Intern Interview: Brendan White

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Student Intern Profile

Name: Brendan White
Country: U.S.A.
Major: International Business Studies
Internship at: Minato City's Industry and Community Promotion Support Department, Community Promotion Section, Global Community Planning Subsection
Duration: September 2013 to December 2013 (4 months)

Q1: Why did you choose Minato City Office for doing an internship?

Brendan: I wanted to experience a Japanese office environment, especially in a non-corporate organization, and to work in Japanese to prepare for working in Japan after graduation.

Q2: What were your tasks/jobs at the internship?

Brendan​: I helped with the translation of documents, both from Japanese to English and from English to Japanese, data input about events and visitor responses, helped organize events with foreign residents and embassies, and observed interpretation for foreign residents in other sections of the ward office, for instance in the welfare and education departments.

Q3: How did you learn Japanese?

Brendan: Initially I was a study abroad student in Japan during my last year of high school for 9 months. I later studied Japanese at TUJ, as well as at Musashi University. I took advantage of the Temple-Musashi University credit exchange program when it started in 2012. In the fall 2013, I took Japanese and Physics classes offered in Japanese at Musashi University.

Q4: What was the biggest challenge during your internship? How did you overcome that challenge?

Brendan: Getting over my own nervousness when talking to superiors was the biggest challenge I faced. I overcame this as we interacted more throughout the internship and by attending a welcome party dinner that helped build my comfort and confidence.

Q5: How did your experience at the internship help prepare you for the future?

Brendan: I feel that it helped me get used to the Japanese system and lessen the number of rules that will surprise me when I start my career. I plan to complete my qualifications a Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist (Gyoseishoshi) and work in Japan.

Brendan's Weekly Schedule

 MonTueWedThuFri
AMInternshipClass at TUJClass at Musashi Uni.Class at TUJClass at Musashi Uni.
PMInternshipClass at TUJInternshipClass at TUJInternship
 

Brendan worked 3 days (15 hours) per week.