Learning practical English and studying abroad made my dream of working at an airport come true

I was born in China, and since I was a child, I had many opportunities to travel to and from Japan by plane, and I often used airports. I was impressed by the lively ground staff working there, and I began to aspire to do a job like that someday. By the time I was in high school, my dream of working in the aviation industry had become clear, and I began looking for a university in the Kansai area where I could study English thoroughly.
Through this, I learned that Otemae University 's Faculty of Intercultural Japanese Studies would allow me to acquire practical English skills, and I also discovered that I could take airline courses in Tourism Management major of the School of Faculty of Modern Social Studies by taking advantage of the crossover system. I thought, "This is where I can get closer to my dream!" and decided to enroll.

From my first year, I worked hard at Otemae's unique practical English program, "LEO (Language Education of Otemae)." This is an active learning style of class taught entirely in English by native English speakers. Students are divided into small classes based on their level and learn each of the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. In other words, it is not just an "English conversation" class, but rather a balanced learning program that aims to hone English skills as a communication tool and acquire the ability to express one's thoughts in one's own words. I feel that studying at LEO was a valuable experience that I could only have had at this university.
First and second-year students took LEO classes almost every day, and it was surprising how naturally they acquired English skills through this. In the "Speaking" class, students gave English presentations once a month, and their classmates gave them feedback on what they did well and what they needed to improve, which gave them a real sense of growth. At first, they were reluctant to speak English and felt a little embarrassed, but as they participated in LEO, they gradually became more confident in speaking.

Then, in February of my second year, I participated in a two-week training program in Australia. I was in an environment where Japanese was not spoken at my homestay, and I experienced the frustration of not being able to express what I wanted to say and the cultural differences. This experience made me even more determined to learn more English. It also made me even more determined to work at an airport where people from all over the world come and go.

In my third year, I took a class on airline business using the crossover system. The teacher, a former cabin attendant, carefully taught me about the real world of the airline industry and after class, he individually corrected my motivation for applying for an internship and my self-promotion. I am truly grateful.
I majored in English Communication, minored in International Relations and Tourism Business, and was able to take a wide range of courses, including classes on inbound tourism. In addition to English, I was able to deepen my knowledge of the "international community" and the "tourism industry," which I believe will be a great help in my future career as a ground staff member.

Aside from studying, one of the things I focused on during my university life was my work as a manager for the lacrosse club. Since I first enrolled, I had wanted to be a club manager, so I visited a few clubs and joined the lacrosse club, which had a great atmosphere. Currently, the club has few members, so we practice and play as a joint team with other universities. In addition to paying attention to the care and physical condition of the players within the limited practice time, I have also been conscious of building relationships of trust with members from other universities.

When I first joined the club, the seniors were very reliable, and I sometimes worried whether I would be able to do the same as the seniors. Even after they retired, the seniors continued to kindly give me advice, and I was able to get through the four years with the support of my classmates and managers who had shared the good times and the bad. I plan to stay in Osaka after graduation, so I would like to continue supporting the lacrosse club in some way even after I enter the workforce.

During my job search, I went to the Career Support Center at my university to gather information, etc. However, there were few students around me who wanted to work in the aviation industry, and I didn't have any seniors I could consult with, so I decided to "thoroughly research information about the aviation industry myself!" and took action.

Ground staff are recruited at each airport. I narrowed my search to the Tokyo metropolitan area and Kansai, and applied to all the internships at major airports, and actually participated in an internship at Itami Airport. I also attended an information session in Tokyo. Each airport has a different atmosphere, so I tried to find the environment that suited me by experiencing and comparing the different options.
During this process, I came across K Sky Co., Ltd., which offered me a job. The company handles passenger services for various airlines, including JAL Group flights, at Kansai International Airport and Haneda Airport. What really attracted me to the company was that it was highly rated for its many contracts with Asian airlines, and the opportunity to train at Shanghai Airport in China. Shanghai Airport is a familiar place that I use every year, and it's an airport I've always dreamed of working at, and I thought, "I want to work here someday." I was also happy that my parents were so happy that my dream had come true.
During my job search, I took a break from my precious lacrosse club and devoted myself to my job search, which is why I was able to achieve good results and feel that I have become more proactive than ever before.

My goal for the future is to further improve my English skills, and I will continue to work hard to be able to communicate more fluently and in a way that reaches each and every person's heart.
The airport is the first place people visit before heading out for a trip or business. I would like to become a ground staff member who can deliver a warm smile so that customers can depart with peace of mind.