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PODCAST

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher

Christopher Kowalchuk

In this podcast series, I"ll share my thoughts on language learning. In particular, I"ll talk about it from the perspective of an ESL teacher as well as a former language learner. I"ll also reflect on my experience of learning Japanese and living in Japan. I"ll try not to talk too much about cats, but I may not be able to resist at times.

education language learning

All Episodes

31:16

Ep. 34 – Tips for Living:Studying Abroad

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/10/19

Hey everyone, it’s Chris. In this episode, I want to talk about something I see all the time — students who study English really hard but still don’t feel like they’re improving. You review your notes, watch videos, use all the apps… but when it comes time to actually use English in real life, it’s hard to find the chance.So in this episode, I share a story about a student who’s going through exactly that — and how it reminded me of my own experience learning Japanese when I lived in Japan years

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23:33

Ep. 33 – Feeling Helpless?

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/10/12

In this episode, I talk about learned helplessness — that feeling of “I don’t know what to do” that shows up in language classes, and in life. Even though we have amazing tools like translation apps, Google, and ChatGPT, many learners still freeze when faced with confusion. I explore why that happens, how mindset plays a bigger role than grammar or vocabulary, and what it means to take ownership of your learning.Drawing from my experiences teaching English and learning Japanese, I share stories and

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20:55

Ep. 32 – What I Do as a Teacher and Why

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/09/21

In this episode, I step back from lesson planning and dive into what drives me as a teacher. I share my journey learning Japanese—both the boring textbook classes and the unforgettable real-world moments—and how those experiences shape the way I teach English today. From heritage language schools to life in Tokyo, from textbook drills to projects that actually felt real, I talk about what worked, what didn’t, and how I use those lessons to guide my own students.At the heart of it, my teaching

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18:36

Ep. 31 – It's Not Your Fault ... Sometimes

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/09/14

Do you ever feel frustrated when someone doesn’t understand your English? In this episode, I share why it’s not always your fault when communication breaks down. From cultural differences to distractions to unfamiliar accents, there are many reasons people may not respond the way you expect—and sometimes it has nothing to do with your language ability. At the same time, I’ll talk about being honest with yourself and working on clarity, so you can keep improving while also giving yourself grace.Full

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20:46

Ep. 30 – Textbook and Teacher English vs. Reality

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/09/07

In this episode, I dive into one of the biggest frustrations language learners face: why doesn’t real English sound like the English in textbooks? I share examples of how natural speech reduces and links sounds, why people from different regions and subcultures speak differently, and why that variety actually makes language richer and more interesting. I’ll also talk about my own experiences learning Japanese, compare textbooks to driving manuals, and give you practical ways to open your ears to

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23:58

Ep. 29 – Don’t Reinvent the Wheel

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/08/31

Do you ever freeze when speaking English because you’re searching for the “perfect” word? In this episode, I explain why fluency doesn’t come from inventing new sentences every time—but from recycling common phrases, making mistakes, and exposing yourself to real English in daily life. Learn how to stop overthinking, start collecting useful chunks, and use them with confidence.Transcript and Notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kHg74A4gu2j6ymOLH0JCjPpMmy9LEBwVD3gpLSxflx0/edit?usp=sharing

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18:41

Ep. 28 Performative vs. Actual Learning

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/08/17

In this episode, I talk about the difference between performative learning—studying just to pass tests, finish worksheets, or check boxes—and actual learning, where skills stick and can be used in real communication. Drawing on my own experiences teaching in Japan, learning Japanese, and even struggling with Spanish in high school, I explore why we often confuse “looking like we’re learning” with real progress. I compare language study to exercise, martial arts, and even everyday life, showing how

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25:50

Ep. 27 – What Did You Want to Say?

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/08/08

After a short “digital detox,” I’m back with fresh thoughts on one of my favorite topics: taking responsibility for your own language learning. I share why stepping away from technology can improve focus, how your confidence in English might be lower than your actual ability, and a simple habit I used while learning Japanese—writing down what I wanted to say and finding out later how to express it naturally.We’ll talk about keeping conversations going even without the perfect word, why most

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39:32

Ep. 26 – How to Break Up in English: Why Tone Matters...

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/07/12

(This is a video episode, so check out the original YouTube video: https://youtu.be/Tw9Mr7cYKoA) Tone matters — especially when you're writing something personal and emotionally sensitive, like a breakup message, a “let’s just be friends” note, or a difficult email to someone you care about. In this episode, I share a real-life experience that made me reflect deeply on how tone can make or break a message — even when the words are technically fine. Using ChatGPT, I walk through examples of breakup

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25:22

Ep. 25 – “Correct” Language isn’t Enough (Tone)

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/07/06

In this episode, we’re talking about something that doesn’t show up on your grammar test but definitely shows up in real life: tone. Yep, that invisible thing that makes your message sound friendly… or accidentally rude… or suspiciously like it was written by a robot. I share a personal story (featuring heartbreak and AI), and explain why tone matters just as much as vocabulary—especially when emotions are involved. Whether you’re writing to a teacher, a friend, or someone you almost dated, this

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16:10

Ep. 24 – (Video Episode) Revising Sentences Using...

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/06/28

This is a special video episode originally made for my online class. Access the YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/7iZtynTN0nkFull transcript and summary: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13YNKPT_WfKF1cqgkwHhwqmb2T-SvCvbWSy_J5Dp0YF4/edit?usp=sharingChatGPT conversation history: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iglnw-Qb1UIHuw57k3S0AcjJQ4NQuscuXF1CiDbGdak/edit?usp=sharing

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24:16

Ep. 23 – Money $$$ (Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is)

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/06/21

In this episode, I talk about money as it pertains to language learning. Basically, if you truly value learning, wouldn't you be willing to spend money on it? Also, I ramble about my views on money in areas such as taking care of your health, saving time and energy, and retirement.Full transcript and summary: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p43nrv8zgLffPSx4Q7FPKlB5tUZAZZMMyJZdyhOV__I/edit?usp=sharing

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16:52

Ep. 22 – Honesty (and some tangents)

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/06/15

Hey everyone—today I wanted to share some thoughts on a topic I bring up a lot in class but haven’t really explored on the podcast: honesty, especially being honest with yourself about your goals, time, and priorities when it comes to learning English—or really, anything in life. It’s a bit personal, a bit reflective, and hopefully helpful if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or unsure about what you should be doing.Transcript and Summary:

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29:26

Ep. 21 – Benefits and Shortcomings of ChatGPT (for...

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/06/10

In this episode, I talk about the benefits and shortcomings of using an LLM for not just language learning purposes but also general uses.Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Kh-WJMmVaaR6ComvsqsKGV1duITG83wUsZSGsEq02lI/edit?usp=sharingSummary: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17Qw5lU5gWnpxg2RrWEWQ7DbVei1uZJcJQBovPOIyrf8/edit?usp=sharing

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20:32

Ep. 20 – Writing Emails with ChatGPT

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/05/31

In this video I walk students in my online course through how to use ChatGPT (or other LLMs) to compose a message. Because it's a guide to using ChatGPT, I recommend checking out the video version: https://youtu.be/w0L3LtmzCL4Full Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y1-NcmRN_L6YbtsbfSgz4HwPfZEGb_Dkt5rF5UTO2Vk/edit?usp=sharing Chat History: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17ztWOH2UmR0EsOFTuln9T3P3y7fjw-KU7AH-EQI3XLw/edit?usp=sharing

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20:44

Ep. 19 – Practicing English with ChatGPT (re-recorded...

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/05/31

This is an update on a previous episode in which I talked about my experience using ChatGPT in Japan from a language learner's perspective. I recorded it for students in an online course as part of a lesson on using LLMs for language learning.Because this is a guide to using ChatGPT, I recommend watching the video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69hP9Rw1nFc Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cXtFU-A5ng2-FTlmVdc7dPYfU7xf2nzkG-w8PLk_ay8/edit?usp=sharing Chat History:

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37:07

Ep. 18 – Confidence vs. Ability

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/05/11

I ramble a bit for some reason . . . I think I was hungry.But basically, try to ask yourself this question: "Why do I feel like my English isn't good enough?"Remember that when you are in challenging and uncomfortable situations, that's your opportunity to improve.At a certain point you have to take that (uncomfortable) next step and put yourself out there. And if you do that, you will (probably . . . hopefully!) find yourself improving out of necessity. Otherwise, you can always put it off until

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15:06

Ep. 17 – Using ChatGPT "Getting a Massage" Edition

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/04/25

In this special video episode I talk about my experience using ChatGPT to help me communicate while on "vacation" in Japan. Full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QdKu4ElHDbpsazHoyXpnnfsvuYtNO7z3kwWyKdwElJg/edit?usp=sharing ChatGPT conversation history: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17UsT5sOFPmM1ha_MJcsGV2DaQ8nSQxo27b4YGE50TuA/edit?usp=sharing

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17:45

Ep. 16 – Sweat in the Gym So You Don't Bleed in the...

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/04/13

In this episode I talk about the value of preparing before entering a situation. I use my upcoming trip to Japan as an example of how language learners can use AI to not only help them learn what to say but also use it as a learning opportunity.Full Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19ChIaHEniimmNgIfeMki7kbXAM5FQZvkF7FZG7rByL8/edit?usp=sharing

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27:10

Ep. 15 – The History of the History Language

Rants, Ramblings, and Reflections from an ESL Teacher ·

2025/03/30

In this episode, I (attempt to) give an overall impression of the history of the English language. Immigration, invasion, and trade all influence the development of English. I also talk about why spelling seems so chaotic and random and I give my thoughts on the issue of standardized grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.It's important to also look at the history of your own language and learn about how it has changed over time. I think you'll find that even one or two hundred years ago the

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