English & public speaking
Strengthen communication and the confidence to express ideas with peers worldwide—every accent welcome.
Program
EFAforStudents
Free · Five weeks · Global classmates
A free five-week virtual exchange for students ages 13–17 worldwide. Practice English with real international peers, grow socio-emotional skills through cultural exchange, and present a capstone on a global issue.
Applications currently closed
Looking for a team climate project now? Explore the Global Action Hackathon (ages 14–18 + Teacher Coach).
Why this exists
English matters most when young people can use it with the world
Many students study English for years without real spaces to speak with peers abroad—so confidence, socio-emotional growth, and global citizenship stay out of reach.
The challenge
Without authentic international practice, English can feel abstract. Young people miss friendships across borders, intercultural understanding, and the empathy that grows from listening to different realities.
How EFA responds
EFAforStudents connects English learners worldwide so they can practice the language with purpose—and develop socio-emotional skills by collaborating with peers from different cultures.
What it is
A virtual exchange—beyond a traditional language class
EFAforStudents connects students around the world to improve their English while developing socio-emotional skills through real cultural exchange—beyond grammar drills.
Intercultural exchange
Share cultures, school life, and local perspectives—building respect for diversity through weekly collaboration.
Socio-emotional growth
Practice empathy, listening, and belonging while navigating friendship and teamwork across cultures.
Leadership & citizenship
Solve real-world challenges together and present a capstone project that shows global citizenship in action.
At a glance
Clear expectations for students, families, and schools
FreeNo tuition for participants
5 weeksStructured virtual journey
~10 studentsPer international group
Monitor-teacherDedicated facilitation
~5 hours / week+ live collaborative sessions
All English levelsAges 13–17 · internet access
Who can join
Curious students worldwide—and the adults who guide them
Students
- Ages 13–17 from around the world
- Any level of English proficiency
- Access to internet and a phone or device
- Especially meaningful where English is an additional language
- Curious, open-minded, and excited to learn with global peers
Teachers & monitors
- Each group has a dedicated monitor-teacher
- Guide weekly activities, discussion, and the group project
- Create a safe, welcoming space for intercultural dialogue
- Align with EFA through shared guidance and check-ins
- EFAforTeachers alumni may have priority to nominate students
How applications work
- Cohorts open through calls shared with schools and partners
- When closed: join the interest list for the next edition
- Teachers can ask how to nominate or facilitate
- Questions: team@englishforallorg.com
How it works
Virtual groups, live collaboration, and a capstone
Select a part of the model to see how the experience is organized.
Join a global group
Students join a virtual classroom of about ten peers from different countries—with a dedicated monitor-teacher—so every week starts with international friendship and shared purpose.
Five-week journey
From introductions to presenting for the world
Follow the weekly arc from intercultural connection to a final group presentation.
Week 1
Getting to know each other & intercultural awareness
Opening live meeting, first group connections, and activities to introduce yourselves, share cultures, and build belonging across borders.
- Program opening and group meet-up
- Share stories, photos, and cultural facts
- Skill focus: introductions, active listening, intercultural competence
Participant experience
What life in an international group feels like
Guest speakers, interactive activities, and human facilitation keep every week purposeful and welcoming.
Belonging first
Groups mix conversation, quizzes, games, and project work—so English becomes friendship and teamwork, not pressure to be perfect.
From local challenges to global action
Explore a global issue. Design a solution. Present it to the world.
Across five weeks, students connect global challenges to their own communities, brainstorm solutions, and present a capstone project to educators and partners.
Ready to meet classmates across borders?
Join the interest list for the next EFAforStudents cohort—or ask how teachers can nominate and facilitate.
Benefits
Skills, friendships, and recognition
- Improved confidence in English communication
- Socio-emotional skills through real intercultural teamwork
- Global friendships and collaborative experiences
- Leadership and presentation skills
- Awareness of global issues connected to local life
- Public speaking practice in a supportive community
- A certificate of participation and excellence award
- A pathway into the wider English for All network
ConnectMeet peers across countries
CreateBuild a solution to a global issue
PresentShare your project with the world
Competencies & approaches
What students practice—and how they grow
Core competencies from the student journey, grounded in the program’s learning pillars.
Communication
Speak and write with purpose—introductions, discussion, persuasion, and public speaking for a real audience.
Collaboration
Plan, negotiate roles, give feedback, and solve problems as an international team.
Cultural awareness
Share cultures, listen across difference, and connect global issues to local communities.
Empathy & citizenship
Build socio-emotional skills and the confidence to act as an informed, caring global citizen.
International connections
Classrooms without borders
EFAforStudents is built for friendship and collaboration across countries—so English becomes a bridge between young people who may never meet offline.
Impact
From practice to belonging—and action
The program turns English practice into intercultural friendship, socio-emotional growth, and youth leadership on issues that matter locally and globally.
Real English use
Students discover why English is useful when they need it to listen, negotiate, and present with peers abroad.
Global community
International groups create belonging across borders—and open a pathway into the wider English for All network.
Youth agency
Capstone projects invite young people to connect global challenges to their communities and speak for impact.
Voices from students
Friendship, confidence, and a wider world
“I made friends around the world and improved my English. It was life-changing.”
Naphat PanyaThailand
“EFA enriched my cultural experiences and boosted my confidence in speaking English.”
MemoonaPakistan
“Participating in EFA allowed me to connect with peers globally and expand my language skills in a fun and engaging way.”
Kang AiMalaysia
Our story
Born to connect young people across borders
EFAforStudents began in 2018 as an initiative by Ensina Brasil and Teach for Thailand—created so English could feel meaningful through real contact with other cultures. It restarted in 2021 and grew through the Teach For All network into a global virtual exchange: international groups, weekly collaboration, teacher facilitation, and a shared project that students present to the world.
FAQ
Quick answers for students, families, and teachers
No. It is a free five-week virtual learning journey. Students practice English as a global language while collaborating with international peers, growing socio-emotional skills, exploring global issues, and presenting a capstone project—beyond traditional language instruction.
Monitor-teachers facilitate each international group: they guide weekly activities, support discussion and project work, help create a welcoming space for every student, and stay aligned with English for All throughout the journey.
Students ages 13–17 from around the world, at any English level, with internet access and a phone or device. Teachers can facilitate as monitor-teachers or help students apply when cohorts open.
Plan for about five hours per week, plus live collaborative sessions. Each group of about ten students has a dedicated monitor-teacher who guides weekly activities and project work.
Groups choose a real global issue, connect it to their communities, design a solution, and present it in a final live meeting—building leadership, teamwork, and public speaking skills along the way.
Yes. Participants can receive a certificate of participation and excellence award, recognizing engagement and growth across the program.
EFAforStudents is a five-week peer-learning cohort (ages 13–17) focused on English, intercultural exchange, and a global-issues capstone. The Hackathon is a four-week team climate-action project for ages 14–18 with a Teacher Coach. Both use English as a bridge—different formats and goals.
Yes. Educators can contact EFA about nominations and facilitation. Teachers who complete EFAforTeachers may have priority to enroll a limited number of students in a future Students cohort.
Join the interest list to hear about the next cohort, write to team@englishforallorg.com, or explore the Hackathon if you have a team of students ages 14–18 and a Teacher Coach.
Meet the world. Practice with purpose.
When young people use English to connect across cultures, they grow as speakers, teammates, and global citizens—with stronger socio-emotional skills for life.
Stay close to the next cohort
EFAforStudents applications are not open right now. Join the interest list for future cohorts, or explore another pathway that fits your age and goals.
- Interest list: be notified when applications reopen
- Questions: team@englishforallorg.com
- Teachers: ask about nominating students or becoming a monitor
- Alternate pathway: Global Action Hackathon for teams 14–18
Join the interest list
Explore EFAforTeachers
See the Hackathon
Tell us your country, school context, and whether you are a student, parent, or teacher.