🌿 In my last article, “The Woman Who Shrinks,” I explored what really happens when confident women suddenly feel smaller in English. It’s not grammar. It’s not fluency. It’s disconnection — a quiet break between who you are and who you become when you switch languages. Today, I’d like to help you feel this shift more clearly — not by studying it, but by noticing it. Below is a simple 3-minute reflection I use with many of my students. It helps you see the exact moment your energy drops — what I call your “shrink point.” No pressure, no judgment. Just awareness. Because awareness is the first step to reconnection. 🎯 MINI-EXERCISE: “The Shrink Point” Duration: 3 minutes 1. Close your eyes and recall a recent English conversation. When did your energy drop? That’s your shrink point. 2. Ask gently: “What was I protecting in that moment?” 3. Place your hand on your chest and say: “I don’t need to protect this version anymore.” That’s where reconnection begins — not in grammar, but in grace. If this reflection resonated with you and you feel ready to explore this work more deeply, you’re welcome to reach out to me through my profile. I don’t promise results to everyone — I choose the students I work with carefully. But if it’s the right moment for you, one conversation can change how you speak, feel, and lead in English.

When teacher o was teaching abroad, her student Mike came to her and expressed that he wanted to make some Chinese friends to improve his Chinese, but he realized that his Chinese roommates were quiet, so he thought all Chinese people are quiet. if you were teacher o, how would you suggest? thanks for the question. first, I would praise Mike's attitude of willing to learn. and I would explain to Mike that what he has are preconceived Notions or stereotype of Mike. Chinese people are also human. he needs to think of them as fully human in the first place. for example, a dog bites him or even just scares him when he's a child and so for the rest of his life he's afraid of dogs. Because he believes that all dogs are scary and dangerous and want to bite him. when he meets a dog, he doesn't have to evaluate it as an individual. his roommates are quiet doesn't mean that all Chinese people are quiet. and maybe his roommates are not like what he thinks. because in traditional Chinese culture, The nature of junzi is displayed in action rather than speech. we encourage people to act rather than speak. I would suggest Mike, if he would like to practice his Chinese, he can create opportunities of having conversations and increase interactions. after getting familiar with his roommates, I believe that they will talk more with Mike and even become friends. and I would also organise more activities to give students opportunities to speak, inviting local Chinese to our school and make students in pairs with them.

Hi! Two weeks ago, it was Halloween. The day before, I invited my friends to a Halloween party. I spent time with them at my house. We decorated my room with orange and purple balloons, and everyone wore cute costumes. I decided to make a cake for the party, so I baked a chocolate cake before the day. And we decorated a lots of whipped cream and strawberries on top. My friends said it was very delicious, and I felt really happy. After that, we ordered delivery food and ate fried chicken together. It was so tasty! While eating, we watched a movie and laughed a lot. The atmosphere was cozy and fun, and we took many pictures to remember the night. It was one of the best Halloweens I’ve ever had. I was glad that I could spend such a special time with my friends. I can’t wait for next year’s Halloween!

Let's practice English idioms! Can you guess the meaning of "a wet blanket"?

I went to a concert by my favorite band. I was a little disappointed because my seat was farther back than last time, but it ended up being so much fun and absolutely amazing. They played a lot of my favorite songs, and the setlist was perfect. Even though I went alone, I got really into it and danced along a little embarrassingly! Hearing them live always moves me every time. There was even a moment when the lights in the venue went out, but that just became part of the memory. Time flew by so quickly. Since it was the last concert of the year, I felt a little sad. Today, I went to school listening to the same setlist. I still want to soak in the afterglow. This year was full of concerts. I even traveled to Sendai and Yamanashi just for them. I want to go to lots more concerts next year too.

Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing well. How about an idiom for today? If you have a question, feel free to check my profile🤝 👉 Conversation | 👉 Test preparation | 👉 Academic and Business English Have a great day everyone.

Almost all the apps I installed on my phones are must-have apps. This conclusion was based on a thing happened yesterday. Yesterday, when I watched a picture taken in 2009, I was so excited about seeing my old friend again. Unfortunately, the picture was not very clean, especially my friend's face. In that case, I immediately remember an app on my phone. That is an AI tool which can help me fix old picture. It didn't take me much time, then a clean picture appeared and all the details were perfect. Even pictures can be made into a short video by this app, and people in the pictures can smile and move. Maybe this app I just use once in a year, but it's a must-have app because I must use it sooner or later. This thing reminds me of some other things happened many year ago. At that time, I usually used a software called PS to fix pictures that often costed me many hours to finish a project. So, I am sure that more and more apps will be downloaded on my phone. Each of them is a must-have app!

Last Saturday, I climbed Mount Takao with my friend. Mount Takao is a beginner-friendly mountain located in Tokyo, and it is very popular among both locals and tourists. It is known for its beautiful nature and easy access from the city. There are lifts and a cable car that can take you halfway up the mountain, but we decided not to use them and walked all the way on foot. During the hike, we enjoyed the fresh air and the relaxing sounds of birds and streams. The trees, flowers, and colorful autumn leaves were so beautiful. The view from the top was breathtaking. The weather was clear, and we could even see Mount Fuji in the distance. After taking some photos, we had lunch and relaxed for a while, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. It was such a refreshing and memorable experience. If you want to try an easy and enjoyable mountain hike, I highly recommend climbing Mount Takao!