Keiko

I am a Japanese linguist who was trained as a cultural anthropologist (PhD in Anthropology from Washington State University), worked as a translator and interpreter (DPSI Level 6 interpreter) from home until my children became teenagers, and is now leaning more and more towards Japanese teaching since obtaining my Teaching Japanese as Foreign Language certificate in 2017. I enjoy communicating with students who have an interest in Japanese culture such as anime, business, tourism, technology, fashion etc. The best part of teaching for me is when my students make a connection between the lesson and their personal interest, eg. understanding something new about their favourite anime.

Tutoring Experience

I am trained as a cultural anthropologist. Around from 2015, I started language tutoring which increased over time and overtook my translation work in 2019. I specialize in teaching Japanese at beginner and intermediate level to English speakers. Many of my students have been with me for more than two years (a few for more than five years).

Tutoring Approach

Due to the individual tutoring environment, I am able to adjust to each individual's needs, ability and interests. Having several years of experience, I am now even able to sense the student's mood on the day and adapt the lesson accordingly. The key to acquiring a new language is to have the passion to achieve your goal. The goal can be anything: wanting to travel in Japan, to work in Japan, to watch anime, or even to have a Japanese girlfriend/boyfriend! My role is to understand each student’s goal and cater to his/her needs. In this way, you will learn the language with interest. Language acquisition should not be torturous and I aim to make it a pleasant experience for you.