The Undergraduate Program in Japanese Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FIB USU), conducted a Community Service activity entitled “Effective Japanese Language Learning Strategies for Beginners” at SMK Swasta Wirahusada Medan. The activity was carried out as an effort to provide students with motivation and easy-to-understand Japanese language learning strategies, while also introducing employment opportunities for vocational high school graduates with Japanese language skills.

The increasing demand for workers in Japan has also opened opportunities for foreign workers, including those from Indonesia. One of the policies introduced by the Japanese government is the Specified Skilled Worker or Tokutei Ginou program, which came into effect on April 1, 2019. The program provides opportunities for foreign workers to work in various fields in Japan.

The Tokutei Ginou program provides opportunities in various fields of work, including construction, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, food and beverage manufacturing, elderly care, building cleaning, restaurants, accommodation and hospitality, machinery industries, electrical and information engineering, aviation, as well as automobile repair and maintenance. In this context, Japanese language proficiency is an important qualification for prospective workers who wish to work in Japan. Therefore, learning Japanese from the secondary school level is relevant for students interested in pursuing education or careers in Japan.

The Community Service activity was conducted by the Japanese Literature Study Program team, FIB USU, together with two inbound students from Kita Kyuushuu, Japan. The involvement of students from Japan provided students with an opportunity to experience Japanese language learning through more interactive practices. The Community Service team also received a warm welcome from SMK Swasta Wirahusada in the implementation of the activity.

One of the main activities was practicing effective and easy-to-understand Japanese vocabulary instruction. Through this practice, students were introduced to more engaging ways of remembering and understanding vocabulary. The activity documentation shows one of the students from Kita Kyuushuu providing instruction using presentation media in front of the class.

In addition to vocabulary, students received guidance in writing Hiragana characters. The two students from Kita Kyuushuu not only provided explanations but also observed and guided students as they wrote Japanese characters. This direct interaction gave students an opportunity to practice writing Hiragana with guidance.

The learning activities also included simple Japanese conversation practice using picture cards. This method was designed to enable beginner-level students to practice using Japanese in easily understandable situations. After the practice, students were given the opportunity to participate in a question-and-answer session regarding the vocabulary and conversation materials they had learned.

The Community Service activity was conducted over two days, Monday and Tuesday, August 25–26, 2025, from 09.00 to 11.00 WIB. The activity took place at SMK Swasta Wirahusada, Jalan Bunga Ncole Raya No. 100, Kemenangan Tani, Medan Tuntungan District, Medan, in the form of Japanese language teaching practice for beginners.

The team of lecturers conducting the activity consisted of Alimansyar, S.S., M.A., Ph.D. as the team leader, with Rani Arfianty, S.S., M.Phil., Dr. Siti Muharami Malayu, M.Hum., Mhd. Pujiono, M.Hum., Ph.D., and Irwan, S.S., M.Si. as members. The activity also involved two students from Kita Kyuushuu, Japan, as assistants in the learning activities.

The implementation of the activity was supported by cooperation between the Japanese Literature Study Program, FIB USU, and SMK Swasta Wirahusada. This support was also demonstrated through a statement of willingness to cooperate from the partner institution in the implementation of the Community Service activity. The activity documentation shows the two students from Kita Kyuushuu, Japan, together with the teachers of SMK Swasta Wirahusada.

Based on the activity report, this Community Service activity provided benefits in motivating students of SMK Swasta Wirahusada, where Japanese is a compulsory subject. In addition to gaining more practical learning strategies through vocabulary, Hiragana, and conversation exercises, students also gained insights into employment opportunities that may be available to vocational high school graduates with Japanese language skills.

The Community Service activity “Effective Japanese Language Learning Strategies for Beginners” is one form of contribution by the Japanese Literature Study Program, FIB USU, to supporting Japanese language learning at the secondary school level. Through collaboration between USU lecturers and two students from Kita Kyuushuu, Japan, students of SMK Swasta Wirahusada gained direct and interactive experience in learning Japanese. The activity is expected to increase students’ motivation to learn Japanese while preparing them to take advantage of educational and employment opportunities that require Japanese language proficiency.