Japanese Language Volunteers

At SenTIA, Japanese volunteers support foreigners with their Japanese language studies. Foreign nationals that would like to learn　Japanese fill out an application form, and will then be introduced to a Japanese volunteer who matches their study time and location　requirements. Japanese is mainly used during the lessons, and the learner and volunteer study one-on-one.

Contents of Activities

Japanese study support
-Assist Japanese learning online or in person. Lesson schedule can be modified to fit the availability of the volunteer and the learner.

We are looking for:

Individuals who agree with the purpose of our program and can assist foreign residents who would like to learn Japanese, regardless of the learner’s nationality and language background.
Individuals who work within Sendai City
Individuals who have attended lectures related to Japanese language learning support, or have more than one year of experience assisting Japanese language learners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How do lessons begin?

A1.

Once a Japanese learner has completed an application, SenTIA will look for a volunteer that matches their request and will contact the learner. (Several times a year, the registered volunteers are sent a list of people that wish to learn Japanese, and the volunteers find learners who match them)
Decide on a date and meet up with the learner
Lessons ensue once both have agreed on the terms.

Q2. Where do the lessons usually take place?

A2. Many people have their lessons at the Sendai International Center, or at public facilities, or cafes etc.

Q3. What types of people usually take the lessons?

A3. People from various walks of life, including international students and researchers, full-time workers, and those who came to Japan as dependents, participate in the program.

Q4. Who pays for lesson expenses?

A4. Generally, the learner pays for the expenses incurred through the lessons.The cost of the volunteer’s transportation and basic textbooks etc. will be decided upon when the learner is matched up with the volunteer. If there are going to be expenses for things like transport for the volunteer, textbooks,copies etc., then please let the learner know in advance.

Q5. Are there training opportunities for volunteers?

A5. Besides the annual training held by SenTIA, we also inform our volunteers of any external training hosted by other organizations. Please make use of these opportunities.

Number of Registered Volunteers:

91(as of September 2026)

Comment from a current volunteer…

Although I had taken a course beforehand, I was unsure whether I would be able to give a Japanese lesson to someone who I couldn’t communicate with well in the language. Then SenTIA contacted me and found someone who matched with me. At the beginning, we decided on the place and content of the lessons, so I felt a little more relaxed and we got off to a good start. During the lessons, I not only helped with Japanese study, but also taught them a lot about Japanese culture. The learner also taught me a lot about their own culture and I am much more knowledgeable about various countries now. I think of teaching Japanese as a multicultural exchange, and so the lessons continue to be enjoyable for me.