Spring, Summer, and Winter intensives at Osaka YMCA International School — for children Pre-K to Grade 6.
Theme-based learning, real-world excursions, and level-appropriate classes. Program hours: 9:30–15:00.
The OYIS Intensive Program takes a theme-based approach to English learning. Each day is structured around a single theme — science, history, nature, the future — giving children a meaningful context to use English across reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
It’s a standalone week-long program designed to be genuinely engaging. Children aren’t drilling grammar. They’re building things, going on excursions, working with classmates from different countries, and using English because they need it — not because they’ve been told to.
By the end of the week, most children are surprised by how much they’ve used the language without noticing.
Week 1 | 13–17 July Robots & Future Tech
design, build, and engineer in English.
Week 2 | 21–24 July Spy Academy
problem-solving, codes, and covert missions.
Week 3 | 27–31 July Prehistoric Adventure
dinosaurs, fossils, and the ancient world.
Week 4 | 3–7 August The Greatest Show
performance, creativity, and the spotlight.
All weeks include swimming lessons in our rooftop pool. Children can join one week or all four — each week is independent.
Every activity connects to the week's central theme — from prehistoric adventure to robots and future tech. Children build vocabulary in context, through doing, not just listening. In summer, certified swimming instructors also run pool lessons as part of the program.
Children from Japan and abroad join our programs together. For Japanese children, this means real English conversation with real peers — not just with teachers. It's one of the most effective ways to build natural speaking confidence, and the friendships formed in a week often last much longer.
We send photos so you can see what your child is actually doing — not just a summary at pickup. For parents sending their child to an English program for the first time, this visibility makes a real difference.
Children are grouped by English ability, not age or grade — so no one is bored and no one is left behind. For elementary-age students, we run a short placement assessment beforehand to make sure every child starts in a class where they'll thrive.
The Takahashi Family
Intensive Parent
Our son went to YMCA for the first time for their last Intensive [the Spring Intensive in 2021] and the staff warmly welcomed him. The staff understood his feelings and personality well and as a result, were able to respond to his anxieties and desires.
The Curriculum
The Themes of the Spring Intensive were Fairy Tales and Insects. He made crafts and did activities related to dragons, crowns, magic wands, and insects every day and was able to explain happily and proudly what each of his creations were. From what he produced, I felt the curriculum focused on a number of different types of skills. I felt that the staff must have thought about so many different things when they created the curriculum.
Also, having looked at a number of programs and schools, no other program has the inclusion of an excursion using the school bus. My son emptied his lunch box and slept soundly every night. He had so much fun! I was very happy to see his happy sleeping face each night.
I was also impressed by the staff’s attention to detail. For example, changing his dirty clothes and shoes. Although, it’s a trivial matter, it is the sort of thing that is important to parents. I felt they were watching the child with great care to notice it. I also felt I could leave my son with no worries.
In addition, after the first week, my son’s English proficiency improved surprisingly. I was very surprised, “In just four days?” “Where did you remember such a phrase?” I wasn’t the only one to notice the change either. Even his grandparents were delighted to notice his growth in English. After the second week, his proportion of speaking English at home increased dramatically.
The OYIS Spring Intensive had a consistently wonderful curriculum that helped children develop their English proficiency, artistic skills, overall general knowledge, and their communication skills. All the Teachers and Assistants are professionals and the school is full of warm and friendly staff.
The Ito Family
Saturday & Intensive Parent
We decided on the OYIS Intensive Program and their Saturday Program to help support our son in being a person with an international perspective, to give him a range of choices in his life, and increase the chance of a range of experiences in the future. Since he started with the OYIS External Programs, his English pronunciation has been improving, he has become to be able to speak in longer sentences, and is now more able to communicate in either English or Japanese depending on the situation. My son enjoys not only the lesson based on the workbooks but also the more active part of the day where he is learning such as Art & Craft, Music, and P.E.
We have seen the development, not only in his language output but also his general demeanor and spirit as he now shows more of a positive attitude and tries to be more kind with caring to people around him every day – which amazes us. We appreciate the warmth, kindness, and support of his teachers who are always friendly and gentle.
The Summer Intensive Program is our most popular program of the year — and the one with the most going on.
Across four separate weeks in July and August, each with its own theme, children spend their days in a full English-immersion environment: theme-based projects, literacy, PE, art and craft, and collaborative work with classmates from Japan and abroad.
The summer program also includes swimming lessons in our rooftop pool, taught by qualified and certified instructors. For many children, building water confidence in English is one of the highlights of the week.
Children can attend one week or all four. Each week is independent — no repeated content for children who come back.
The summer session creates a supportive environment where students can grow both academically and socially while enjoying memorable summer experiences.
The Spring Intensive Program is timed around the end of the Japanese school year — giving children a productive way to use the break before the new term begins.
The week runs around a central theme, combining English literacy activities, group projects, creative tasks, and open discussion. Structured enough to build real skills; relaxed enough that children don’t feel like they’re still at school.
In some years the spring session includes a field trip. Past excursions have taken students to Osaka Castle and local museums, where they use their English with international visitors in real situations — the experiences children tend to talk about afterwards.
A strong starting point for children trying an OYIS intensive for the first time.
In some years, the spring session also includes seasonal field trips. In the past, students have visited Osaka Castle and interviewed international visitors in English, and they have also explored local museums. These activities offer meaningful opportunities to use English in real-life settings.
The program provides a lively and supportive environment where students can strengthen their English foundation while enjoying the energy of spring.
The Winter Intensive Program runs during the December–January school holiday — one of the most effective times of year to keep English skills sharp, because the break is long enough that progress can slip without practice.
The week uses a central theme to tie together literacy, collaborative projects, hands-on activities, and creative work. Past themes have included history, the future, and global cultures — each designed to stretch children’s thinking as well as their language.
Smaller class sizes in winter often mean more direct teacher time. A good option for families who missed the summer, or for children who want to build on the progress they made then.
Welcome / Greetings / Weather / Numeracy /Theme Language / Movement / Games
Stretching & Warm up / Activity / Cool Down
Science / Technology / Engineering / Experiments / Maths / POEs / Art Exploration
Theme Related – Math / Phonics / Sentence Structure / Reading / Writing
Lunch
Creativity / Imagination / Experimentation / FMS Development
Theme Related – Math / Phonics
Theme Related -Children’s Book/s
prepare for dismissal
Each intensive program includes one excursion — a chance for children to take their English outside the classroom and use it in the real world.
Past trips have taken children to Osaka Castle, local museums, and cultural landmarks around the city. Activities have included interviewing international tourists in English, observing exhibitions, and navigating new places as a group.
A child who has asked a stranger for directions in English — and been understood — carries that confidence into every conversation that follows.
A look at a typical week — activities, excursions, and the moments in between.
The Nakatsu Campus is our main site for intensive programs. We’re easy to reach from central Osaka.
Address
Osaka YMCA International School (Nakatsu Campus)
(531-0071) Osaka-shi, Kita-ku, Nakatsu
Questions about the program, fees, or whether it’s the right fit for your child? Send us a message and we’ll reply within one business day.
