Global English Camp

What is Global English Camp?

The purpose of Global English Camp is to bring English to life for Japanese high school students and build their confidence in speaking it through engaging conversations with native speakers. Whilst students in Japan begin learning English from the third grade, they rarely have the chance to learn it outside of a rote school lesson setting - their time with you is a special, unique experience. As English proficiency is a requirement for getting into top Japanese universities, too, their time with you can be key to their future success in more ways than one. Overall, this program will require you to fly to Japan for at least five weeks, facilitate discussions with a different group of Japanese high school students each week, and be prepared for the realities of living in Japan.

You will be one of ~150 Coaches, all recruited from universities like yours. You will be in your own smaller team of around ten, led by a pair of Co-Leaders who will be experienced past coaches from previous program years. Depending on your preferences and student demand, you will have the opportunity to be based in Tokyo, Osaka, or be part of a team that travels to smaller venues around the country. Successful candidates will indicate their preferences during the Onboarding process. We try our best to ensure that you feel safe in comfortable in Japan.

What does the program entail?

Over the five-day curriculum, you have your own group of 3-6 students with whom you will cover a range of topics, including social media, entrepreneurship and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, culminating in two group presentations over the week and crescendoing to each students' solo presentation on their "Life Mission" where they will share what's important to them and what they want to do to make it happen. In the process, you will give two presentations of your own, one on your university and another on your own life mission - we'll train you in everything you need to know, don't worry.

Who do we partner up with?

Our program sponsor, Toshin High School, is the largest preparatory school network for university entrance examinations in Japan, supporting over 120,000 students across more than 1,000 branch schools. You can learn more about Global English Camp on Toshin's website (in Japanese). Additionally, we work closely with Come On UP House to provide program-sponsored accommodation and logistics management.

Learn more about our Global English Camp program, what it’s about, and what it’s like to be a participant coaching on it by watching this video.

Check out the promo video produced by our program sponsor, Toshin High School, for our 2024 program, which includes footage of previous years, coach testimonials, and an overview of the program schedule. As this video is in Japanese, please enable subtitles to get the most out of it!

A screenshot of the Come On Out team’s Opening Ceremony video for the online Global English Workshop 2021 held during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Requirements FOR APPLYING

Check out our application process. Before you apply to be a Global English Camp coach, ensure that the following apply to you:

• English Level Requirement: you must possess native-level English proficiency. English does not have to be your mother tongue.

• Age Requirement: you must be at least 18 years or older by the program start date.

• University Requirement: you must be currently attending university (or a university graduate) and in good standing.

• Teaching Requirement: you must have a passion for education, teaching experience and/or TEFL Certificate. Teaching experience and TEFL Certificate are not requirements, however, they may be an asset in the selection process.

• Availability Requirement: the schedule is to be confirmed but unlikely to change. You are required to be available for the FULL duration of the program; partial participation is unfortunately not an option. You are free to arrive as early before July 13th or leave as late after August 18th as you like. The program schedule is as follows:

  • Arrival date: July 13th

  • Orientation: July 15th-20th

  • Week 1: July 21st-27th

  • Week 2: July 28th-August 3rd

  • Week 3: August 4th-10th

  • Week 4: August 11th-17th

  • Departure date: August 18th

REQUIREMENTS FOR ONBOARDING

Once you are accepted on the program, you will be required to complete a series of onboarding tasks in the months leading up to the program. To successfully complete these steps, you will need the submit the following:

• Background check: a clear criminal background prior to being approved to purchase plane ticket.

• Character reference: at least one character reference requested and reviewed during the onboarding process.

• Valid passport (through the end of 2025): if not a US, UK, or Canadian citizen, a visa may be required. We can assist; however, we are not responsible for the outcome of any given visa, nor can we guarantee approval.

• Transcript: an official copy of a certified university transcript will be requested during the onboarding process.

• Health and wellness: must be in good physical and mental health prior to departing for Japan. As part of the onboarding process, all participants are required to complete our Wellbeing form.

• Program agreement: after final acceptance, interns submit a signed program agreement and complete all onboarding procedures through Come On Out.

• Airline ticket deposit: accepted participants pay a security deposit of US$500 (or currency equivalent where your university is located) at time of airline ticket purchase. The deposit is paid directly to the travel agency using a debit or credit card and serves as you financial commitment to attending the program. The airline ticket deposit is returned to each participant within 45 days of the program end date as long as they complete the program, has no damage or cleaning required to residence while in Japan, and complete our final program report, with the exception of a US$100 non-refundable Onboarding fee deduction.

• Onboarding fee: in our efforts to enhance our application, onboarding, and vetting processes for the interns participating in our summer programs, we require a US$100 fee for each participant. The fee is automatically deducted from the deposit after completion of the program. This fee is used to enhance our application process and onboarding and vetting procedures to ensure both a smooth process and safe program for all participants.

During the onboarding phase, you will have the opportunity to meet other participants, bond with your team of 10-12 coaches, and make plans for when you arrive in Japan.

Full program training will be delivered during your first week in Japan, Orientation Week, which serves to help you settle it and get ready to teach over the four weeks that follow.

““It's vital for as many people as possible to get out into the world and learn more so that they become better global citizens. One of the reasons why I really think Global English Camp [IS] such a great thing is because [it] makes that opportunity for a reality for many, many people.”

Nyema, Graduate, Princeton University, 2017-19 participant

Time Commitment and Placements

Make sure that you can see yourself reliably having the energy to drive conversations with students daily whilst grappling with the daily realities of commuting and exploring a new country. This summer, you can expect:

• One week of orientation/training.

• Four weeks of teaching, five days a week, Tuesday–Saturday.

• Program hours are 9:30–17:30 (or 8:30–16:30 for select schools), with one hour for lunch and regular breaks, which you are expected to spend with students.

• 3–6 students per Coach per week (on average).

• New group of students each week.

• One Coach per group is the norm, but you may coach alongside 1–2 other Coaches, dependent on student numbers.

• Location may change between weeks if you choose to be allocated to a travelling team and based on program demand. Mondays (the day before teaching) are allocated as travel days, which cuts into your weekend in exchange for getting to see more of Japan.

• You are free to enjoy your evenings and weekends however you like!

In terms of placements, participants are placed in one or multiple major cities throughout Japan depending on high school student demand. Tokyo and Osaka are our primary base locations. Up to 30+ locations are added during the high school student registration process. Some may travel outside Tokyo or Osaka or commute daily from their base city. Everyone spends the initial Orientation Week in Tokyo. You may have the opportunity to travel to multiple locations, or remain in one place throughout the duration of the program.

You will not know your city placement until training week in Tokyo. We cannot guarantee location or travel preferences. This is due to constantly fluctuating student numbers leading up to the first week of teaching which affect teaching placements day-by-day. Everyone will fly into Tokyo for the start of the program. Additionally, you may experience changes in your teaching itinerary during the program as many students sign up for Global English Camp close to the program dates. If you apply, you must be flexible and able to adapt to changes in scheduling.

Housing and Accommodation

During this program, you will be placed in normal Japanese housing, performing normal Japanese commutes to and from your assigned venue and coping with the humid Japanese summer heat. This can be exhausting, and it has been rated by past participants as the most challenging element of Global English Camp.

• Housing will primarily be comprised of university dorms, shared apartments, and sharehouses. University dorms and shared apartments will house program participants only, unless otherwise stated. Sharehouses will have a combination of program participants and ordinary residents who live and work in Japan.

• Expect to share a room with another person of the same sex; while solo rooms are possible, they are not guaranteed due to availability.

• Homestays, where you are hosted by a local family, will be provided for more remote school venues. This is a great opportunity to experience local Japanese life.

• The availability of specific types of housing is highly location-dependent. By applying to this program, you are acknowledging that you are comfortable with being assigned any of the above options and with sharing a room.

Living in Japan

You will be allocated to a team of coaches, led by two experienced past coaches, who work with Program Staff to ensure your wellbeing. In terms of what you can expect getting around Japan day-to-day:

• The commute from your accommodation to your venue, on average, is ~60 minutes one-way.

• Commutes will frequently contain a combination of local buses, reliable trains, and walking on foot. The public transit in Japan is spectacular.

• Japanese summers are hot and humid: you can expect temperatures of 70–100°F (21–38°C) and ~70% humidity.

The Importance of Flexibility and Resilience

Last year, 93% of our participants said that they would recommend Global English Camp to others. The biggest reason why people said that they would hesitate was the fact that detailed program information can be released very last-minute, which means that you need to be able to work with limited, more general information until specifics can be finalised. 

For example, from last year:

• Teaching placements for the four teaching weeks were released several days before the first day of teaching (due to constantly shifting student numbers).

• Housing placements were released two days ahead of moving days (to accommodate changes to placements).

• Student allocations were shared with coaches on their first day of teaching each week (due to schools organising them independently).

We have identified ways to improve this year's program to minimise the likelihood of "last-minute-ness", but due to the nature of working with multiple teams and managing factors beyond our control, we are providing this information upfront to avoid putting anyone in an unfairly stressful position. If you have a high need to know things in advance and/or if uncertainty stresses you out, a more traditional teaching program would be better suited for you.

Rest assured that we have your back and that major plans will always be communicated in advance, yet also be prepared to work with limited information on the specifics of those plans (e.g. knowing that you will travel to Osaka in Week 2 and that you will have a place to live, but not knowing the address until a few days before).

Financials Aspects of Global English Camp

Global English Camp is officially classed as an unpaid internship. However, thanks to our program sponsor, we are able to offer subsidies, stipends and reimbursements that cover the majority of program-related costs, allowing you to dedicate funds to enjoying your time in Japan.

We provide the following:

• Round-trip airfare to and from Japan is subsidised within a maximum reimbursement cap. For 2025, a subsidy of US$1000 is projected. If your ticket exceeds the subsidy, you will be required to pay the difference. Consequently, please note that you will likely be required to pay part of the airfare out of pocket, unfortunately, as our allocated subsidy is limited and determined by our partners.

• Daily meal stipend is provided at ¥2,500 per teaching day (i.e. ¥12,500 per week).

• Transportation between your accommodation and your venue is reimbursed. Any necessary shinkansen (bullet train) and domestic flights, based on your teaching assignments, are bought and paid for on your behalf.

• Accommodation booked by the program is completely covered by us, too.

• Travel insurance is provided, alongside mental health counselling and wellbeing support.

Note that this information is provided based on 2024 figures (which have been generally consistent over the years) and on our belief in the importance of transparency, but exact figures are subject to change at the discretion of our program sponsor. You will have the opportunity to review final figures prior to signing the program agreement if you are accepted.

You are expected to pay for:

• Personal transport expenses, such as for evening activities or leisure travel around Japan, and ground transportation to and from the airport (but we provide guidance on the most cost-effective routes).

• Meals on non-working days (i.e. the weekend), or anything exceeding the daily stipend.

• Souvenirs and gifts, including those purchased on your flights, and all personal purchases generally.

• Accommodation not booked through the program, such as for any days before the program begins or after it ends.

• ONLY if you are accepted, a US$500 deposit (or local equivalent), of which US$400 will be returned to you at the end of the program, and the remainder will be used to pay for onboarding costs, including background checks. We would like to stress that simply applying does not cost anything.

This list is non-exhaustive and focuses on the most common past examples; if it is not explicitly mentioned in the list of what we do provide, it is unlikely to be covered.

You are expected to be able to support yourself financially during this program. Program-related expenses (e.g. transportation and food) are reimbursed every 3–4 weeks into your bank account via Wise meaning that you will need to front these costs before getting reimbursed. For reference, 2024's reimbursements occurred on:

1. July 19th (Training Week)

2. August 9th (Week 3)

3. September 18th (Post-Program)

As such, you need to have sufficient funds and/or be responsible with your spending to be comfortable during your time in Japan. We stress this not to discriminate against anyone with challenging financial situations, but out of respect for your wellbeing and ability to feel happy and secure should you be accepted. Come On Out – Japan is unable to provide financial aid directly, but we are happy to support you with securing university-sponsored grants and bursaries should you be accepted.

Program Coordinator

Come On Out - Japan brings together all aspects of the program so mentors may have the most optimal experience abroad. We cooperate with universities and students, searching for ideal candidates that will ensure the program’s success.

Program Sponsor

Toshin High School, a division of Nagase Brothers Inc., is the program sponsor and educational coordinator for the Japanese high school students. They are in charge of the English Camp curriculum and oversee day-to-day classroom operations.  

Program Administrator

Come on UP handles housing and ground support. They provide interns with local support and coordinate Japanese language and classes, as well as manage other special events, weekend trips, and reimbursement finances.