What Teaching English Has Taught Me: People, Culture, and Diplomacy

Over the last four years, I've had the privilege of teaching English to people from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds. What started as a job has evolved into something much deeper. It’s become a platform for learning about human behavior, culture, and what truly motivates people.

As someone passionate about international relations, teaching has given me a unique way to connect with global perspectives. My students’ experiences provide me with firsthand insights into the challenges they face in their countries—something that no book or article could ever fully capture.

But balancing my teaching career, running my business, Your English with Anna with Anna (YEA), and pursuing my interest in diplomacy has been quite the journey. Each of these areas requires intense focus, yet the intersection of teaching and global awareness keeps pushing me forward. YEA has become a space where language learning goes hand-in-hand with exploring world issues, bridging the gap between cultures and ideas.

Just yesterday, I had one of those eye-opening moments in class. I was discussing the Eisenhower Matrix with one of my students, an Israeli soldier. We were talking about prioritization when he asked me what "consequences" meant. He then explained how the Israeli army had recently killed most Hezbollah leaders, which had left them without anyone to negotiate with—“because they’re dead,” as he put it bluntly. It was a powerful reminder of how real-world actions carry unintended consequences, much more than any theory can explain.

That conversation stuck with me. It’s moments like this that make me realize teaching is a two-way street. While I help students navigate language, they share their lived experiences, giving me invaluable perspectives on global affairs. Each lesson is a chance to build understanding, not just of language, but of the world we live in.

At YEA, I aim to create these meaningful connections. Teaching English is not just about learning grammar or vocabulary—it’s about fostering understanding across cultures, exploring the ripple effects of our actions, and building bridges in an increasingly complex world.

Every conversation I have with my students reminds me why I love this work. It's not just about teaching English; it’s about understanding people, their stories, and how we can grow together.