Japan in DC

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT SUMMER 2023

Globalize DC is thrilled to announce that “Japan in DC” will be offered again in summer 2023. The program will run for six weeks (June 26-August 4). It will be offered at no cost to students. Those students who are registered with the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP) will receive summer pay; others are still invited to apply. Students will be selected through a competitive citywide application process run by Japan in DC. We are planning for this to be a fully in-person program. 

Student applications are now being accepted online, effective February 14, 2023.

We plan to accept up to twenty (20) students for our summer 2023 Japan in DC Program. Applications will be reviewed as received, and acceptances will be made on a rolling basis. Any students interested should take action right away.

Here’s the link to the Online Summer 2023 Japan in DC Student Application Form.

Click on the Japan in DC 2023 Student Flyer to download.

Globalize DC is now recruiting two Co-Teachers for this summer’s Japan in DC Program.

We are currently seeking for two qualified and energetic teachers, international educators, graduate students, or others with relevant experience to lead this summer program. These are paid, part-time positions. We hope to fill these two positions by the end of March, so if interested, be sure to apply right away. Click below for the full job description and application instructions.

2023 Japan-in-DC-Staff-Recruitment

Any questions about any of the above information? Email sally@globalizedc.org.

This page will be updated regularly now that the application process has begun. 

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Did you realize you can experience Japan without ever leaving DC?

2017 Program Overview

Japan in DC, introduced in summer 2017, is a free six-week summer enrichment program for DC public high school students (DCPS and charter). Eighteen (18) students spent the summer exploring a wide variety of people, places, and organizations in the city with a connection to Japan. Students drafted articles, took photos, wrote poetry, and created art for a culminating publication. The program was offered as a worksite for students registered with the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), and was also open to students not in SYEP. Non-SYEP students were eligible to earn community service hours they can use to fulfill their high school graduation requirements.

The Japan in DC program was designed for DC high school students to accomplish these goals:

  1. To increase their knowledge of/familiarity with a wide range of Japan-related content.
  2. To become more familiar with their city.
  3. To understand the ways in which DC is a global city.
  4. To enhance academic skills (such as writing, listening, critical thinking)
  5. To acquire work-readiness skills and experience.
  6. To develop two projects designed to share what they’ve learned over the summer to a wider audience.
  7. To gain life lessons through intergenerational conversation.
  8. To gain knowledge of Japan-related college/career pathways.

Our Students

Here are our 2017 Japan in DC students.

Our 2017 Teachers

Chanae Brown is a lover of Japan and Japanese culture. She earned her BA in English, with a minor in Japanese Studies, from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. While in college, she did a semester abroad program at Kansai Gaidai University in Japan. After graduation, she became a JET Assistant Language Teacher in Shikokuchuo, Ehime Prefecture in rural Japan, where she taught English to elementary and middle school students. Just before joining our Japan in DC summer program, Chanae earned her MA from the International Training and Education Program (ITEP) at American University, where she also worked as a research, graduate, and teaching assistant in the School of Education. She served as Co-Chair of the Logistics Committee for the National Cherry Blossom Festival-Sakura Matsuri, and in her spare time volunteered with the DC Language Immersion Project to facilitate events that advocate for language learning equity within the DC region.

Heidi Ashton Yoon came to Japan in DC from the International Student and Scholars Services Office at American University. She has had a connection to Japan since her father was stationed at a military base outside of Tokyo when she was in middle school. She later spent two years on the JET Program in Okayama-ken, teaching high school students English. Since that time her life has intertwined with Japan in many ways and she remains passionate about teaching others about Japanese life and culture. She has led leadership simulations to US high school students as part of the National Young Leadership Conference; taught elementary school students about Japanese culture through the JICC’s “Japan In a Suitcase Program”; and created pre-departure trainings for JET participants. She earned her BA in History at the University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA, and her MA in Sociology: International Training and Education Program (ITEP), with a concentration in cross-cultural communication, from American University, DC.

Program Follow-Up

Students who successfully completed the Japan in DC program were eligible to participate in the next Japanese Plus Level 1 program in SY2018-19. Four students chose this option.

In February 2018, eight Japan in DC students were invited to participate in a free Kakehashi exchange to Japan, sponsored by the Japanese government. This wonderful program included visits to Tokyo and Gifu, cultural excursions and workshops, government briefings, and home stays with Japanese families.

Three Japan in DC students enrolled in Temple University-Japan Campus after high school graduation.

The Japan in DC Book

In summer 2019 two student interns, Tara Martin and Aeris Golden-Thompson, worked with the Program Director, Sally Schwartz, to complete final edits to the Japan in DC student work and to complete some additional visits and interviews. With the assistance of local graphic artist, Manuel Leon, a 128-page, full-color paperback book, called Japan in DC, was released in March 2020, just as the pandemic struck. This wonderful guidebook is available for purchase at www.globalizedc.org/japan-in-dc-book. All proceeds from sales are used to support Globalize DC’s menu of Japan-related programs.