Youth Development & Education Internships in Tokyo

Internship details

Teach English and participate in activities with Japanese children and young students in kindergartens, schools or after-school centers, while experiencing the unique lifestyle in Tokyo.

This is an in-country internship, with accommodation provided. Click here to view remote Education & Youth Development internships that you can undertake from home.

Youth Development and Education interns in Tokyo are highly appreciated. Many Japanese parents work until late at night, so it’s normal for children to spend six hours or more at after-school care programs, where they do homework or play games. By joining this Youth Development and Education internship in Japan, you’ll assist in these programs, known locally as gakudos, and have the option to be placed in international kindergartens or schools during the day.

Regardless of your placement, interns in Tokyo are highly valued for providing students with casual exposure to the English language. You can help to teach students English, share your cultural background, or take part in arts, music, theater, or other games. Students range in age from 3-14, and interns can request to work with students of a particular age if you wish. This will be accommodated wherever possible, but cannot be guaranteed. (Requests to work with secondary school aged students cannot be guaranteed).

Interns will work closely with local teachers and other staff, helping to prepare lessons and educational material appropriate for the children or students in your placement. Your main focus will be on teaching English, either formally in lessons, or informally in more casual settings. Interns should come prepared to primarily assist. If you would like to directly lead any classes, this needs to be discussed in advance, to understand individual skills, experience level and expectations.

English language speakers are sought-after as teachers, so interns don’t need to speak Japanese. Interns do not need to be native English language speakers but should have sufficient proficiency. Bear in mind that some students may not be able to communicate in English very well. In these instances, you may need to be careful to speak slowly and clearly, and have creative games or other solutions to overcome any language barriers you encounter. Interns who do have some Japanese language skills will have an advantage, as this will make it much easier to communicate with local teachers.

Interns should note that there is a strict professional dress code in Japan, which is very conservative. Clothing must be very tidy and quite formal. Dark, solid colors are best, worn with simple white shirts or blouses. Visible tattoos and piercings are not considered to be appropriate. Piercings are best removed and any visible tattoos would need to be covered in order to avoid causing offence. Hair should be naturally colored and kept very clean and tidy. Men should also be clean-shaven. Interns are urged not to wear statement jewelry pieces and makeup must be kept minimal.

In all cases, interns should expect that the first week of your experience will focus on settling in and gaining some introductory knowledge, as you will not “hit the ground running”. Rather, you should start with learning about the placement to gain an understanding of what you can build upon, develop, learn, and contribute. Ensure that you ask questions and provide feedback during the introductory period, so that your supervisor understands how you’re progressing. This will help them to better understand important details, such as how quickly you learn, what you find challenging, what you find interesting, etc.

Understand and expect that individual internship experiences vary, as the specific placement that you’re assigned will depend on review of your resume and your current level of studies and experience. Therefore, if you’re at a more introductory level, you should reasonably expect a more introductory internship. Likewise, if you’re interning for a shorter duration, you will have a different experience from someone who is interning for a longer duration. Placement preferences are considered but always subject to availability.

Typical Schedule

• In gakudos, interns participate from 3pm-9pm, Monday to Friday

• In kindergartens or schools, interns participate from 8am-4pm, Monday to Friday

Career Benefits