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Johanna Kawasaki
After backpacking Australia on a Working Holiday visa, Bridge graduate Johanna traveled to Japan for a year to teach English. She then moved to New Zealand for another two years before returning to her chosen home country, Japan, where she currently lives. Now, with more than eight years of professional English teaching experience, Johanna enjoys her expat life in Japan teaching teenagers at a private junior and senior high school, where she recently received tenure after only two years. When she’s not teaching, Johanna continues to travel regionally and explore new places.
Posts by Johanna
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August 7, 2023
5 Popular ESL Teaching Methods Every Teacher Should Know
Check out these 5 popular ESL teaching methods, including communicative language teaching (CLT) and total physical response (TPR), to stay up to date on the latest English teaching trends and... -
July 7, 2022
How to Teach ESL Pronunciation and Phonics
Teaching ESL pronunciation can be challenging, but with the right tools, you can set your students up for success – and even fun! Learn the essential phonics terms, get tips... -
March 15, 2022
What Achievements Can My Digital Badges Showcase to Employers?
Bridge digital badges provide employers with an easy way to get the full picture of your TEFL/TESOL achievements with just a click. But what specific accomplishments can your badges showcase? -
September 8, 2021
Using Drama as an ESL Teaching Method
Using drama as an ESL teaching method is a fun way to engage your English language students, get them up and moving, and build their confidence with the language. -
August 25, 2021
10 ESL Warm-Up Activities for Every Age
These ESL warm-up activities for young learners, teens, and adults will get your students into a learning mindset and prepare them for their upcoming lesson. Use them when teaching English... -
July 23, 2021
Empower Your Students With Inquiry-Based Learning
Inquiry-based learning, also known as exploratory or active learning, is a teaching method that motivates and engages your students. Find out when and how to use inquiry-based learning in the... -
April 6, 2021
What Is Task-Based Learning? A Guide to the Popular Teaching Method
Find out the answer to "What is task-based learning?" and discover why this ESL teaching method is effective. Plus, get task-based lesson plans that you can use in your virtual... -
February 3, 2021
How to Teach Participial Adjectives to ESL Students
Learn the ins and outs of teaching participial adjectives to ESL students with these tips, rules, and examples. We've also included a table of the most commonly used participial adjectives,... -
January 13, 2021
Top Tips for Creating Materials for the EFL Classroom
Find out how adapting or creating materials for the EFL classroom can help keep your students motivated and learning. Read these top tips for creating materials, like tests, games, and... -
December 24, 2020
What Is Blended Learning in ESL and How Can I Implement It in the Online Class?
Whether you're teaching English online with an established tutoring company or working as a freelance online teacher, it's important to have an understanding of blended learning in ESL, which is... -
December 11, 2020
Keep Your Eyes on the Prize: Using Objectives in ESL Lesson Planning
Writing objectives in ESL lesson planning is essential if you want to deliver an effective and engaging lesson. We'll teach you exactly how to incorporate ESL learning objectives into your... -
November 13, 2020
Advantages of Non-Native English Speaking Teachers in the TEFL Classroom
German-born English instructor, Johanna, currently teaching in Japan, highlights some of the unique knowledge and skills that multilingual teachers bring to the ESL/EFL classroom. -
September 25, 2020
TEFL/TESOL Buzzwords to Help You Ace Your Next Job Interview
How prepared do you feel for your next TEFL/TESOL job interview? Being able to comfortably use some common TEFL/TESOL buzzwords during the interview can help demonstrate your training and professionalism... -
September 9, 2020
How Should You Handle Taboos When Teaching English?
Whether you're teaching online or in the classroom, there will be times when inappropriate topics or behavior come up. Should you ignore these taboos, discuss them, or educate your students... -
August 20, 2020
The Dos & Don’ts of Error Correction When Teaching English
While when and how to correct errors when teaching English mainly depends on whether your lesson objective is fluency or accuracy, there are some key factors to consider when it... -
July 24, 2020
English as a Global Language – The Case for Teaching Different Accents and Dialects
English is a global language used not just by native speakers, but as a lingua franca between speakers of other languages worldwide. Here's how you can teach a variety of... -
July 8, 2020
What Is TPR for Teaching English and How Can I Use It?
Total Physical Response, or TPR, is an ESL teaching technique based on the way children first learn to speak their native tongue. Learn how to incorporate this highly effective strategy... -
May 29, 2020
How to Keep Online Students Motivated When Teaching ESL
One of the most difficult things to achieve while teaching English online is reaching the same levels of engagement you reach while teaching live in the classroom. Use this 10-strategy-checklist in... -
April 17, 2020
Transitioning My Classes Online: Tips I’ve Learned From My TEFL/TESOL Course
Johanna, an experienced English teacher in Japan, shares terminology, techniques and tips she's learned from her Teaching English Online TEFL/TESOL course as she transitions her students to the virtual classroom. -
April 8, 2020
Using Props to Teach English Online
Props are a great way to enhance the learning experience for teachers and their students alike. As global teachers are increasingly switching to teaching English online, we are here to...