Mindset and My Mistakes for Japanese Teachers Starting Inbound Cooking Classes
Mindset and My Mistakes for Japanese Teachers Starting Inbound Cooking Classes
Japanese Cuisine Classes – Tomo Akutsu
🌟 Excitement Check!
Ask yourself:
– Would I be excited to communicate with people from overseas?
– Do I want to laugh, cry, and enjoy moments with people across borders?
– Would I feel excited if I could contribute to the world with my skills?
5 Key Mindsets for Starting Inbound Cooking Classes
① You don’t need perfect English
❌ “I can’t speak English, so I can’t do it…”
✅ “As long as I find creative ways to communicate, I can totally do it!”
🔹 What matters is your communication skills, not fluent English
🔹 Short, simple phrases work well (e.g., “Mix this.” / “Cut like this.”)
🔹 Gestures, demonstrations, and illustrations can get the message across
🔹 Your English will naturally improve through real interactions with foreigners
🔹 Ask them to teach you too—it’s okay!
② Understand and enjoy cultural differences
❌ “It’s stressful when Japanese norms don’t apply…”
✅ “Let’s enjoy discovering cultural differences!”
🔹 Visitors are here to learn about Japanese culture—they’re open to it
🔹 Ask what surprised them the most about Japan vs. their home country
🔹 Adopt a mindset of curiosity and discovery rather than frustration
💡 Tip: Whether you find differences “annoying” or “interesting” changes your level of excitement! Feel like you’re traveling to their country too.
③ Provide an experience—not just a lesson
❌ “They must follow the recipe exactly!”
✅ “What matters is creating joyful memories together!”
🔹 A cooking class = part of the entertainment experience
🔹 Value the time spent together more than perfect results
🔹 Let go of “It must be perfect” and “No mistakes allowed” mindset
Example: When chopping ingredients, say: “It’s OK! Just enjoy!”
If the shape is messy, say: “This is your original style!”
💡 Tip: For foreign guests, fun matters more than perfection!
④ Don’t fear mistakes—just start!
❌ “I won’t begin until I’m fully prepared.”
✅ “Take the first step—then learn as you go!”
🔹 Mistakes = opportunities to grow
🔹 No matter how much you prepare, it’s normal to have hiccups at first
🔹 If you make a mistake, just improve and try again!
💡 Tip: You won’t know until you try—experience is the fastest path to success!
⑤ Create a class only you can offer
❌ “I’m not as good as those amazing teachers…”
✅ “I’ll make the most of my own strengths!”
🔹 You don’t need to be fluent in English
→ Just being Japanese is already a strength when teaching Japanese home cooking
🔹 Use your uniqueness and what you’re good at
Examples:
– Share family recipes passed down generations
– Even a super simple recipe can be delicious
– Present something uniquely Japanese in form and spirit
💡 Tip: The biggest differentiator is creating a class only you can teach
Your character, strengths, and presentation style matter!
🧠 Summary of the 5 Mindsets
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You don’t need perfect English
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Understand and enjoy cultural differences
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Provide an experience, not just instruction
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Don’t fear mistakes—just start!
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Create a class only you can offer
✨ Questions or Reflections?
We’d love to hear your thoughts!