

Please note that the public testing schedule is subject to change. The latest schedule information is available on the official website.(*1) Internet application period. Please refer to the official website for information on the application starting times and deadlines, as well as applications via convenience store terminals.(*2) Internet application period. Please refer to the official website for information on the application starting times and deadlines.

ETS, the ETS logo, PROPELL, TOEIC and TOEIC BRIDGE are registered trademarks of Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.A., and used in Japan under license.Portions are copyrighted by Educational Testing Service and used with permission.

IIBC official website: http://www.iibc-global.org

Inquiries:Tokyo Sanno Grand Building, 2-14-2 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Tel. 03-5521-5901

Nagoya Office Nishiki Park Building, 2-4-3 Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi; Tel. 052-220-0282

Osaka Office Midosuji SG Building, 3-6-1 Bakuromachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka; Tel. 06-6258-0222

Media inquiries:Public Relations Office Sanno Grand Building, 2-14-2 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Tel. 03-3581-4761

Test number Test date Application period*1 Scheduled date for

sending test results

235th

236th

237th

238th

November 18 (Sun.), 2018

December 9 (Sun.), 2018

January 13 (Sun.), 2019

March 10 (Sun.), 2019

December 18 (Tue.), 2018

January 8 (Tue.), 2019

February 12 (Tue.), 2019

April 9 (Tue.), 2019

August 31 (Fri.) to October 9 (Tue.), 2018

October 12 (Fri.) to October 30 (Tue.), 2018

November 2 (Fri.) to December 11 (Tue.), 2018

December 14 (Fri.), 2018 to January 29 (Tue.), 2019

Test Date Application period*2 Scheduled date for sending test results


December 2 (Sun.), 2018

January 1 (Sun.), 2019

February 17 (Sun.), 2019

December 3 (Mon.), 2019

January 28 (Fri.), 2019

February 18 (Mon.), 2019

March 15 (Fri.), 2019

September 21 (Fri.) to October 19 (Fri.), 2018

October 19 (Fri.) to November 16 (Fri.), 2018

November 16 (Fri.), 2018 to January 4 (Fri.), 2019

January 4 (Fri.), 2019 to February 1 (Fri.), 2019

Test number Test Date Application period*2 Scheduled date for

sending test results

69th

70th


March 17 (Sun.), 2019

December 7 (Fri.), 2019

April 19 (Fri.), 2019

August 6 (Mon.) to October 4 (Thu.), 2018

November 5 (Mon.), 2018 to February 7 (Thur.), 2019

special feature international sporting events and english

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