My Interview: JAL “SKY WARD” August 2018 

I knew I could definitely win.

The world is in the midst of an online English language service war. One company that has built its own stronghold in this competitive landscape is NativeCamp, which launched its service in 2015. The company is gaining popularity with its three key features: "all-you-can-speak," "no reservations or Skype required," and "reasonable prices." We spoke with Mario Hara, 33, who works in the PR and marketing department.

"There are many online English language services, but no other company offers such outstanding features. I was confident we could definitely win. I really wanted to work closely with the person who came up with this service."

Ms. Hara changed jobs last October. Until then, he had been working in the advertising industry, producing commercials. "I felt distant from the commercials because I couldn’t see how they were received or evaluated by the customers after they were completed. I wanted to do a job where I could interact with people more closely. Now, I find it rewarding to receive feedback from our members through surveys and other means. We are dealing with English, which is intangible, but it connects us with all kinds of people."

Learning English while having fun

Ms. Hara is currently in charge of overall promotion at NativeCamp and works hard every day to convey the company’s appeal. "We aimed to create an environment where everyone can feel free to speak English at any time," he said.

"Thankfully, we have people of all ages and genders taking our classes. We are often asked if it’s okay for beginners, but most of our instructors have studied English as a second language themselves. Therefore, they understand the difficulties and anxieties of learning English. We strive to be there for our members and help them learn while having fun."

The culture of "learning while having fun" has yet to take root in English education in Japan. "We want students to realise that English is something to be enjoyed. Since it’s a 'communication tool,' I want them to cultivate their English through conversations and connections with a variety of people. It may sound like an exaggeration, but I believe that the moment a member starts NativeCamp, their life will change. That’s why I’m excited to work with them every day.