The authors, all experts on learning strategies, come from or have worked in a range of locations in East Asia: Japan, Korea, the People's Republic of China, and the Republic of China (Taiwan). By means of personal narratives, they examine the cultural, personal, and logistical issues involved in learning foreign languages in the East Asian context. They also identify ways in which learning strategies can help East Asian students overcome challenges in developing foreign language skills. Using a grounded theory approach, the essays were analyzed by means of open, axial, and selective coding, producing six central themes which were then combined into an overarching theme. These themes are exemplified and discussed using material from the experts' own narratives before the article concludes by highlighting the main issues. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.