2013 Overseas Internship Report
2013 Philippines Overseas Internship Report
Learning International Business through iRipple, Local Exchange and Field Experience
In 2013, Helping Hands and Hearts Japan carried out an overseas practical internship centered on iRipple, an IT company in Manila, Philippines.
Through product learning, sales visits, meetings, English presentations, exchange with local staff and learning opportunities at places such as Kapwa Study Center, the intern deepened his understanding of international business and cross-cultural communication.
Overview of the 2013 Activity
This internship was implemented as an overseas practical learning activity combining work experience at iRipple, Inc. in Manila with local exchange and learning opportunities in the Philippines.
The intern used English while working with local staff, experienced what it means to work in an overseas company, joined the field of business, and practiced expressing his own ideas in an international workplace. He also learned about local society and people’s lives through places such as Kapwa Study Center.
Overseas Practical Experience at iRipple
iRipple is an IT company based in Manila, Philippines, working in fields such as software development and smartphone-related services. The intern gained experience using English in a real business environment.
After arriving, he received explanations from the host staff about the work during the internship period and prepared by learning about the company’s products and the local business environment.
Entering the Workplace of an Overseas IT Company
The intern experienced the atmosphere of an overseas company, learned how people communicate at work, and observed how products and services are explained to customers and partners.
Purpose of the Internship
The purpose of this activity was to gain experience working in English at an overseas company, improve communication skills needed in an international workplace, and experience the real field of business.
Working in English
The intern used English not only for daily conversation, but also for work explanations, meetings, presentations and communication with local staff.
- Using English in a workplace setting
- Communicating with local staff
- Experiencing the difference between daily English and business English
Understanding an Overseas Company
By entering the workplace of an IT company, the intern learned about products, sales, meetings, market understanding and the reality of business overseas.
- Learning about IT products and services
- Observing business communication
- Understanding how an overseas company operates
Understanding Local Society
Through local exchange and visits such as Kapwa Study Center, the intern deepened his understanding of Philippine society, daily life, education and culture.
- Learning about local society and daily life
- Understanding people’s values and communication styles
- Connecting business experience with social understanding
Developing an International Mindset
The internship encouraged the student to reflect on his own skills, attitudes and future goals before entering society as a working adult.
- Reflecting on personal strengths and weaknesses
- Thinking about future work in an international context
- Learning through real challenges overseas
Main Activities
The 2013 Philippines overseas internship included a wide range of activities, such as practical work at a local company, presentations, sales visits, meetings and local exchange.
Product Knowledge and Market Understanding
The intern learned about iRipple’s business and products, and considered how value can be communicated to markets and customers.
Sales Visits and Field Experience
By accompanying sales staff, the intern learned about business communication and customer interaction in the local market.
Meeting Participation and Speaking Up
By joining meetings, the intern experienced the difficulty and importance of expressing his own ideas in an overseas company.
English Presentation
The intern gave an English presentation about Japanese characteristics and possible obstacles when doing business internationally.
English Presentation at iRipple
During the internship, the intern had an opportunity to give a presentation in English using slides. He organized his thoughts on Japanese characteristics and possible challenges when Japanese people conduct business overseas.
This presentation trained not only his English ability, but also his ability to structure a message, explain cultural differences and express his own opinion in a business setting.
Explaining Japanese Business Culture in English
The presentation required the intern to think about Japan from an outside perspective. By explaining Japanese features to local staff, he learned the importance of clarity, cultural awareness and confidence in communication.
Exchange with Local Staff
At iRipple, interaction with local staff and related people became a major part of the learning experience. The intern experienced the bright, friendly atmosphere of people in the Philippines and encountered work styles and relationships different from those in Japan.
Working in another culture is not only about using English. Transportation, food, lifestyle, values and daily communication all became part of the learning process.
Exchange with local staff at the iRipple office
Communication with local staff
Group photo with local staff and related people
Understanding Local Society and Daily Life
In an overseas internship, life outside work is also an important part of learning. After arriving in Manila, the intern experienced a different environment from Japan, including traffic, taxis, shopping, food and the friendly atmosphere of local people.
Small difficulties and surprises in daily life became important experiences for understanding another culture. Living and working in the Philippines itself became practical training for developing an international mindset.
Learning through Daily Life in the Philippines
The intern learned from the realities of local life, including economic differences, transportation, communication, hospitality and community relationships. These experiences helped him understand that international business cannot be separated from local society.
Learning at Kapwa Study Center and Other Local Sites
In addition to practical business experience at iRipple, the 2013 internship included opportunities to learn through local exchange at places such as Kapwa Study Center.
By experiencing education, local communities and people’s lives in the Philippines, the intern learned not only about business, but also about social background, culture and human connections. This helped him understand that working overseas and understanding local society are inseparable.
Connecting Business Experience with Local Understanding
By combining business experience at iRipple with local exchange and field learning, the 2013 internship became a comprehensive activity for learning about overseas business, English, local life and social understanding.
What the Intern Learned
Through this internship, the intern gained many experiences that could not be learned in a classroom. He learned about real business, the situation of a developing country, social differences seen locally, the difficulty of working in English and his own areas for growth.
In particular, he realized the difference between English used for daily conversation and English used in business. He also felt the importance of working seriously on what he needed to do while still a student, before entering society as a working adult.
The Difficulty of Business English
The intern learned that using English at work requires the ability to understand accurately and communicate clearly, beyond ordinary conversation.
Understanding Local Society
Through life and work in the Philippines, he encountered economic gaps, transportation, culture and values different from those in Japan.
Reflecting on Himself
He became aware of his need to develop knowledge, creativity, initiative and English ability for future growth.
Activities in Photos
The following photos record the 2013 overseas internship in Manila, Philippines. They show the office, English presentation, local exchange and daily-life learning experience.
iRipple office entrance
English presentation at iRipple
Exchange with local partners
At the iRipple office
Group photo with local staff and related people
Local life and cultural experience in the Philippines
Meaning for HHAHJ
The 2013 Philippines overseas internship is one of HHAHJ’s important records of overseas practical internship activities. It provided a student with an opportunity to enter an overseas company, work in English and interact with local people.
This type of overseas practical internship helped students learn international business, cross-cultural understanding and self-growth. For HHAHJ, it was also an important activity supporting young people’s participation in society and international understanding.
Learning through Overseas Work and Local Exchange
The internship showed that international learning becomes deeper when workplace experience, language use, local society and human relationships are connected. It was a valuable record of practical learning through real overseas activity.
Related Internship Pages
The following pages introduce related internship activities in overseas work, domestic NPO activities, climate action and Japanese education.
