International students at EF Education First Tokyo connect with local schools through English teaching

Language learning is more than communication; it’s a bridge to cultural understanding. EF Language Abroad, part of EF Education First (EF), celebrates the six-month anniversary of its Japanese language campus in the new Shibuya, Tokyo location. Students from around the world come here to learn Japanese and immerse themselves in the local culture.

Driven by the global rise of interest in manga and anime, EF has seen an exponential increase in international students wanting to learn Japanese. But EF’s students don’t just study the language – they give back. To-date, nearly 150 EF Tokyo students have volunteered to teach English to over 3,500 local schoolchildren, fostering cultural exchange as part of this long-term partnership.

For EF Tokyo School Director Livia Santana, partnering with local communities is a core part of EF’s mission of opening the world through education:

“Encouraging students to engage with the local community is essential in creating lasting memories, friendships, and a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity. These experiences shape them into more open-minded, globally aware individuals who carry the spirit of cultural exchange wherever they go. When we take the time to learn a language in a new country, we are not traveling to get a stamp in our passport or snap a selfie. We are there to live it. EF Tokyo’s students are doing just that, as well as passing on that opportunity to young people in their community.”

Shun Yanagida, from the Shibuya Ward Board for Education, echoed the sentiment:

“I am excited by the opportunity to collaborate with EF on this project. This collaboration helps young Japanese students build confidence in English, broaden their horizons and inspires them to study abroad.”

EF student volunteers find the experience deeply rewarding. “I’ve always been fascinated by Japan, and teaching these students lets me connect with them over anime and culture,” said Katinka, an 18-year-old from Germany. Donna, a Canadian student, who studied at EF Tokyo for six months in 2024, and returned in 2025 to keep improving her Japanese added, “It’s an incredible way to give back while improving my own Japanese.”

Located on the 36th floor of Shibuya Sakura Stage, EF Tokyo overlooks the famous Shibuya Crossing, known to an international audience from the movie “Lost in Translation”. The campus offers cutting-edge classrooms and cultural exchange spaces, providing international students with an immersive learning environment. In keeping with EF’s contextual design approach, the design of the new campus embraces the character of the local city as well as the architecture of the building. Students improve their language skills and immerse in cultural exchange while staying with a homestay host or in EF residences, for a period between two weeks to a year.