Hanoi Univ., Asia Human Training Development Organization, Tenpo Ryutsuu Net and NTT DOCOMO Helping Skilled Workers in Vietnam Prepare for Japan

Hanoi University, the Asia Human Training Development Organization (AHTDO), Tenpo Ryutsuu Net, Inc. and NTT DOCOMO, INC. announced today that they have launched a collaborative project in Vietnam to provide people with integrated support aimed at helping them qualify for specified skilled-worker visas for Japan’s food-service industry. The support programs include Japanese language education involving an AI-based conversational training app as well as job matching.

The overall goal is to nurture Vietnamese personnel with functional conversational skills to begin working immediately in Japan’s food-service industry. The project also is helping skilled Vietnamese workers to find employment in Japan.

In this project, Vietnamese trainees use the Japanese Language Training AI (JLT-AI) app on a trial basis supplied by DOCOMO. The app has been enhanced with tailored content from Tenpo Ryutsuu Net, a recruiting company specialized in Japan’s food-service industry. The app tests and corrects pronunciation, suggests natural wording and generates Japanese sentences from Vietnamese or English. Real-life work scenarios are used to test and grade conversational skills. Scoring on tests will help to quantify conversation and pronunciation skill levels required for actual work, and will provide employers with a better understanding of each applicant’s proficiency level.

Concurrently, Hanoi University will begin offering Japanese language classes using JLT-AI and will also recruit participants to join the program. These activities will be supported by AHTDO, which has rich experience in developing educational programs in Vietnam. Going forward, the overall project is expected to be expanded to include other educational institutions.

Roles of Project Members

Hanoi University

• Recruit job-seeking Japanese language students for the program
• Conduct classes and tests using JLT-AI

Asia Human Training Development Organization

• Recruit Japanese language students interested in working in Japan for the program
• Plan and implement Japanese tests

Tenpo Ryutsuu Net

• Create learning and testing contents
• Design Japanese language classes using JLT-AI
• Design Japanese language classes using Smart Study e-learning platform of NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE EAST CORPORATION (NTT East)
• Provide job-matching support (https://bid-career.com/)
• Plan and implement Japanese conversation-skill test using JLT-AI

DOCOMO

• Provide JLT-AI for conversation training and testing

Japan’s labor market is forecast to encounter a labor shortage of 6.64 million people by 2030, according to a study by Persol Research and Consulting. Although foreign workers will help to alleviate the problem, developing workers with acceptable Japanese-speaking skills will be a major challenge. At present, Japanese language teachers in Vietnam are in short supply.