This month, we interviewed a few past interns about the English Camp program and their experiences in Japan.

What was your favorite teaching moment during the English Camp program?

Olivia: Playing card games with my students during lunch! I taught them Go Fish and Blackjack. One week we had an UNO deck, and they taught me various Japanese card games that I mysteriously never won, probably because the rules seemed to change against my favor every time I played. We also bonded through origami “competitions” during breaks to see who could fold the most perfect crane or jumping frog. Word of advice: bring your favorite card game or portable board game (chess, checkers, or GO, anyone?) to enjoy with your students during lunches and breaks. It was during these relaxed and “non-academic” times that I bonded with my students the most. 

Jendayi: My last group of students were by far the wildest bunch with such an amazing range of personalities. My favorite moment was at the end of my second week of teaching. One of my students became so overwhelmed with the program ending that he cried for an hour. He hugged me over and over and thanked me in English and Japanese and just could not stop crying. He was so earnest and sweet, so of course I cried, too. It was the moment I realized that what I was doing with these kids was something they'd all wanted but never had: someone to get to know them, to understand their strengths and weaknesses, and just care for them.

What is your favorite Japanese food?

Olivia: Tied between “Pablo” a cheese tart spot in Osaka (whose delicacies I craved so much that I made mock Pablo cheese tarts in my own kitchen in Chicago) with this restaurant in Osaka that serves mountains of karaage (Japanese fried chicken) and heaps on heaps of takoyaki. I honestly can’t remember the name of that place—whether it even has a name or if it’s some sort of divine intervention to earthly cuisine, I never will be sure—but drop me in Umeda and my internal compass and American stomach will guide my way to gluttonous paradise. Also, Ichiran has the best ramen in Japan; prove me wrong. I dare you.

Jendayi: The 100 yen bread in conbinis that is stuffed with sweet cream cheese is my guilty pleasure. It's just so perfectly fluffy and yummy!

Do you have any teaching advice for Global English Camp?

Jendayi: Patience. At the end of each teaching week, I always felt so close to my students, and I know I wouldn't have gotten to the level of personal comfort with them had I been less patient and understanding.

Julia: This camp is all about teaching confidence; a little kindness goes a long way, and will make the students remember you. Tell them they are awesome at English, teach them to compliment each other and themselves, and watch them grow.

What do you like most about Japan?

Julia: I love the omotenashi, or hospitality. I felt it when the owner of the school I taught at in Tokushima gifted me her family’s yukata. I felt it when I was lost trying to find my share house and I knocked on a random door and the woman who answered stayed outside with me in a thunderstorm until I found my share house. I felt it in my host family and with complete strangers. I also love the souvenir culture, where every small town has its own custom products. There were always too many tempting things to buy! Finally, okonomiyaki and endless yakiniku.

Why are you returning to English Camp? Why is this program meaningful to you?

Julia: I am returning because of how meaningful I felt last year; I was sometimes the first foreigner that my students had ever talked to. In the future, I want to work in public diplomacy at the U.S. Department of State, and this gave me great experience in cultural adaptation, in representing America, and in learning about the benefits of educational exchange programs (which I would love to be involved with in the political sphere).

These statements are from the perspective of one past intern. Your experiences on this program will vary. Every student is an individual with their own life experiences and personalities; therefore, each will contribute to the program differently. These are generalizations I have come across that may help you prepare for or better navigate classrooms. We go over most of this in orientation, but this blog post aims to give you a taste of what you may experience.

The first day takes a lot of courage—not just from the students, but the interns, too.

Classrooms are much quieter on the first day than the fifth day. For the most part, these kids have never spoken to a foreigner before. They are excited for the opportunity but are also terrified—but necessarily terrified of you. These students might be more terrified about making mistakes in front of you, as any language-learner typically feels in front of a native speaker. You should consider that you are older than these students, too, so they may be shy for that reason as well.

The Japanese public school system focuses on reading and writing English, so they rarely speak English in the classroom. Speeches and presentations are also not commonly given in either Japanese nor English in school, yet the English Camp program focuses on developing these skills. Not only are some of these kids giving speeches and presentations in English for the first time, but they may also be giving a speech for the first time in general.

I don’t know about you, but the first time I gave a speech in my first language, I wasn’t sure if I would stay standing until the end. The memory is so engraved in my head that I can remember what the speech was on (the macaw), where it was (my 5th grade classroom), and why I had to present it (It was a current events assignment. The macaws were going extinct.).

I also have not forgotten how I felt after giving this speech. I was so happy. Because I did it.

When I watch my students beam with relief and pride after finishing their speeches, I am always reminded of this same day. These students were able to do something new and challenging (and in their eyes, impossible), all because of the English Camp program.

The second, third, and forth day take a lot of courage—especially from the interns.

On these days, you present your life mission to the students, why you are studying what you are studying, where you plan to end up someday, how you wish to contribute to the world, why these students should care about your life mission, and why these students should be inspired by you.

It’s a lot.

Try to keep in mind that your goal is to open the students' minds about studying abroad, globalization, and their own life missions. More importantly, keep in mind that you should be talking about these topics SLOWLY and CLEARLY. If your major is neuroscience, show them images of optical illusions; not eloquent descriptions of the brain. If your major is music, play them a bit of your music and talk about why it makes you happy; don't go into counterpoint theory and chord progression descriptions. Make your speech interactive. Ask them questions. Encourage them to ask you questions. Play games. Don't lecture them for twenty minutes about your campus courtyard.

The final day takes a lot of courage—not only from the students, but the interns, too.

Because you cry.

My favorite quote about the 5th day comes from Justin, a past UK English Camp intern, who said this:

“During the orientation, when an American started talking about the 5th day and how you cry a lot, I was like, ‘Oh, they’re being overdramatic because they’re American.’ But then I had to say goodbye to my kids the following week, and I felt tears well up in my eyes.”

Or something along those lines.

It’s true. You bond with these kids even though you only have them for five days. You’re talking with them about world issues, about their goals and dreams, and about yourself. You really get to know each other and impact each other's lives.

Confidence is key.

Yes, this is English Camp, but it’s also a confidence-building camp. At the end of the day, the goal isn’t for students to say, “Wow, I learned so much grammar today.” We want kids to say, “Wow, I learned how to say my opinion in English even though I was really nervous,” or, “I stood up in front of the class and sang Ariana Grande lyrics at the top of my lungs with three other students.”

The 80% / 20% rule.

You should be talking 20% of the time. The students should be talking 80% of the time.

The more the students talk, the better their English will naturally become. Whether you get them to talk during a serious UN discussion or during a casual lunchtime chat, both are important successes. We want them talking as much as possible. When else will they receive such a unique experience to talk one-on-one with a foreigner?

Don't talk fast.

Seriously, don't talk fast.

You're still talking too fast.

If you don't slow down, I am going to thwack a textbook at your head.

I would say that this is the #1 issue interns struggle with in the classroom. Even when interns think they are talking slow enough, they aren't. If you're weary about your speed, check in with your students and ask if you're talking too fast. Keep in mind that your students may say no even if you are because they don't want to be rude or admit to not understanding you. In this case, check in with a member of ECMA (returning interns) to see what they think. They're more than willing to sit at your table and give you feedback about the way you're teaching.

Work alongside other interns.

Yes, you have your own table for the week, but you are also surrounded by other tables filled with their own interns and students. My suggestion is to interact with those other interns and students. This can fuel the spark for more classroom games and eventful lunchtimes. Always make sure the environment welcoming and fun!

In the spirit of accepting quite a few 2018 Global English Camp interns this past month, I wrote a blog post about some of the things I wish I knew before I was an English Camp intern. Accepted interns will receive a Welcome Package that lists a ton of helpful information before arriving to Japan, but below are some topics that aren’t specifically mentioned in the Welcome Package and are based off my personal experiences. Keep in mind my experiences in Japan may not be anything like yours.

Things I Wish I Knew Before I was an English Camp Intern

Sleep.

This program is intensive. You are in class from 9:30AM-5PM, Monday through Friday. Depending on the type of experience you want, you might be going out with other interns every night, too. I think this proves how fun this program can be, but that being said, it is okay to take a day off. You won't miss out too much if you stay home today because there will be a tomorrow. I know our program is the best, and I know you want to be awake for all of it, but please take care of yourself!

Make friends during Orientation and Training week.

Orientation Week: 2018

Orientation and training week sounds boring, but it’s actually my favorite week. You arrive at the main Tokyo Shinjuku venue, talk to other cool interns all day, and learn more about the textbook and Japan. This is when you have the chance to learn more about your fellow interns, too. Some of them will be your best friends for life. You might travel to Okinawa with a few of them during 4th week, or you might miss the last train with one of them one night and be stranded together in the middle of Tokyo. You never know.

Have a blast during the weekend retreat.

Hakone Retreat 2018

Okay, scrap the Orientation and Training week rant. I think the weekend retreat is where true friendships also begin. I guess what I’m trying to say is: always try to make friends with others!

Clothes - pack light.

Don’t pack a coat. Not even a raincoat. No sweatshirts, either. Stop it. Take those skinny jeans out of your bag right now. 

Seriously, pack light.

I don't think you heard me the first time. PACK LIGHT. Some train stations don't have elevators or escalators which means you have to lug your luggage up three flights of stairs. (Wow, lug, luggage? Is it called luggage because you lug luggage?)

Here's a horror story for you: I did not pack light the first time I traveled to Japan. No, I disregarded the Welcome Package packing warning and packed average, thinking this would be okay. I could roll my luggage. Why would I need to be able to carry it in my arms? Well, I had a 1.5 hour commute from the first weekend retreat to my share house. And I was all alone. And I had three train transfers. And I had to repeatedly carry my luggage up flights and flights of stairs. There was a point where I actually had to ask a security guard to carry the luggage up the stairs for me. So embarrassing. But good Japanese language practice. At another point, a couple walking up the stairs behind me (and my huge luggage) couldn't get past. So I spun around, red and flustered and tired, bowed deeply, and practically shouted, "I'M SO SORRY!" at them in Japanese. They both cracked up, and the man proceeded to grab my luggage and carried it the rest of the way. I apologized and thanked them as the woman sang, "Please be careful from now on!" to me. So embarrassing: Part Two. Then they walked away, and I was alone again with another 30 minutes of traveling ahead of me.

Q: What was the moral of the story?

A:  S E R I O U S L Y, P A C K  L I G H T.

Download Line PRIOR to coming to Japan.

LINE is the messaging app that nearly everyone in Japan uses. That’s right, no iMessage or WhatsApp. If you want to text people after you meet them in Japan, they’ll probably ask for your LINE instead of your phone number. Good news: LINE is free. Bad news: If you’re in Japan and download LINE without any cell service, the app probably won’t download properly. LINE will ask you to verify your account with a 4-pin verification code sent to you via text message - not wifi.

Remove 4-pin verification code security from your apps and tech.

On a similar note, if you don't have cell service (this is different from wifi!) in Japan, 4-pin verification codes WILL NOT WORK. This messed up my iMessage and email accounts while I was in Japan last year. Apple saw that my accounts were being used in a different country and locked my account, claiming that I needed to verify my identify with a 4-pin code sent to my phone. But I don’t have text messaging in Japan, Apple! After hours of customer service calls and venturing to the Omotesando Apple store in person, no one could really help me. I had to wait to use my iMessage and email until I returned to America. So don’t be like me. Be smart and remove 4-pin code identification off your technology products and apps.

Instructions on how to remove two-factor identification from Apple products. 

Keep a phone charger in your belongings.

It's 2AM. You're walking home. You're using Google Maps. Everything is great. Then your phone dies on 35%. "What? Why?!" you scream in the middle of the sidewalk. Probably because you dropped it in the street yesterday, and now your battery is screwed up. People are staring at you. You're embarrassed. You're tired. What do you do now?

If you get into a dead phone bind like this, you can find phone charging areas in most convenient stores, over by the bland white seating section. If you forgot your charger that day, you can buy one at the convenient store too. Note that chargers are usually more than 2000 yen.

SIM Card, Pocket Wifi, and International Data Plans, Oh My.

You’ve been searching the web for a week and desperately shaking your fists in the air: Which is the cheapest way to get data in Japan?! This information is somewhat covered in the Welcome Package, but we list multiple options. Here are my opinions:

Don’t go through your phone carrier. Most cell provider prices are overpriced and don’t give you much data. Some people have mentioned that TMobile has a great overseas rate. That’s true, but you only receive 2G. It can take three minutes to load one Google Maps search. If you can easily remember landmarks and surroundings and train names, unlike me, this option may work for you.

SIM Card

Our program does offer SIM cards, but interns who used data a lot have stated they ran out quickly. Since my phone isn’t paid off, I can’t unlock my iPhone and use a SIM card. If you’re expecting to purchase a SIM card from us while in Japan, I highly recommend researching the requirements your phone must possess in order to use a SIM card. You’d be surprised how much you need to do to your phone before arriving to Japan. Though I have heard rumors that Android users have no problems. What’s up with that? Not sure about Google Pixels though. If you’re not a heavy internet user, then the SIM card route is probably right for you.

What’s a Pocket Wifi?

It’s my #1 recommendation and is exactly how it sounds—a little black device in your pocket that connects your phone to the sky.

Global Advanced Communications is my recommended cheapest pocket wifi provider. Last year my rental period lasted 52 days (I arrived one week early to Japan), and it cost 19,050Y, or $190. I chose Regular Pocket Wifi with 75BPS and had unlimited data during my time in Japan. I traveled as local as Tokyo but also went up all the way to Asahikawa, Hokkaido, and down to Matsuyama, Ehime, and I always had reliable internet.

That being said, you don’t really need data on this program. Okay, hear me out: All convenient stores have wifi, which are on every street corner. Seriously. One time I saw two 7 Eleven’s next to each other. Also, you can download specific map locations to your phone in Google Maps so that you can navigate without having wifi, but I’m not sure if this works with routing trains; just walking. The only downside to not having internet literally in your pocket is that most classroom venues do not have wifi, which you shouldn’t need anyway. Close Insta and get back to teaching your kids!

Even though I know I "don't need wifi", I’ll still probably get a pocket wifi this upcoming summer. I’m a nervous traveler; especially when I’m alone and navigating train routes and what not (which rarely happened to me on this internship, but still). Keep in mind that most housing accommodations have wifi, but this isn’t a guarantee. If you want to play it safe, I encourage you to think about getting the pocket wifi.

Don’t fear the returning interns.

When I started doing this program in 2016, we didn’t have returning interns. We were on our own. Now we have interns who return to the program every year and serve as our Unofficial Happiness Chairs. When I was a returning intern in 2017, some new interns told me that they were scared of us and thought we were unapproachable. NO! That’s the opposite of how the returning interns should be seen. Returning interns are literally there to be your friend and take you on unofficial cool trips after school hours and have fun with you.

We are excited to meet the new interns for this upcoming summer! Hopefully these random bullet points popping into my head help you prepare for your trip to Japan.