Paul Rackemann 

About Me

My approach to language teaching combines academic knowledge, practical language-learning experience, and many years of cross-cultural experience.

I have an academic background in linguistics, but I have also experienced what it is like to learn a foreign language myself — both formally at university and through living in Taiwan, where I had to use another language to communicate in the real world. These experiences have strongly influenced the way I teach. I believe the classroom should not simply teach students about English; it should reflect how communication actually happens in the real world.

I have been teaching languages for over 20 years and have taught Mandarin at Griffith University, Bond University, and The University of Queensland. Since 2021, I have also successfully run online language and cross-cultural communication courses, helping students develop practical language and communication skills.

Over the years, I have also developed strong connections with Asian communities in Australia. Through living in Asia, learning languages, and working closely with Asian communities in Australia, I have acted as a cultural bridge between Australia and Asia. This has given me an understanding not only of differences in language, but also of differences in ways of thinking, communication styles, social interaction, and cultural expectations.

I have also been invited to Wuhan University in China to speak about my teaching methodology and the Natural Approach, and have published academic work on this approach.

In addition, my academic background includes psychology and criminology, which also informs my cross-cultural courses. For people preparing to live, study, work, or migrate to Australia, adapting to a new country requires more than simply speaking English. It also requires an understanding of Australian culture, social interaction, everyday life, and safety awareness.

My goal, therefore, is not simply to teach English. It is to help bridge the gap between two cultures and give students the language skills, communication skills, and cultural understanding they need to live, work, study, and build meaningful relationships in Australia.

My Connection with Taiwan

My connection with Taiwan actually began through my passion for Chinese martial arts.

From a young age, I had a strong interest in Chinese martial arts, and eventually decided to follow my dream of travelling to Taiwan to study Wing Chun. While in Taiwan, I had the opportunity to train under Ip Man’s nephew, developing a teacher-student relationship that has now continued for more than 20 years. I trained with him for over a decade, and to this day, whenever I have the opportunity, I still return to visit him.

It was this martial arts journey that originally brought me to Taiwan, but ultimately it gave me far more than martial arts. Living and training there allowed me to become immersed in Taiwanese society and gave me a genuine need to learn Mandarin Chinese. I wasn't simply learning a language in a classroom — I had to actually use Mandarin to communicate with people, build relationships, and participate in everyday life.

This experience also had a profound influence on the way I later came to understand language learning and cross-cultural communication. I experienced firsthand that learning another language is not simply about learning vocabulary and grammar. It is also about entering another culture, understanding its people, and learning to see the world from a different perspective.