In this episode, I step back from lesson planning and dive into what drives me as a teacher. I share my journey learning Japanese—both the boring textbook classes and the unforgettable real-world moments—and how those experiences shape the way I teach English today. From heritage language schools to life in Tokyo, from textbook drills to projects that actually felt real, I talk about what worked, what didn’t, and how I use those lessons to guide my own students.

At the heart of it, my teaching philosophy comes down to three words: fun, interesting, and relevant. Whether you’re one of my current or former students, or just someone out there learning a new language, I hope this episode gives you some insight into how I think about language learning, why I focus on what really matters, and why I believe learning should connect directly to real life.

Full transcript and summary: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vVTBhq9OAXKIlgrNtMFNSx4n25h0NGOhVuZyD6nnXsA/edit?usp=sharing