I was chatting to a fellow self-employed English teacher in Japan who said school ALTs often don’t realise how few students they would need to make a good living doing their own thing. So, I thought I’d spell it out in this video.

For a more thorough explanation, I recommend The Tower English Way, How to start and run your own little English school in Japan, available here: https://freetalktefl.substack.com/p/the-tower-english-way-how-to-start

The painting at the beginning of the video, Can’t Buy Me Love, is one of mine, details here: https://artbypatricksherriff.substack.com/p/cant-buy-me-love

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit freetalktefl.substack.com

What are your hopes for 2026? And more to the point, what are you going to do to give those hopes a chance of becoming real? Here are a few of my thoughts. But I’d love to hear what you think. Leave a comment about your hopes, plans or dreams for the New Year. All the best,

Patrick

PS If you’re looking for a little inspiration to get your s**t together for the New Year, may I humbly recommend this book, guaranteed no woo-woo: https://freetalktefl.substack.com/p/how-to-get-more-meaning-from-your life

The thumbnail painting is one of mine, from here: https://artbypatricksherriff.substack.com/p/blue-teganuma-sky

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit freetalktefl.substack.com

That’s a headline I never thought I’d ever write, but here we are. And a Happy New Year to you too.

Speaking of the new year, I wrote a book you might dig if you are into self-improvement and resolutions but are not into woo-woo: https://freetalktefl.substack.com/p/how-to-get-more-meaning-from-your

The painting at the beginning of the video is one of mine. Details here: https://artbypatricksherriff.substack.com/p/dashiell-hammett

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit freetalktefl.substack.com

It’s not all milk and honey teaching in Japan. Here are (probably 10?) tips to make it through as a self-employed English teacher when you’re feeling like you can’t go on.

But if you’re earlier in your career, or know someone thinking of teaching English as a career, may I recommend The Tower English Way, a summary of what I know about setting up shop for yourself. It’s on Amazon Prime so would make it in time for Christmas. Details here: https://freetalktefl.substack.com/p/the-tower-english-way-how-to-start

The thumbnail picture is one of mine, details here: https://artbypatricksherriff.substack.com/p/teganuma-drama

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit freetalktefl.substack.com

It’s getting to that time of year to assess how things have gone and what to do to get ready for the New Year. But let’s leave all the teaching stuff in the classroom and instead think about your long-term future, and that means saving and investing for your retirement. If that scares you, good, then you are ready to do something about it. Watch the video above and then you could do no better than heading to RetireJapan to get started. Tell Ben I sent ya.

Patrick

The thumbnail painting is here.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit freetalktefl.substack.com

The short answer is yes, both. But it depends on what stage you’re at in your career. And yes, being a self-employed English teacher in Japan is a career, if you choose to make it so.

The painting at the start of the video is one of mine, here, borrowing heavily on the style of Canadian artist Tim Packer.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit freetalktefl.substack.com

Does it really matter what the status is of English teachers? Yes and no, but here are my thoughts on cutting through the BS and getting on with it. If that resonates with you, you might enjoy my book:

https://freetalktefl.substack.com/p/the-tower-english-way-how-to-start

The painting at the beginning of the video is here.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit freetalktefl.substack.com

Not many educators look to the French dictator for EFL classroom advice, but perhaps they should, as I argue in the video. The link to the books I mentioned is here:

https://freetalktefl.substack.com/p/free-talk-basics-1-3

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I’m really pleased to announce the publication of three new textbooks designed for adult learners of English who are beginners/lower intermediate level. They are currently as cheap as I can sell them, but the price will go up in December. Full details and links to buy are below:

https://freetalktefl.substack.com/p/free-talk-basics-1-3

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit freetalktefl.substack.com

If we welcome AI wholeheartedly to take over our core functions as teachers, things are not going to end well for us self-employed English teachers in Japan. Maybe it’s time to embrace a more human hands-on approach?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit freetalktefl.substack.com