A Teacher’s Guide for Live Your Dream - The Taylor Anderson Story - Teacher and Student Letters

Oct 12, 2026

Live Your Dream: The Taylor Anderson Story Teacher’s Guide presents a film-focused narrative centered on Taylor Anderson and Monty Dickson, and on young people who travel to teach and make a difference. It includes letters to students and teachers that describe the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami as an unexpected turning point, and highlights the dedication, compassion, and interviewing foundation behind the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. The guide frames learning activities as preparation for life-changing moments.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages48

Reading Time17 min

AccessFree to download

Dear Students

The story and its turning point

Dear Teachers

Teaching background and JET Program perspective

Acknowledgments

Support for the guide’s development and dissemination

A TeAcher’s Guide for Live Your Dream: The Taylor Anderson Story and stories of courage and sacrifice during the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami —A film Produced And direcTed by reGGe life— by Dr. Gary Mukai, Director Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE) Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University freemAn sPoGli insTiTuTe for inTernATionAl sTudies AT sTAnford universiTy [fsi.stanford.edu](fsi.stanford.edu) The Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI) is a university-wide research and education institution at Stanford devoted to understanding the problems, policies, and processes that cross international borders and affect lives around the world. Scholars at FSI’s research centers conduct research and teaching on such issues as nuclear proliferation, chemical and bioterrorism, democracy and the rule of law, conflict prevention and peacekeeping, international health policy and infectious diseases, and the political economy and regional dynamics of Asia. This work is conducted in collaboration with Stanford’s schools of business, earth sciences, education, engineering, humanities and sciences, law, and medicine. The Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE) is a program of FSI. SPICE serves as a bridge between FSI and K–12 schools and community colleges. Front cover photo courtesy of the Anderson Family A TeAcher’s Guide for Live Your Dream: The TaYLor anDerson sTorY —A Film Produced and Directed by Regge Life— by Dr. Gary Mukai, Director Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE) Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University © 2014 by the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Jr. University Live Your Dream: The TaYLor anDerson sTorY [www.thetaylorandersonstory.com](www.thetaylorandersonstory.com) Dear Students: This film is a story about Taylor Anderson, Monty Dickson, and all the young people who travel the world trying to make a difference. Taylor and Monty were extraordinary Americans who dedicated themselves to teaching Japanese children, living their dreams right up to the events of March 11, 2011. The earthquake and tsunami in Japan was a disaster that no one could have expected. In my 21 years of working on Japan-based projects, I had witnessed earthquakes, but never the devastation of a tsunami. Taylor’s story came to me via the Internet as stories from the areas that were affected began to be shared. I had met Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program teachers in the course of my previous film work, so I know the dedication and the hard work that goes into being an assistant English teacher, but there was something special about Taylor’s story that touched me. She had a passion and zest for the people of Ishinomaki where she was based that not all teachers feel while in Japan. I began to seek a way to reach out to Taylor’s family and share my interest. I am so humbled to have their consent to tell Taylor’s story. Sincerely, Regge Life Producer/Director ii © SPICE sTAnford ProGrAm on inTernATionAl And cross-culTurAl educATion (sPice) [spice.stanford.edu](spice.stanford.edu) Dear Teachers: In 1977, ten years prior to the establishment of the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program, I went to Ota City in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, to teach English. I have had the privilege of serving as a JET interviewer for 25 years and have given countless JET Program interviews, and feel very privileged to serve on the board of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program Alumni Association of Northern California. Through the interviews and my board responsibilities, I have had the opportunity to get to know hundreds of JET Program participants and alumni. When I watched Live Your Dream: The Taylor Anderson Story for the first time, I found myself not only reminiscing my years of teaching in Gunma P

FAQs

What is the core story presented in the teacher’s guide?

The guide centers on Taylor Anderson, Monty Dickson, and young people traveling to make a difference by teaching. It emphasizes how their dedication continues up to March 11, 2011.

How does the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami relate to the guide?

It is described as an unexpected disaster and a fundamental turning point. The letters use this event to underscore teaching, learning, and living in Japan.

What role does the JET Program play in the teacher’s letter?

The teacher’s letter highlights the importance of the JET Program and Taylor’s ability to represent the United States in Japan. It also connects the guide’s questions and activities to preparing students for major life moments.

Oct 12, 2026

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