WeCultivate is NOT a prepackaged method.
It’s an approach—an approach that puts you at the center of the process. One that doesn't focus on 'fixing' you based on arbitrary standards, but meets you where you are to make REAL progress that aligns with your individual goals and needs.
Shocking, right?
Hi there, I’m Michelle.
Let me walk you through what it’s like to work with me.
First, a visual aid to help explain what I mean.
Do keep it top of mind as you scroll down the rest of this page.
The language industry loves to pretend that language-related topics (e.g. grammar, vocabulary, etc.) are responsible for nearly all communication issues, when in real life, a person's professional communication landscape looks more like this. In a globalized world, teams don't just connect across countries, they must connect across cultures (organizational and individual), systems, and a whole host of other complicated factors that grammar-based training simply ignores.
(Bold circles: my two main training domains, but every single item you see is something that I take into consideration and discuss with my clients/trainees)
Second, I treat you like a real adult human—a client, not a child.
I expect us to be partners in your growth process.
Your motivations, not just your goals, are at the heart of everything we do. There are no cookie-cutter methods or one-size-fits-all solutions.
Together, we’ll shape an approach that works for you, tailored to your pace, your path, and what truly drives you.
But here’s the catch.
I’m not here to coddle you.
And I’m not here to let you off the hook either.
Real growth requires real effort. If you’re looking for someone to do the work for you, we won’t be a good fit.
But if you’re ready to put in the work—and have a little fun along the way—then we’re going to get along just fine.
I’ll challenge you when needed, but I’ll also support you at each step, because your success is something we build together.
Third, Fit is EVERYTHING.
No matter the discipline, working with a personal trainer is completely different from being just another number in a large class. You’re at the center of the work, but what we create together is the result of a true partnership—a collaboration of efforts from both sides.
Here’s a quick checklist for you to review to see if we’ll be a good fit:
I might be a GREAT choice for you if:
✔️ You’re looking for someone who takes a humanistic approach to work. Who knows how to be empathetic without being overly “nice.” Someone who respects the importance of two-way communication and feedback, and who sees you as a whole person, not just your latest language level, evaluation, or score.
✔️ You aren’t sure if your workplace challenges are language-related or communication skills-related. You want someone who is certified in English instructional methods but also has professional experience in your domain and/or in multicultural teams to diagnose each situation properly, so you can better target gaps in one domain or another.
✔️ You prioritize experts who aren’t just native speakers of your target language, but have also learned other languages and understand the complex constellation of multi-factorial struggles, personal and societal barriers faced by non-native speakers globally.
I will NOT be a good choice if you:
❌ Are looking for a rigid, textbook-only curriculum. This doesn’t mean I don’t use textbooks, but they won’t be our sole focus.
❌ Are hoping to do your training sessions in your native language only. This is a pedagogical choice on my part. After working with hundreds of clients/learners in my lifetime, and studying both the mind and brain from the scientific standpoint, I know the value of working fully in one’s target language. (Future post coming on this topic.)
❌ Want someone to act as a robot for you. If you believe that being “the customer” means you can dictate every aspect of the process, we won’t work well together. Our work together isn’t just a collaboration, it’s built on mutual respect and true partnership.
❌ Cannot understand that I am both Asian and American—that these are not mutually exclusive identities. Old-world, narrow-minded social constructs have no place in our workspace. If you prefer to find someone who matches your preconceived notions of what an expert should look like, then please be honest with yourself and save us both the time and energy.
❌ Prioritize your ego over personal growth. If you’re looking for someone to stroke your ego instead of helping you grow, there are plenty of other professionals online who will fit that role beautifully.
What this looks like: consistently rejecting constructive feedback because it doesn’t make you feel good, assuming you already have all the answers to our work together (and life overall), or shutting down opportunities for collaboration and self-reflection.
This is essentially what we're going for.
Photo by Vardan Papikyan on Unsplash
What Past Clients Have Had to Say...
“Michelle’s approach to English communication is very special. Previously, I worked with teachers who wanted me to learn so many terms and specific phrases. I felt like I was just wasting money. I recommend everyone try Structured Training at least once to make some focused progress.”
Maria Y, Program Assistant
“I am very grateful that somebody like Michelle found a way to take all her experiences in different professional domains and address this overlooked problem in the (language) industry. It has been very pleasant working with her. What can I say... Five stars!”
Dimitri K, Senior Manager
"I know that improving my English will be a lifelong exercise. But that means it can feel like it goes on forever. Since working with Michelle, I've made so much more progress, and I actually look forward to our classes each week!"
David L, Research Scientist (Part 1)
"The fact that I wasn’t born (in the US) has always put me in a place of insecurity compared to my native-born colleagues. I contacted Michelle to help me with my public speaking skills and e-mail communication. She gave me so much insight into what areas I have been naturally avoiding, and helped me get over the fear surrounding my imposter syndrome. I am so appreciative of her and her Swiss-army knife approach to language and communication!"
Claudia N, Policy Expert
"In three months, I have made more progress with Michelle than I have in the last 10 years. This is outstanding. Michelle has helped me see that language is more than just grammar. That was my mistake for so many years... I realize now that I don't need to try to be a native speaker in order to communicate properly."
Andrew K, Global Team Lead
"Working with Michelle in Structured Training, I can feel the difference when I talk to my colleagues each day. I have more confidence than before, and my boss has started to give me more speaking-forward projects!"
Alex T, Sales Manager
"I was completely surprised when I reached out to Michelle for assistance with my Master's degree final oral exams. She is the only online instructor I have had that thoroughly prepared and even read my work ahead of time, providing me with insightful feedback for my talk."
Joyce L, Master's Student
"I have a clear goal on why I need English. I decided to give Michelle a shot. And a year later, I can tell you that it was one of the best decisions I made in terms of my education. What is also worth mentioning, Michelle has a tech background, so she is a perfect match for someone like me, who is looking for help with tech-specific vocabulary and language issues specific to this type of industry. She also gave me a lot of tips on how to improve my writing to sound more professional at work and how to efficiently communicate in a multicultural environment."
Bart G, Software Engineer
"I have many years of experience as a programmer but I do not have a lot of experience talking about my work in front of other people. I was incredibly nervous. Michelle helped me work on my presentation and communication skills for the interview. I strongly recommend Michelle if you are a non-native person working in English, especially if you are a more technical person like me."
Matthew P, Back-end Dev
"I have been learning and practicing English with Michelle for almost two years. During these two years, I feel I have made great progress. I have become more confident in listening and speaking. In the workplace, I also become more willing to share my ideas and more fluent in my presentation."
Dixon Z, Senior Engineer
“I worked with Michelle in Conversation classes, Open Time and Structured Training. I can really feel all the progress I’ve made. Each course mode has allowed me to access different parts of my English I was not aware I was not using. I am very happy to continue with her this year!”
Will G, Marketing Specialist
"Michelle has helped me see gaps I didn't know impact my everyday communication. Especially with my colleagues from other countries. It has been a great pleasure working with Michelle and I would very strongly recommend her to anyone. In fact, I have already!"
David L, Research Scientist (Part 2)
Why Traditional Methods Generally Fail
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Language training has been stuck in a cycle for centuries: rigid, one-size-fits-all systems that don’t account for real-world needs. Traditional approaches often focus on memorization, rules, and theory—things that don’t always connect with how we use language in everyday life.
They miss the mark because they treat you as a “blank slate” rather than a unique individual with specific goals, motivations, and experiences. The same old methods assume that everyone learns the same way, at the same pace, and with the same results—something I’m sure you’ve already seen isn’t true.
Read about how the industry profits off of non-native marginalization. And what it's costing you.NEW 2025 TRAINING OPTIONS WILL BE RELEASED SOON.
IN THE MEANTIME, PLEASE GIVE ME A HEADS UP IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH ME!
AWESOME, TAKE ME TO YOUR CONTACT PAGE!
