Online English exchange for Grades 7–12 Make friends in Japan. Speak English every week.
A 60-minute online class where you talk one-on-one with Japanese students your age — guided by experienced instructors, from home.
Students from Indonesia and Japan after a lesson
Why TOMODACHI English?
Your conversation partners are Japanese students your age who are learning English too. You talk about school, hobbies, food and the future — and learn about each other’s cultures along the way.
Every lesson mixes group learning with one-on-one practice. You use new phrases with several different partners, so speaking in English starts to feel natural.
Students from outside Japan join through AirPangaea’s partner schools across Asia, and every class is run by an instructor and an assistant. You learn with motivated peers in a safe, welcoming environment.
Each term lasts 3 months (12 weeks). You receive a certificate of progress at the end of every term — a record of international experience for your school portfolio and future applications.
Student Voices
Students from Indonesia first, followed by their classmates in Japan.
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How It Works
International exchange and English practice — in one 60-minute lesson
- Students in Grades 7–12
- Positive, friendly speakers who enjoy talking with new people and keeping a conversation going
- English from around CEFR A2 up to fluent (C1 and above). Already fluent? You’ll enjoy it too — you’ll practice explaining your ideas clearly and make real friends in Japan
- Interested in studying abroad or taking IELTS? See Global Academic Pass (Grade 9+, around CEFR B1 and above)
- About 8 students: around 4 from Japan 🇯🇵 and 4 from other countries in Asia
- An instructor and an assistant guide and support every lesson
- Each term is 3 months (12 weeks). Some classmates change each term, so you keep meeting new friends
- 60 minutes, once a week (4 lessons a month) on Zoom
- Choose one day: Monday – Friday
- Choose one time slot:
8:30 PM – 9:30 PM or 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Times are shown in Japan time (UTC+9).
Classes are scheduled in Japan time (UTC+9): 8:30 PM and 10:00 PM.
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1Lecture and group activities (20 min)Learn useful phrases for the day’s topic together.
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2One-on-one conversations (30 min)Take turns talking one-on-one with several different Japanese students in breakout rooms, using what you just learned.
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3Reflection (10 min)Review what you learned and set a goal for next time.
Depending on attendance, some conversations may be 1-to-2 or 2-to-1.
Global Academic Pass (GAP)
For students interested in studying abroad or taking IELTS: debate social and academic topics with international peers, structure your ideas with the OREO framework, and practice IELTS-style speaking and writing. Recommended for Grade 9 and above, around CEFR B1 or higher.
Instructors
Marina
Intercultural exchange specialist
From the Philippines, based in Japan. A popular lead facilitator of AirPangaea’s TOMODACHI exchange programs, with years of experience teaching English conversation. Her lessons are easy to follow, energetic and fun.
Nerissa
IB Diploma Programme teacher
From the Philippines, based in Japan. A current IBDP teacher who has taught elementary, junior high and high school students in the Philippines, China and Japan. Her warm, friendly classes make everyone feel included.
Jomer
English teacher at Japanese public schools
From the Philippines, based in Japan. Hired directly by a board of education in Japan, he has taught science in the Philippines and English at junior high schools and an international school in Japan. His lessons are lively and full of energy.
Our Partner Schools
A sample of the schools whose students have joined AirPangaea programs — not a complete list
Fees & Payment
Fees and payment methods differ by country.
After you apply, we’ll send you the monthly fee and payment options for your country. Have a question first? Write it in the comments box of the form — there’s no obligation until you confirm your class and pay.
Apply / Ask about feesFrequently Asked Questions
QHow do I join, and when can I start? +
- Fill in the application form on this page.
- We’ll contact you by email or WhatsApp with class options, plus the fee and payment details for your country. Finding the right class can take 1–2 weeks.
- Once your payment is confirmed, your lessons start at the beginning of the month.
QWho can join? +
- Students in Grades 7–12.
- TOMODACHI English is offered through schools that partner with AirPangaea. The logos on this page are only a sample of them.
- If your school is not one of our partner schools, we may contact you with a few questions before confirming your place.
QHow much does it cost? +
Fees and payment methods differ by country. After you apply, we’ll send you the details for your country. You can also ask about fees in the comments box of the form.
QWhat English level do I need? +
- We welcome a wide range of levels, from around CEFR A2 to fluent speakers (C1 and above).
- More important than your level is your attitude. You’ll talk one-on-one with Japanese students who are still learning English, so we look for students who are positive, friendly and happy to keep a conversation going.
- Fluent speakers enjoy the class too — you’ll practice explaining your ideas clearly, learn about Japanese culture first-hand and make real friends.
QWhat happens in the one-on-one sessions? +
- About 30 minutes of each lesson are set aside for one-on-one conversations.
- During that time, you take turns talking with several different Japanese students in breakout rooms, using the topic and phrases from the lesson. (Sometimes it is 1-to-2 or 2-to-1.)
- The instructor and assistant visit each room to guide and support you.
QWhat is the group bulletin board? +
- Once your class is set, you and your classmates are invited to an online bulletin board.
- Following your instructor’s guidance, you post self-introductions and stories about your day — and you can chat freely, too.
- Only your first name and the initial of your last name (e.g. “Sari W.”) are shared with the group.
QIs there homework? +
About once a month, you may be asked to post a short diary entry or self-introduction on the group bulletin board.
QWhat is Global Academic Pass? +
Global Academic Pass (GAP) is our academic track for students interested in studying abroad or taking IELTS. You debate social and academic topics — environment, technology, education — with peers from other countries, learn to structure your opinions with the OREO framework, and practice IELTS-style speaking and writing. It is recommended for Grade 9 and above, around CEFR B1 or higher.
How to Join
Apply
Fill in the form below. It takes about 2 minutes.
We contact you
We send class options and the fee for your country by email or WhatsApp.
Start lessons
After payment, you join your class from the beginning of the month.
Apply
Questions about fees or schedules are welcome, too.
About AirPangaea
AirPangaea has been connecting junior and senior high school students across Asia for more than five years. Our online programs — the TOMODACHI intercultural exchange and the MOTTAINAI SDGs collaborative learning program — are used by schools in Japan as part of their international education.
More than 3,000 students have taken part, and about 95% rated their experience “satisfied” or “very satisfied.”
One of our co-founders is Indonesian, and we have especially close ties with Indonesia, including a partnership with an association of Japanese-language teachers in Greater Jakarta.
TOMODACHI English grew out of these programs. It gives students a real reason to use English every week — and real friends to use it with.