The Free Talk Staffroom

Hosted by Patrick Sherriff

Entrepreneurship Education Language Learning

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Episodes

135

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

Advice for the self-employed English teacher in Japan. Drops every Friday. freetalktefl.substack.com

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60 recent

September 11, 20266 min

How to prepare a trial lesson

I show how I got a trial lesson ready for a new prospective student yesterday. Spoiler alert: after the lesson, her Dad said she would join our school next week. So, all that prep worked out! 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 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

September 4, 20268 min

Teaching English doesn’t have to be the centrepiece of your life

More power to you if you love teaching, but don’t worry if you have other things going on in your life that sustain you. In fact, the beauty of being a self-employed English teacher In Japan can be in the self-employed bit. Why? Because you are free to indulge in your other passions. Here’s one of mine: publishing thrillers. And for the next few days, you can download for free my novel Year of the Talking Dog, a thriller set in pre-COVID Japan. You can download from any Amazon site, but here are the three most popular: 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

August 28, 20267 min

The decision that saved my life, and could save yours

The headline sounds like clickbait, but it’s actually true. 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 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

August 21, 20267 min

Don’t take it personally…

Sure, be friendly, but the secret to success is professionalism, not personality. 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 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

August 14, 20268 min

Lessons from a walk down Yasukuni Dori

Lessons a plenty from businesses old and new in Tokyo. 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 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

August 6, 20269 min

The downside of teaching English in Japan and what to do about it

Teaching English is what I do and, for the most part, is rewarding. But it’s not easy and not always fulfilling. Here’s how I cope with the downsides, hopefully what works for me might be of assistance to you when you have a bad day. Sorry about the cicadas. 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 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

July 31, 20264 min

Re-thinking our school’s website

For most of my teaching career I’ve viewed the internet as little more than a glorified business card. It’s time I rethought this approach. Is it time for you to reconsider how you use the internet in your business? 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 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

July 23, 20267 min

Using this summer to re-evaluate what we do

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 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

July 17, 20260 min

30-second lesson: Entertain and inform

Just like the title says: entertain and inform. Do only one and you’ll fail. Do both in roughly equal proportions and you’ll succeed. What am I missing? 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 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

July 10, 20265 min

Should you ever refuse to teach a misbehaving kid?

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 freetalktefl.substack.com