Unlock a World of Student Opportunities: Your Guide to English & Global Competitions

In today’s digital age, finding high-quality, enriching opportunities for students can feel surprisingly challenging. While information is more abundant than ever, the curated lists and reliable aggregators that once made discovery easy have become fewer and farther between. For educators and mentors dedicated to student growth, knowing where to look is half the battle.

This guide cuts through the noise, presenting a curated list of premier English-language and global competency competitions. These events provide incredible platforms for students to develop crucial skills, from public speaking to international diplomacy.

🎤 English Speech & Oratory Contests

Prestigious National English Oratorical Contest

• One of Japan’s most prestigious English speech contests for junior high school students.
• Requires participants to deliver original, self-written speeches live in English.
• When: National Final in late November.
• Registration: May through July, exclusively through schools.
• Cost: Free to enter.

University-Sponsored National Speech Contest

• A national contest for high school students, with top winners often receiving scholarships to the hosting university.
• When: October.
• Registration: Late summer.
• Cost: Free.

Global Online Speech Challenge

• A worldwide competition where students submit video speeches on an annual theme.
• Top winners get the chance to attend an international leadership forum.
• When: Winners are announced in June, with the forum in August.
• Registration: Deadline in May.
• Cost: Free (travel is covered for winners).

✍️ English Writing & Journalism Contests

National English Newspaper Contest

• Student teams create a full, 4-page English newspaper based on specific themes.
• Entries are judged on journalistic quality, content, and design.
• When: Final event in November.
• Registration: Deadline in October.
• Cost: Free.

International Essay Contest for Young People

• A global contest encouraging youth to write about peace, sustainability, and global citizenship.
• When: Winners announced in October.
• Registration: Mid-June.
• Cost: Free.

University Global Issues Essay Competition

• An international essay contest hosted by a prominent Tokyo university, inviting high schoolers to explore pressing global topics.
• When: Results in January, with an award ceremony in February.
• Registration: Late June.
• Cost: Free.

🗣️ Debate Competitions

National High School English Debate Tournament

• The national English debate championship for high schoolers, using a policy debate format.
• Features regional qualifiers leading to a national tournament.
• When: National tournament in December.
• Registration: Mid-November.
• Cost: Free (participants may need to cover their own travel).

Global Academic Competition

• A worldwide tournament combining debate, collaborative writing, and quizzes.
• Includes regional rounds in Japan, leading to international finals.
• When: Tokyo round in May, global rounds in August.
• Cost: Approximately ¥15,000 per student for regional rounds.

🌐 Model United Nations & Simulations

Metropolitan Model UN

• A student-led MUN conference in Tokyo with committees for all skill levels.
• When: Late March.
• Registration: End of January.
• Cost: Around ¥700 per student.

National English Model UN

• A national conference that also includes a journalism component for participants.
• Held annually in Osaka.
• When: Mid-July.
• Registration: Spring (March-June).
• Cost: Conference fee varies.

International Educational Model UN

• An international conference in Tokyo focusing on global issues and cultural exchange.
• When: January.
• Registration: October of the previous year.
• Cost: Approximately ¥12,000 per student.

Harvard Model Government Simulation

• An international government simulation run by Harvard University undergraduates.
• Covers U.S. Congress and UN-style diplomacy.
• When: January conference.
• Registration: Late summer/early fall.

🏛️ Embassy & Specialized Contests

Embassy-Sponsored Quiz Bowl

• A quiz competition testing knowledge of a specific country’s history, government, and culture.
• Hosted by a major embassy in Tokyo.
• When: Spring.
• For: Teams of 3-5 high school students.
• Cost: Free.

💼 Business & Entrepreneurship Contests

International Trade Challenge

• A bilingual business plan competition where students develop a global market entry strategy.
• Top national teams advance to an Asia-Pacific finals event.
• When: National finals in June, regional finals in August.
• For: Teams of 2 high school students.
• Cost: Free (sponsored for finalists).

Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition

• A worldwide contest where high school teams create real social enterprises or businesses.
• Projects are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• When: National competitions in spring, world cup in summer.
• For: Teams of 3-5 students.
• Cost: Moderate (varies by national round).

International Business Communication Essay Contest

• An essay contest focused on themes of international business and communication.

Empowering students starts with providing them with a stage to shine. These competitions are more than just contests; they are gateways to confidence, global awareness, and future opportunities.