Real Stories: How I Helped (or Didn’t) – A No-BS Look at English Coaching in Korea
- Ryan
- Mar 18
- 2 min read
For the past two years, I’ve worked with business professionals, students, athletes, and researchers across South Korea, and before running my own business, I worked in public schools at the middle school, high school, and university levels, crafting my coaching skills. helping them improve their English. Some have thrived, others have struggled, and a few never made it past the first session. This blog series is about all of it—the successes, the failures, and the reality of learning English.
Too often, we only hear polished success stories—"Look at this person who improved from zero to fluent in six months!" But that’s not real. Real learning takes time, effort, and, most importantly, the right approach for each individual.
I always preach following your passion or, if you don’t have one, following your curiosity. Many Koreans feel a duty to be lifelong learners, and that’s great—but motivation needs fuel. Use the carrot and the stick if you have to. Do whatever it takes to keep moving forward.
In a perfect world, I’d work with students for three months and have them refer new learners. The ultimate goal for me is like that of a great psychologist who gets "fired" for the right reasons. I hope to equip people to become autonomous learners—capable of acquiring English through their own habits, life experiences, and journey. at this person who improved from zero to fluent in six months!"
But that’s not real. Real learning takes time, effort, and, most importantly, the right approach for each individual.
Why This Series?
To document real journeys—not just highlight reels.
To share lessons learned—both from my students and myself.
To create transparency—so people know what works, what doesn’t, and why.
To invite more stories—if I’ve helped you (or not), I want to hear your side.
What to Expect
Each post will be about a real person I’ve worked with, sharing:
Their background & English struggles
What we worked on together
Their progress (or lack of it)
What I learned from coaching them
Some stories will be inspiring, others will be messy—but all of them will be honest.
A Call to Action: Share Your Experience!
If I’ve worked with you in any capacity, I’d love for you to share your story in English or Korean—either as a written blog or a video blog about your journey and your level.
You can:
Write your own post, and I’ll publish it.
Send me your thoughts, and I’ll write it for you.
Record a short video sharing your experience.
Let me feature a quick insight from you in a future post.
You can stay anonymous or use your real name—it’s up to you. The goal is simple: real stories, real experiences, no fluff.
Coming Next: https://www.positiveenglishcoaching.com/post/learning-english-through-judo-everyday-lifeThe first post in this series will cover [tease first story, e.g., "a Judo instructor who wanted to teach in English but struggled with basic commands"]. Stay tuned!
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