Interview: Maverick English teacher with a Tiktok following Part 2

Continued from Part 1… His motivation stems from a desire to change the Japanese education system in a way that will benefit both teachers and students. “Right now, public school teachers are underappreciated by society and their students while being overwhelmed by their workloads. I’m convinced that it doesn’t have to be this way.” Currently, Tateishi teaches English at a Tokyo metropolitan high school while his TikTok videos have launched him on the fast track to English educator-cum-rock star. “Kids today will not be motivated to study unless they understand the how, what and why of studying English. In other words, teachers must take a more systematic approach and explain to their classes how exactly their teaching methods work and the effect this will have on the students’ grades.” English speaking (and teaching) still has a long way to go in Japan, but Tateishi is hopeful. He endorses a method called yoshuku, which means celebrating in advance. “Athletes use this method before their competitions. Picture in your mind the celebrations you’ll savor once you’ve reached a specific goal. For athletes, this could mean the applause and the cheers. Having a celebratory scenario can make all the difference in your motivation levels.” (Kaori Shoji) This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.