Coffee, Cats & Conversation ☕️ Kate Billington’s 900-Day Streak in Taiwan [991]

Living in Taiwan for two and a half years, English teacher Kate Billington shares insights on navigating a new culture, mastering languages, and maintaining professional pursuits. Teaching at a French school in Taipei, she contrasts the high safety and efficient public transport of Taiwan with her previous experiences in Paris. Language acquisition requires a tailored approach; she advocates for spaced repetition tools like Skritter to master complex Chinese characters and emphasizes integrating target languages into daily hobbies like gaming or music. Beyond her teaching career, she performs stand-up comedy and maintains a dedicated routine of daily language practice. The discussion highlights the value of cultural immersion, the nuances of local etiquette, and the importance of practical, context-driven communication over the rote memorization of obscure vocabulary.