2015 in Review, 2016 Preview

Last year was pretty good overall. Lots of progress on ongoing projects and some good foundations built for 2016. Here are some highlights:

1. Received two important prizes from Tohoku University for my work on the extensive reading program.
2. Really improved the extensive reading and discussion classes at Tohoku University. This was surprising, as I had considered them ‘finished’ and perfectly functional, but the upgrades just suggested themselves.
3. Helped write the PDR Handbook, a guide to using discussion in classes with high school and university students (expect to hear a lot more about this as we get closer to publication date in March).
4. Set up the Cambridge Academy and developed it.
5. Gave my first workshops on personal finance. Much more on this on my website RetireJapan.
6. Got my finances really sorted out.
7. Took a family trip to Koh Samui (probably the last chance for us to get everyone together in one place).

My main goal for 2016 is to regain some work/life balance. I want to establish healthy sleeping, eating, and exercise habits. I want to schedule leisure and family time as well as work. I want to turn down most opportunities (even the ones I would have said yes to six months ago). I am mainly going to focus on:

1. Developing my classes at Tohoku University. We have some new ‘advanced’ classes that are going to be interesting to experiment with. Most exciting for me is that I am going to run some classes for second years teaching personal finance in English.
2. Write the 2nd edition of the ER@TU Handbook. Hoping to have this done by March. It is very overdue.
3. Launch and develop a new website for teachers and learners of English called PELLT (Practical English Language Learning and Teaching). More on that once we have something to share.
4. Learn how to use Camtasia and produce short videos for teachers and learners.
5. Continue to develop the Cambridge Academy. I’ll have a post on the first year soon.
6. Continue to develop RetireJapan. I am hoping to write some ebooks for the site this year.

With some luck and help from my friends (Dan E. in particular) I hope to get at least one of those done this year 😉

What does your 2016 look like?