10 books to help self-employed English teachers in Japan

The Bulletin (Issue 33)

Ho, ho, ho, ’tis the season to promote other folks’ books instead of my own for a change. So, I thought I’d mention 10 good ones I’ve read recently that really changed things for my eikaiwa, they might help you too. You’ll see that most are business-related, I’m afraid. That’s for the following reasons:

1. I’ve yet to read an engaging book about the methods of teaching English in Japan¹, with the possible exception of Carl Brotherstone’s memoir below, and...

2. To succeed as a self-employed teacher, I had to really up my game on how to run a business, get to grips with my finances, improve my thinking (for lessons) and art skills (for illustrating my own books) and the books below helped me with all that.

3. We’re all engaged in the business of life, might as well seek guidance from others with more knowledge, doncha think?

Each link is to a review I’ve posted, not a place to buy them, so feel free to click away to find out more without the need to spend any money, should you decide your stocking is plenty full.

• How to Take Smart Notes by Sönke Ahrens.

• The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett

• Lifer: How To Be A Bald Middle-Aged English Conversation Teacher In Japan by Carl Brotherstone

• The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco

• The E Myth Revisited Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber

• Millionaire Teacher by Andrew Hallam

• The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

• The No B.S. Direct Marketing: The Ultimate No Holds Barred Kick Butt Take No Prisoners Direct Marketing for Non-Direct Marketing Businesses by Dan Kennedy

• Hit Makers by Derek Thompson

• Drawing for Beginners: Simple Techniques for Learning How to Draw by David Sanmiguel

Any there that you like the look of? What books would you recommend I read to improve my teaching or what I do here at Free Talk TEFL?

See you on Friday.

All the best,

Patrick

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1. There may be some out there, but I think there’s a gap in the market that, ahem, yours truly could fill by writing and publishing a how-to book, possibly in 2024?