Life in Hayama, Japan

When people ask me where I feel most at peace, I always think of Hayama, Japan.

Hayama is a quiet seaside town surrounded by mountains and beaches, and it has become a place that reflects who I am both personally and professionally. I live in a Spanish-style house that I renovated two years ago, and much of my free time is spent thinking about interiors, decoration, and creating warm spaces where people can feel comfortable and relaxed.

In many ways, I think my teaching style is similar to the atmosphere I try to create in my home welcoming, calm, supportive, and full of conversation.

From Architecture to Education

My academic background was actually not in education at first, but in architecture. I studied architecture in England at both Manchester and Glasgow University.

Living abroad and studying in an international environment taught me how important communication and cultural understanding can be. Although architecture was my original path, I slowly realized that what I enjoyed most was connecting with people, listening to their stories, and helping them grow in confidence.

That eventually led me into teaching.

Twenty Years of Teaching Experience

Over the past twenty years in Japan, I have had the opportunity to teach many different kinds of students.

Some were children just beginning to learn English, while others were university students preparing for important examinations. I also taught business professionals, homemakers, athletes, fashion models, and adults who simply wanted to improve their communication skills or gain more confidence in daily conversation.

Every student had a different reason for learning, and I always found that interesting.

Some students wanted to improve their pronunciation for business meetings. Others needed support preparing for TOEIC, TOEFL, TESOL, or EIKEN examinations. Some students wanted help writing university theses and improving grammar and writing structure. Others simply wanted someone they could comfortably speak English with after work or school.

Those conversations became one of my favorite parts of teaching.

Teaching Children Through Creativity

I eventually began running my own educational programs for elementary school, junior high school, and high school students.

Teaching children taught me the importance of patience, creativity, and energy. I often used songs, games, reading activities, and writing exercises to help students naturally build listening and speaking confidence.

Watching children slowly become more comfortable expressing themselves in another language is something I still find very rewarding.

My Teaching Philosophy

As the years passed, I realized that teaching language is never only about grammar or vocabulary.

Students carry their own experiences, personalities, worries, and goals into the classroom. Because of that, I always try to adapt my lessons to the individual student. Some students prefer structured lessons, while others learn better through relaxed conversation.

I enjoy hearing about students’ school life, careers, hobbies, future goals, and even the small everyday challenges they face.

I believe people learn best when they feel comfortable enough to speak freely without fear of making mistakes.

English, Japanese, and Cultural Communication

Recently, I also began working as an interpreter and translator between English and Japanese. This has helped me better understand how communication changes depending on culture, environment, and professional situations.

Being both a native English and Japanese speaker allows me to help students understand not only the language itself, but also the feeling behind the language.

In Japanese, especially in business settings, communication style, tone, and phrasing can be very important. I enjoy helping students learn the differences between casual conversation and professional Japanese used in meetings, negotiations, conferences, and workplace environments.

Creativity Outside the Classroom

Outside of teaching, I still carry my love for architecture and design with me.

After renovating my home, I became deeply interested in interiors and creating spaces that feel both peaceful and inspiring. I enjoy researching furniture, decorations, and layouts, and I always enjoy conversations with students who are interested in creativity, art, or design as well.

I also speak basic Danish and previously taught at the Asahi Culture Center in Yokohama. Although Danish is not a common language in Japan, I enjoyed introducing students to another culture and helping them experience something new.

Looking Ahead

Looking back, I feel grateful that teaching allowed me to meet so many different people over the years.

For me, education has always been about more than language. It is about communication, confidence, connection, and understanding people from different backgrounds and cultures.

No matter a student’s age or level, my goal is always the same to create a supportive environment where they feel comfortable learning, growing, and expressing themselves naturally.

I look forward to continuing that journey with future students around the world.