Nathaniel Reed

When I first began teaching English in Japan, I imagined myself a guide: someone who would walk into the classroom and help students learn to speak. I did not expect to learn so much about silence. As an assistant language teacher (ALT) in Japanese public schools, I quickly realised the job was not what I had anticipated. Students were often hesitant to speak, even when they knew the answer. Lessons were primarily focused on grammar explanations, recitations or textbook dialogues. Despite years of English education, learners often lacked confidence and fluency. However, outside the classroom, the same students greeted me cheerfully....