Real Exam English - B2, C1, C2 Xing - Tokyo
Dec 16, 2025
An English teacher from China living in Tokyo shares her intriguing insights on how language shapes personality. She contrasts English learning experiences in China and Japan, highlighting the rise of English due to tourism. Xing discusses the unique pronunciation challenges faced by learners and the pros and cons of being a non-native teacher, including empathy and perfectionism. She also delves into how podcasts and reading have aided her learning, and explains the nuanced uses of the verb 'get,' all while emphasizing the power of spontaneity.
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English Demand Varies By Context
- English importance differs by city and country due to jobs and tourism driving demand.
- Xing notes Shanghai employers often require English while Japan's rise links to tourism and international business.
Culture Shapes Speaking Confidence
- Cultural norms affect willingness to speak and make mistakes in English.
- Xing explains Japanese learners often feel embarrassed due to culture and missing sounds like R, V, TH.
Summer Camp Sparked Her Path
- At 16 Xing went to Australia for a summer camp and realized speaking mattered.
- That experience became her turning point and led her to study in the US and UK for six years.