ABOUT ME
Hello, my name is Brandon. You can call me Teacher Kelly, if you like.
BACKGROUND
I am a native of Texas. I lived in the DFW area for 32 years. I went to the Art Institute of Dallas to learn how to become a graphic designer and spent about eight years in the corporate world working for a company. I was not satisfied in the corporate environment because I sensed that I was not really helping anyone. My new feeling drove me to expand my horizons. I visited Taiwan for the first time in 2005. I loved the feeling I had when I first touched the ground. Since then, I knew that I had to come back to teach English. I returned to school, earned a bachelor degree in education with a certificate in English as a Second Language, and I started teaching. Now, I have been in Taiwan for six years, where I have experienced a great deal of growth personally and spiritually.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
I have taught in Taiwanese private schools for five years. I have experience teaching adults, high school students, and middle school students. I like to make learning fun by playing games, laughing, and reminding students that the point of communication is not saying things perfectly. I help students to build confidence in themselves by reminding them it is OK to make mistakes and mistakes are good things. I specialize in students that range from middle school to adult.
TEACHING STYLE AND PHILOSOPHY
My style of teaching is very laid back and open. My class is meant to be stress-free and a safe environment to practice English without fear. I like to be interactive by asking students to participate in discussion, by asking students to answer questions, and by giving students every opportunity to speak. I like to use Chinese to supplement the class if I need it to explain a concept that should already be known. I like to show the differences and similarities in cultures. Most important of all, I like to do what the students find to be actually useful. If you need help with writing and you find that to be useful, I will help. If you need help with pronunciation, I will help. If you find it most useful to say anything in English, then I will do that, too. The best thing I can be to a student is useful!
I believe that communication is successful when meaning is understood. Language does not have to be perfect. The most important thing about learning is making mistakes. No one should be afraid to make mistakes because they are learning opportunities. Learning is like holding a mirror to ourselves. Most people see fear and self-doubt, but the real learner sees more: an opportunity to succeed. It is a teacher’s job to help the student face their fears and win. Humans are always looking for greatness in other humans. A teacher helps a student to see the power in themselves.
SPIRITUALITY AND SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE
I have been a spiritual person for a long time, always trying to find the path for enlightenment and maintaining a movement toward that goal. I feel it is my place in the world to help people. I do not hold myself higher than anyone or anything. We are all together. We are all learning, and we are all moving to the final point. My intention is to build upon love, to help where I can for everyone's highest good and potential. After a time in Christianity, Gnosticism, and then leaving religion all together, I finally feel that I have found my path in life.
Everything is energy, and because of that, we are all one. Instead of finding differences with people, we should be motivated to find the similarities. This builds love. Please join me in this attempt to bring everyone on Earth together to grow with each other.
I am also a spiritual guide. I like to meditate and practice mindfulness and humility. I feel I have reached a point in life where I am comfortable with the reason I am on Earth, how life works, and how to live each day at a time. I respect everyone and everything first. I can guide you in dealing with parts of yourself or your life that are difficult to understand. I practice Reiki (靈氣, 霊気), a Japanese form of energy healing that is similar to QiGong (氣功). I can help you to help yourself. This can be done in person or from a distance. If you want to know more, click here.