Part of Coto World’s mission is to nurture and propel talent, and our internship program is a key part of that. Interns work primarily within our Marketing Division. They’re out in the field directly, whether that’s shooting content with our teachers and staff, running daily Instagram community engagement, or helping boost our web presence.
Meet Jahnah, a Tourism Management student from the Netherlands who came to Coto Academy with a background in graphic design and a love for languages. She speaks Dutch, English, and Spanish — and is currently learning Japanese while she’s here. Read more about what she enjoys most about interning at Coto, and how it’s shaping her future career.
Welcome, Jahnah! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m Jahnah Doomernik from the Netherlands. I’m a Tourism Management student with a background in Graphic Design and a passion for languages, cultural exchange, and international experiences. I’ve lived abroad several times and am always excited to immerse myself in new environments and learn from different cultures.
Currently, I’m learning Japanese and doing a marketing internship at Coto Academy, where I combine my interests in marketing, language, and content creation.
What drew you to interning at Coto Academy in the first place?
What attracted me to Coto Academy was the opportunity to explore marketing, as it was a completely new field for me and something I wanted to learn more about alongside my Tourism Management studies.
I was also genuinely interested in what Coto does. Since I’m learning Japanese myself, I found the idea of creating content around the Japanese language and culture especially interesting. It felt like a great opportunity to develop new skills while working on something I could personally relate to and was excited about.
What do you currently work on as part of the marketing team?
I mainly focus on creating short-form video content on social media for Coto Academy, especially Instagram Reels. Besides Reels, I also create and post Instagram Stories on a daily basis, including JLPT kanji quizzes and promotional content for Coto’s courses and events.
What’s a typical week like for a marketing intern at Coto?
A typical week starts with brainstorming ideas, writing scripts, and filming content with various team members. The rest of the week is usually spent editing videos in CapCut and publishing them on our social media channels.
Every week, we have an SNS meeting where we brainstorm content ideas. We also have a weekly marketing meeting, where we discuss the bigger picture of the company, what is going well, what could be improved, and our overall marketing goals.
Being exposed to these discussions on a weekly basis has been very valuable, as it has helped me better understand how individual marketing activities connect to the broader strategy of the company.
How was the onboarding process like for you?
The onboarding process was very clear and well-organized. Right from the start, I had a good understanding of what my role would be and what was expected of me.
At the beginning of my internship, I conducted a competitor analysis, which gave me valuable insights into both the market and Coto’s position within it. Having that understanding from the start was very helpful throughout the rest of my internship.
One thing I really appreciated was having individual meetings with all the members of the marketing team. Everyone explained their role within the company and gave me insight into different aspects of the business. Even though I don’t work directly with everyone on a daily basis, it was very interesting to understand how each person’s work contributes to the company’s overall goals.
It was also a great way to get to know everyone and helped me feel welcome from the beginning. In my first week, I was already able to start working on my first video, which made me feel involved right away. Overall, the onboarding process felt clear, structured, and like a great preparation for the rest of my five-month internship.
How have you found working with the marketing team so far?
I’ve really enjoyed working with the marketing team. Everyone is very skilled at what they do and has a lot of knowledge to share, which makes for an inspiring learning environment. At the same time, everyone is approachable, supportive, and always willing to help when needed. The balance between professionalism and the warm, friendly atmosphere within the team is something I really appreciate. It creates an environment where I always feel comfortable asking questions and sharing ideas.
I also like that there is a good balance between guidance and independence. There was always support available when needed, but at the same time, I was given the freedom to take ownership of projects and develop my own ideas.
What have you enjoyed most when working with the team?
One thing I’ve really enjoyed is becoming more independent throughout the internship. In the beginning, I mainly worked on assigned tasks, but over time, I became more involved in the entire content creation process, from brainstorming and scripting to publishing and analyzing results. Seeing my own progress and gaining a better understanding of marketing along the way has been very motivating.
What’s something you’ve learned or worked on here that you wouldn’t have gotten from a classroom?
One thing I’ve learned that I don’t think I could have learned in a classroom is that I genuinely enjoy marketing. Before starting this internship, I actually thought marketing was quite boring. The way it is often taught at school felt very theoretical to me, and I didn’t realize how creative and dynamic it could be in practice.
This internship completely changed my perspective and made me realize that marketing is something I would genuinely like to pursue further in my future career. I’ve also learned how important flexibility is.
You can prepare a script and plan everything in advance, but things often change at the last minute. Filming locations change, people become unavailable, priorities shift, or an idea simply doesn’t work as expected. I’ve learned to adapt quickly, trust my improvisation skills, and focus on finding solutions rather than holding on to the original plan. That ability to stay flexible in a real working environment is something I don’t think you can fully learn in a classroom.
Has anything surprised about working at Coto?
I already touched on this a little in the previous question, but I was genuinely surprised by how much I ended up enjoying marketing. Before this internship, I saw it as quite theoretical, but working at Coto showed me how creative and dynamic it can be. In some previous jobs or internships, I found myself counting down the hours until I could go home. During this internship, I honestly never had that feeling because I genuinely enjoyed what I was doing, and the days seemed to fly by.
What would you say to a student who is thinking about applying for this internship?
I would definitely recommend it. It’s a great opportunity for anyone who wants to gain real marketing experience while living in Japan. You get the chance to work in an international environment, develop practical skills, take on real responsibilities, and learn from experienced colleagues. At the same time, you’re surrounded by people who share an interest in Japan and the Japanese language, which makes it a really unique experience both professionally and personally.
How do you think this internship will prepare you for your future career?
I think this internship has prepared me for my future career in many ways. It helped me develop practical marketing skills and become much more independent in my work. It also gave me confidence in my ability to grow in a professional marketing environment, without having prior marketing experience. Most importantly, it showed me that marketing is a field I genuinely enjoy and would like to continue exploring in the future.
What’s your plan after this internship?
I still have two years left in my Tourism Management studies. Next semester, I’ll be studying in Madrid as an exchange student, followed by an internship in Latin America. After that, I definitely plan to return to Japan. Looking further ahead, I’m still exploring different options. I see the remaining semesters of my studies as an opportunity to gain new experiences, develop my marketing skills, build my network, and figure out what kind of career suits me best.
What I do know is that I get a lot of energy from different cultures, creativity, and working with people. Although I’m Dutch, I currently see my future career more abroad than in the Netherlands. I speak Dutch, English, and Spanish. Hopefully, I can add fluent Japanese to that list in a few years and use it professionally. Ideally, I’d love to combine my interests in an international and dynamic marketing role.
Tell us what you like to do while you are staying in Japan! Any favorite cities or spots so far?
I live in Koenji, which has probably become one of my favorite places in Tokyo. I really like the relaxed atmosphere, the many cafés, music events, restaurants, izakayas, and the strong sense of community. Many of my friends live nearby as well, so that is probably one of the reasons I spend so much time there. It also feels much more local than some of the bigger areas of Tokyo. In places like Shinjuku, people often switch to English when I try speaking Japanese, while in Koenji, I usually end up having more conversations in Japanese.
Besides that, I enjoy going to language exchanges in Shibuya and Shinjuku, discovering new neighborhoods and cafés around Tokyo, and going dancing. I also really like the food festivals in Yoyogi Park. There is always something happening.
Ready to join us?
At Coto World, we are always on the lookout for curious, driven people who are passionate about language, culture, and building something meaningful. Whether you are just starting out or looking to grow your skills in a dynamic, multilingual environment, we would love to hear from you.
The Marketing Team welcomes interns who want to help grow our brand through social media and online presence, and who are eager to contribute to something that genuinely connects people. If that sounds like you, check out our careers page and take the first step.
