After years of teaching in classrooms—and a brief detour running a mountain farm, where I discovered that cows have surprisingly strong opinions—I returned to online teaching.

In English conversation schools, everything is set up for you: lesson plans, materials, and guidance on how to approach each student. You can adapt lessons slightly, but the framework is mostly fixed. Watching students grow over the years is incredibly rewarding, yet opportunities for creativity are often limited.

Teaching online through Cafetalk has been a completely different experience. Every lesson feels like a chance to create something unique. I can design exercises to target recurring mistakes, add challenges when a student is ready, or build dialogues full of phrasal verbs, idioms, and expressions tailored to their level. I can help their English sound more natural and dive deep into rhythm, stress, and intonation. I love tweaking grammar, stretching vocabulary, and adding little twists to keep lessons engaging. Sometimes, I’ll plan a lesson in advance and then completely rewrite it an hour before class to better suit a particular student’s needs.

The freedom extends beyond the lesson itself. My students come from all over Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and other countries. I can bring in relevant news articles, offer lessons on science curiosities, history snippets, or cultural topics—mixing structured learning with curiosity-driven exploration. I can also spend more time giving targeted feedback, explaining why mistakes happen, and suggesting follow-up exercises.

For me, teaching online isn’t just about grammar or vocabulary. It’s about noticing patterns, experimenting, and helping students discover the joy of English in a way that fits them. That’s what I enjoy most: shaping lessons to respond to the student, rather than trying to fit them into a rigid structure.

That's the joy of this kind of teaching: it’s not about forcing a rigid plan, but about shaping a dynamic learning experience that truly feels alive, adaptable, and just a little bit fun for everyone involved. I enjoy refining techniques, pushing boundaries gently, and helping students hone their skills. At the same time, I aim to foster independence and cultivate curiosity, so learners can explore English in ways that interest them and discover the joy of learning for themselves.

Note: I’ve created a discussion lesson based on this column. Alternatively, you can ask to discuss it in one of my regular conversation lessons, tailored to your level.

LEARNING SUPPORT

Beginner / Lower-Intermediate

Verbs / Actions

• plan – included: “I can plan exercises in advance…”
• rewrite – included: “sometimes rewrite them…”
• add – included: “add something new…”
• try out – included: “try out new exercises”
• focus on – included: “focus on recurring mistakes”

Adjectives / Descriptions

• fun – included: “make lessons fun”
• unique – included: “every lesson feels unique”
• different – included: “Teaching online… has been a completely different experience”
• practical – included: “fun, practical, and engaging”
• rewarding – included: “Watching students grow… is incredibly rewarding”

Expressions / Phrases

• fit the student – included: “shape lessons dynamically to match them” (paraphrase matches meaning)
• a little twist – included: “add a little twist to exercises”
• deep dive – included: “We often do a deep dive into rhythm, stress, and intonation”
• mix … with … – included: “mix structured exercises with curiosity-driven exploration”

Intermediate / Upper-Intermediate

Phrasal Verbs / Actions

• tailor lessons – included: “tailoring English online” in title & overall context
• tackle mistakes – included: “focus on recurring mistakes” (synonymous phrasing)
• stretch vocabulary – included: “stretch vocabulary to help students speak more naturally”
• shape lessons – included: “shape lessons dynamically to match them”

Idiomatic / Expressive Phrases

• make English sound more natural – included: “help students make English sound more natural”
• curiosity-driven exploration – included: “mix…with curiosity-driven exploration”
• lessons that feel alive – included: “creating lessons that are alive, and responsive”
• fit a rigid structure – included: “rather than trying to fit a rigid structure”

Collocations / Teaching Concepts

• personalized attention – included: “give personalized attention”
• notice patterns – included: “notice patterns”
• experimentation in lessons – included: “experimenting with lessons”
• student-centered learning – included: “supporting student-centered learning”

Advanced

• refine techniques – “I can refine techniques to help students notice small differences in pronunciation.”
• push boundaries – “I like to push boundaries gently, encouraging students to try slightly harder exercises.”
• hone skills – “Lessons are a chance to hone skills in speaking, listening, and natural expression.”
• foster independence – “I aim to foster independence so students can experiment on their own.”
• cultivate curiosity – “The goal is to cultivate curiosity, letting students explore topics that interest them.”