Introducing AI English Coach: Overcoming Adversity to Go Global

The Educational Support Global Fund (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Daijiro Hashimoto, former Governor of Kochi Prefecture) has begun introducing "ELSA Business," an AI English coach for corporations, to its scholarship students, thanks to the sponsorship from ELSA Japan LLC (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Dai Imao), a provider of AI English learning services. This initiative aims to provide young people facing economic and social difficulties with the opportunity to acquire English communication skills, which are indispensable for thriving in a global society. As part of the "Beyond Tomorrow" project, which supports young people in adversity, this adds further learning opportunities to existing activities such as providing need-based scholarships for higher education and leadership development programs. ELSA Japan Co., Ltd. Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Educational Support Global Fund (Beyond Tomorrow) **Widening "Global Opportunity Gap"** In recent years, rising living costs and study abroad expenses have significantly restricted opportunities for young people to challenge themselves overseas. Surveys indicate that approximately 80% of students hesitate to study abroad due to economic reasons (※1), revealing a persistent large disparity in global experience opportunities. Furthermore, it has been pointed out that educational expenditure in Japan varies by household income, affecting access to extracurricular learning opportunities such as English conversation schools (※2). Moreover, Japanese students tend to have a lower self-assessment of their ability to speak their opinions in English compared to other skills, highlighting a lack of actual "speaking experience" as a challenge, beyond just English knowledge (※3). Particularly for young people with constraints due to family environment or living conditions, opportunities to practically use English are currently limited. In this context, Beyond Tomorrow has supported young people's challenges through overseas training and leadership education, but the provision of daily English improvement opportunities has not been sufficient. Through this collaboration with ELSA Japan LLC, by introducing AI English learning that is less constrained by time and cost, the foundation has established an environment where scholarship students can "learn by using" English daily, realizing further learning opportunities. **Initiative Overview** In this partnership, "ELSA Business," an AI English coach for corporations, was piloted for approximately 20 scholarship students. * **Provision Period:** January 2026 - March 2026 * **Target:** Approximately 20 Beyond Tomorrow scholarship students (high school and university students) * **Content:** * AI-powered pronunciation correction * English conversation role-play * Individually optimized learning programs By utilizing digital learning that is less constrained by time and cost, an environment has been established where students can improve their speaking skills at their own pace. **Scholarship Student's Voice** "The biggest appeal is that I'm not afraid to make mistakes and can practice repeatedly because it's with AI. I feel like I'm gaining practical English skills with feedback not only on pronunciation but also on grammar and vocabulary. I actually had conversations in English with overseas customers at my part-time job and enjoyed the communication." - 2025 Intern (2024 Scholarship Student) **Significance for Beyond Tomorrow** Beyond Tomorrow's mission is to "support young people in adversity to transform their experiences into strength and grow into leaders who contribute to society from multiple perspectives." English is not just a skill; it is an important means to encounter diverse values and express one's thoughts to the world. Through this initiative, we expect students to acquire "the power to connect with the world in their own words." **2026 Activity Plan** In fiscal year 2026, based on the results of this trial, the provision of the app will continue for high school scholarship students and first-year university scholarship students. The aim is to establish an environment where students can "learn by using" English daily, unconstrained by time or cost, and to secure continuous learning opportunities. **** (※1) Japan Student Services Organization "Tobitate! Study Abroad JAPAN 'Survey on Awareness and Reality of Studying Abroad'" (2024) https://tobitate-mext.jasso.go.jp/news/495.html (※2) Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology "Survey on Children's Educational Expenditures" https://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/toukei/chousa03/gakushuuhi/1268091.htm (Reference: Summary of Results) https://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/toukei/chousa03/gakushuuhi/kekka/k_detail/mext_00002.html (※3) Benesse Educational Research Institute "Various reports on English Education"