The Free Talk Staffroom

It’s tempting to save yourself a spot of bother by refusing to teach “difficult” kids. But should you? More thoughts on teaching English for yourself in Japan in my book here: https://freetalktefl.substack. com/p/the-tower-english-way-how-to-start P.S. Did you spot the cat? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fre...

You might think it’s impossible to imagine, but… you are more than just an English teacher. Here’s what I do when teaching just doesn’t cut it. Details here: https://artbypatricksherriff.substack.com/p/skys-the-limit-exhibition-is-open 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

I’m not a complete dinosaur, but there’s a time and place for high-tech in language learning, and I maintain that is mostly out of the classroom. Do you agree? Or am I indeed a fossil of an extinct way of teaching? Want to know how to teach English in Japan for yourself? I wrote a book just for you here: https://freetalktefl.substack. com/p/the-tower-english-way-how-to-start This is a public episo...

I don’t think I’ve mentioned it before, but there’s something that self-employed teachers have over apparently higher-status company or school teachers’ experiences… Want to know how to teach English in Japan for yourself? I wrote a book just for you here: https://freetalktefl.substack. com/p/the-tower-english-way-how-to-start This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other...

It’s not all shabu shabu and sakura blossoms when you jack in the corporate job to go self-employed. Here, I talk about the adjustments I had to make to get to grips with teaching for myself. Maybe you can relate? Want to know how to teach English in Japan for yourself? I wrote a book just for you here: https://freetalktefl.substack. com/p/the-tower-english-way-how-to-start This is a public episod...

Let me show you the basics of how to teach children to learn to read in English… and FOR THE NEXT TWO weeks only, you can get the workbook I use with two-thirds off its usual price. Here are the links to the reduced-priced Tower Talk Phonics workbook, available around the world from Amazon sites as cheap as I can make it: Available from Amazon.jp here at https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B09918LPTJ Avai...

I don’t mean like Stalin, but just make a rough projection of student numbers and therefore income that you might expect over the next couple of years. Why should you bother? Well, I didn’t for 20 years until, er, last week. When I sat down and worked out some basic numbers, I was pleasantly surprised… Want to know more about teaching English in Japan for yourself? I wrote a book just for you here...

You don’t have to do the teaching-English-in-Japan thing like I do, you don’t have to be an expert, you can find your own way. In fact, I recommend you do… Interested in going it alone in Japan? I wrote a book just for you here: https://freetalktefl.substack. com/p/the-tower-english-way-how-to-start This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to...

When you first start out as a self-employed teacher and look over at your company/school employed comrades, it’s tempting to think you done messed up, boy. Give it a year or two, and you and your bank balance will be happy you stuck at it. Interested in going it alone in Japan? I wrote a book just for you here: https://freetalktefl.substack. com/p/the-tower-english-way-how-to-start This is a publi...

Age catches up with all of us, if we’re lucky, and being self-employed actually gives us a few advantages over the company drone. But you have to grab the steering wheel yourself if you want to navigate to an early retirement… If you are interested in driving your own English school in Japan rather than being a passenger at the back of the eikaiwa bus, I wrote a book just for you here: https://fre...

Well, I was asked to apply and then told to sling my hook, but it all worked out for the best… If you are interested in running your own English school in Japan rather than jumping through the university hoops, I wrote a book just for you here: https://freetalktefl.substack. com/p/the-tower-english-way-how-to-start This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers...

This was the comment on YouTube I got a couple of weeks ago. At first I thought, what rubbish! Then, I thought, well the commenter is kinda right, when it comes to working for a chain. But…. (Those dots mean watch the video for more, not that I can’t be bothered to summarise my thoughts here when it’s all in the video. Although, that is also true.) If you are interested in running your own English...

Kids were always a scarier proposition for me, but I’ve mellowed as I’ve aged. How about you? Do kids fill you with fear or does the thought of a group of adults give you palpitations? My book, The Tower English Way, has more details, available here: https://freetalktefl.substack.com/p/the-tower-english-way-how-to-start This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscri...

Buy one, get one free? Introduce your friends and get a free toaster? Sell your own grandmother (on the value of English) and get a free bag of irregular verbs? Doesn’t really make me want to pay for English lessons. So what does? I offer a few thoughts among the cherry blossoms above. My book, The Tower English Way, has more details, available here: https://freetalktefl.substack.com/p/the-tower-e...

I’ve been busy completing my latest textbook for adults, Free Talk Conversation 4. I talk about it above, but you can download the Kindle version for free and the paperback version for the lowest price I can set it for the next few days (until the price reverts to ¥6,000 for the paperback and ¥999 for the Kindle). So hurry up and download for free or purchase the paperback for super cheap while yo...

It’s the best of numbers and the worst of numbers when it comes to business. More thoughts in my book, available at https://freetalktefl.substack.com/p/the-tower-english-way-how-to-start 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

How you can do something nice for your students today that will pay off in the long run, though you can just do it to be nice. More thoughts, in my book available at https://freetalktefl.substack.com/p/the-tower-english-way-how-to-start 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

While I wait for the English muffin shop to open, I fill you in on the three biggest dangers for self-employed English teachers in Japan and what to do about them. More details, of course, in my book available at https://freetalktefl.substack.com/p/the-tower-english-way-how-to-start This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes,...

The number of students you need to have a viable teaching business in Japan is a lot lower than you might think*. More details at https://freetalktefl.substack.com/p/the-tower-english-way-how-to-start * TL:DR… 40 students paying ¥8,000 a month (for four lessons a month) should be your first target. I said ¥8,000 per lesson in the video, I meant ¥8,000 per month! This is a public episode. If you wo...

Hey, ever feel like you don’t belong? Or don’t want to belong? Join the club… or not, as the case may be. 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

I thought I’d try making a video short that might serve some purpose, so here’s 10 pieces of wisdom in 60 seconds from 20 years of teaching English in Japan. My book, The Tower English Way, has more details, available here: https://freetalktefl.substack.com/p/the-tower-english-way-how-to-start This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus...

A few thoughts (sparked by listening to New Yorkers arguing about money) that might help you on your journey to self-employment. The episode where I talked about what kind of money you might expect to earn as a self-employed English teacher in Japan is here: The painting at the start of the video is one of mine. Details at https://artbypatricksherriff.substack.com/p/teganuma-rainy-evening This is...

Do you have what it takes mentally to teach English in Japan? I can’t speak for you, but I can tell you how I approach teaching, which has served me well for 20 years. What about you? Do you have the mindset to thrive as a self-employed teacher? The sketch at the beginning of the video is one of mine, details at https://artbypatricksherriff.substack.com/p/newsprint-nude This is a public episode. I...

It’s complicated. Or rather, it’s as simple as deciding if qualifications add to your story or not, which isn’t always straight forward. The painting at the start of the video is here: https://artbypatricksherriff.substack.com/p/okada-san . 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

Are they to be found at the train station? In your neighbourhood? Lurking on the internet? Maybe. But here I talk about a better way of finding more students. More details are in my book, The Tower English Way, details here: https://freetalktefl.substack.com/p/the-tower-english-way-how-to-start The painting is one of mine, from here: https://artbypatricksherriff.substack.com/p/fusa This is a publi...