Chapter 7. When Personal Becomes Pedagogical: Integrating Lived Experience Into Teaching Practice
Sumire (Sandy) Hayashi
Abstract
This chapter shows how the author has integrated her life stories into her teaching and how they have reached her students’ hearts and minds. The author first provides an example lesson through an explanation of her lesson plan and students’ reactions. Then, the chapter gives some suggestions on how other teachers could integrate their own life stories into their teaching. The suggestions include a step-by-step lesson planning guide and concrete tips on conducting the lesson. The chapter concludes that integrating lived experience into teaching practice recognizes the teacher and the student as a whole person, and this transforms learning into a personal and human experience.
About the author
Sumire (Sandy) Hayashi 林菫 grounds her teaching practice in her multicultural background and interdisciplinary training. She teaches English using a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach, combining language learning and content subject learning. The content topics include disciplines such as design thinking, information literacy, history, and psychology. Born in Taiwan and raised in Japan and Taiwan, she obtained a BA in art history from Santa Clara University and an MA in art history from the University of Chicago, and an MA in TESOL from Sophia University.
Citation
Hayashi, S. (2026). When personal becomes pedagogical: Integrating lived experience into teaching practice. In A. Minematsu, R. Ikeda, & M. Yazaki (Eds.), Beyond kikokushijo: Teaching English in Japan after growing up between languages and cultures (pp. 147–172). Candlin & Mynard. https://doi.org/10.47908/47/7
This chapter shows how the author has integrated her life stories into her teaching and how they have reached her students’ hearts and minds. The author first provides an example lesson through an explanation of her lesson plan and students’ reactions. Then, the chapter gives some suggestions on how other teachers could integrate their own life stories into their teaching. The suggestions include a step-by-step lesson planning guide and concrete tips on conducting the lesson. The chapter concludes that integrating lived experience into teaching practice recognizes the teacher and the student as a whole person, and this transforms learning into a personal and human experience.
About the author
Sumire (Sandy) Hayashi 林菫 grounds her teaching practice in her multicultural background and interdisciplinary training. She teaches English using a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach, combining language learning and content subject learning. The content topics include disciplines such as design thinking, information literacy, history, and psychology. Born in Taiwan and raised in Japan and Taiwan, she obtained a BA in art history from Santa Clara University and an MA in art history from the University of Chicago, and an MA in TESOL from Sophia University.
Citation
Hayashi, S. (2026). When personal becomes pedagogical: Integrating lived experience into teaching practice. In A. Minematsu, R. Ikeda, & M. Yazaki (Eds.), Beyond kikokushijo: Teaching English in Japan after growing up between languages and cultures (pp. 147–172). Candlin & Mynard. https://doi.org/10.47908/47/7
Information About the Book
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Title: Beyond Kikokushijo: Teaching English in Japan After Growing Up Between Languages and Cultures
Editors: Edited by Aiko Minematsu, Risa Ikeda, and Maki Yazaki Publication date: September 20th, 2026 Read more...Read more... |