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I was scrolling through Instagram the other day when I ran into one of those "how-to" ads for Eiken. You know the ones. This woman pops up on screen—bold enough to show her face, I’ll give her that—claiming she breezed through Eiken Grade Pre-1 and Grade 1 in just six months.

Then came another one that really got under my skin: "Help your elementary schooler jump from Grade 5 to Grade 3 in a single year!"

Look, I’m not saying these things are 100% impossible. But let’s be real—they are so misleading. They make it sound like anyone can do it if they just buy the right book or follow the right "secret" method. To me, it just sounds like the "munching" sounds of people preying on desperate parents. It’s a bit predatory, isn't it?

But honestly, what infuriates me the most is how they always brag about how they did it. Come on! Just because you happened to pull it off, that doesn't mean everyone can expect the same outcome just by following your "genius" method.

I get it, though. When people see these kinds of ads, they panic. They feel rushed, like they’re falling behind, and they end up chasing these shortcuts. But rushing only leaves you with a shallow understanding of the language.

I’d honestly love to never see those stupid ads again, but I’m sure they’ll keep popping up to get on my nerves. Ugh. At the end of the day, in the long run, skills built on discipline and hard work are the most reliable.

This morning, I was putting together an online exercise to help my students prep for the Eiken Grade Pre-1 writing section. I decided to add a specific phrase to their "useful expressions" list: "ethical consumption."

The topic was from a 2023 past paper:
"Should companies be required to produce goods that are easy to recycle?"

I immediately thought that if I were still a teenager, I’d definitely write a big "YES!" essay. I'd probably totally ignore the fact that corporate profits might take a hit if recycling laws got stricter. I’d just claim that companies have a social responsibility to align with their customers' ethical values.

But as an adult—and as a studio owner who struggles to make ends meet every month—I know that things aren't always rainbows and butterflies. Businesses sometimes have to make tough calls just to stay afloat. I'm so relieved I haven't faced a real ethical dilemma yet; I’d hate to make a choice that goes against my values!

Anyway, my point is: while it would be easy for me as an adult to argue the negative side, I want to help young people express their pure sense of justice. I want to give them the building blocks—the right words and phrases—to write a strong affirmative essay for the world they want to see.

And that’s how "ethical consumption" made the cut. Here’s the sample sentence I made:

So, have you ever felt stuck between harsh reality and your beautiful ideals? If you have, then it must have been a tough place to be, wasn't it?