Hi, I’m Crystal!

I’m so glad you found me! I know there is a ton of amazing content online these days, and I’m honored that you’ve chosen to explore my site. I hope that you’ll find a bit of inspiration, support, and validation here. Teaching and learning is a tricky business! And you don’t need to do it all on your own.

A bit about me

My story starts with a curiosity about the world. I grew up in Minnesota, USA, and after finishing my undergraduate degree, I took a teaching job in South Korea. I gained my first teaching experience in a hagwon just outside of Seoul. After enough kimchi to last a lifetime, I returned home to pursue my master’s degree in teaching English.

I decided to focus on teaching adults, so I completed a master’s degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages at the University of Minnesota. Through this program, I learned and grew as a teacher. And I began teaching international students at the Minnesota English Language Program, where I worked for the next six years or so.

My time in Minnesota was lovely, but my wanderlust got the best of me. I decided to take a teaching job at Kanda University of International Studies in Chiba, Japan. My family and I picked up and moved to Japan where we lived for the next two years.

In 2021, my partner accepted a job in Germany, so we made an international move again. This time, though, my teaching took a backseat to my role as a parent. I spent the next three years or so helping our family get settled, taking some time to explore hobbies and professional interests, and learning German.

After this transition to life in Germany, it’s become clear that I’m ready to climb back into teaching and learning. Yay!

Sharing and learning

Sharing and connecting with other teachers has been an important part of my professional development from the start. And there’s always something new to learn!

Whether through social media or professional events and conferences, I always found value in discussions with other practitioners around the world. Some people are hesitant to share their practice publicly. And I get it. It’s scary to put yourself out there. But I think there’s immense value in sharing your experience, expertise, and materials to support others in the field.

After some time away, my hope with this blog is to create opportunities for connection and professional growth within the field of TESL/TEFL. I’m super happy you’re here! And I hope that my words have a positive impact on your practice.

So, I hope that you’ll keep in touch, and we can explore English teaching and learning together. Please feel free to reach out and say “hello”!