Masako Takao

Teacher

Masako Takao

Teacher

About
Masako Takao

Masako discovered her passion for language learning during a year-long homestay in the Midwest U.S. as a high school student, where her English skills dramatically improved. That experience taught her that even without perfect fluency, language can foster deep, genuine connections.
She has worked in a variety of roles, including as a corporate tour guide, where she developed a knack for engaging storytelling, and in advertising and technical writing, which deepened her appreciation for precise and expressive Japanese. From 2015 to 2016, Masako lived in Berkeley, California with her two children. Her exposure to ESL classes and diverse cultural communities during that time inspired her to become a Japanese teacher after returning to Japan.

About
Masako Takao

Masako discovered her passion for language learning during a year-long homestay in the Midwest U.S. as a high school student, where her English skills dramatically improved. That experience taught her that even without perfect fluency, language can foster deep, genuine connections.
She has worked in a variety of roles, including as a corporate tour guide, where she developed a knack for engaging storytelling, and in advertising and technical writing, which deepened her appreciation for precise and expressive Japanese. From 2015 to 2016, Masako lived in Berkeley, California with her two children. Her exposure to ESL classes and diverse cultural communities during that time inspired her to become a Japanese teacher after returning to Japan.

Teaching Experience/Certifications
Feature
Award

Certifications:

  • Passed the Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test

  • TOEIC 905

  • Passed the Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test

  • TOEIC 905

  • Passed the Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test

  • TOEIC 905

Teaching Philosophy

My motto is to make lessons cheerful, enjoyable, and energizing. I focus on creating a relaxed, supportive space where students feel safe speaking up.
Iโ€™ve received praise for my clear grammar explanationsโ€”but I always adjust the depth and tone to suit the learner. For those who want to dig deep, Iโ€™m ready to explain thoroughly. For those who prefer a more laid-back approach, I keep things light and easy.

My motto is to make lessons cheerful, enjoyable, and energizing. I focus on creating a relaxed, supportive space where students feel safe speaking up.
Iโ€™ve received praise for my clear grammar explanationsโ€”but I always adjust the depth and tone to suit the learner. For those who want to dig deep, Iโ€™m ready to explain thoroughly. For those who prefer a more laid-back approach, I keep things light and easy.

My motto is to make lessons cheerful, enjoyable, and energizing. I focus on creating a relaxed, supportive space where students feel safe speaking up.
Iโ€™ve received praise for my clear grammar explanationsโ€”but I always adjust the depth and tone to suit the learner. For those who want to dig deep, Iโ€™m ready to explain thoroughly. For those who prefer a more laid-back approach, I keep things light and easy.

Personality
Hobbies

Books & Reading: I love bookstores and buying books (even if I canโ€™t keep up with reading them!)

Movies & Dramas: I enjoy quiet dramas and comedies more than flashy action movies

Cafรฉs & Coffee: Always on the hunt for great cafรฉs where I can enjoy time alone

Art & Museums: Favorites include Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, and 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa; I especially love contemporary art

Noh Theater: Recently obsessed! I attend performances three times a month. I love the minimalist staging and the intense interpretive role it demands from the audience

Language Learning: Currently studying Korean on Duolingo; also dabbled in German, French, Chinese, and interested in Vietnamese

Others: Taichi (studied for two years), flute (on pause), weight training (Chocozap member butโ€ฆ irregular!), selling unread books on Mercari (which motivates her to read them!)

Books & Reading: I love bookstores and buying books (even if I canโ€™t keep up with reading them!)

Movies & Dramas: I enjoy quiet dramas and comedies more than flashy action movies

Cafรฉs & Coffee: Always on the hunt for great cafรฉs where I can enjoy time alone

Art & Museums: Favorites include Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, and 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa; I especially love contemporary art

Noh Theater: Recently obsessed! I attend performances three times a month. I love the minimalist staging and the intense interpretive role it demands from the audience

Language Learning: Currently studying Korean on Duolingo; also dabbled in German, French, Chinese, and interested in Vietnamese

Others: Taichi (studied for two years), flute (on pause), weight training (Chocozap member butโ€ฆ irregular!), selling unread books on Mercari (which motivates her to read them!)

Books & Reading: I love bookstores and buying books (even if I canโ€™t keep up with reading them!)

Movies & Dramas: I enjoy quiet dramas and comedies more than flashy action movies

Cafรฉs & Coffee: Always on the hunt for great cafรฉs where I can enjoy time alone

Art & Museums: Favorites include Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, and 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa; I especially love contemporary art

Noh Theater: Recently obsessed! I attend performances three times a month. I love the minimalist staging and the intense interpretive role it demands from the audience

Language Learning: Currently studying Korean on Duolingo; also dabbled in German, French, Chinese, and interested in Vietnamese

Others: Taichi (studied for two years), flute (on pause), weight training (Chocozap member butโ€ฆ irregular!), selling unread books on Mercari (which motivates her to read them!)

Best movies/anime/manga/games

Films
The Sound of Music
Les Uns et les Autres
Ping Pong
THE FIRST SLAM DUNK
Ghost in the Shell

Anime

Anne of Green Gables (directed by Isao Takahata)

Manga
BLUE GIANT
Space Brothers
Golden Kamuy
7SEEDS
ลŒoku: The Inner Chambers

Games
Sudoku

Films
The Sound of Music
Les Uns et les Autres
Ping Pong
THE FIRST SLAM DUNK
Ghost in the Shell

Anime

Anne of Green Gables (directed by Isao Takahata)

Manga
BLUE GIANT
Space Brothers
Golden Kamuy
7SEEDS
ลŒoku: The Inner Chambers

Games
Sudoku

Films
The Sound of Music
Les Uns et les Autres
Ping Pong
THE FIRST SLAM DUNK
Ghost in the Shell

Anime

Anne of Green Gables (directed by Isao Takahata)

Manga
BLUE GIANT
Space Brothers
Golden Kamuy
7SEEDS
ลŒoku: The Inner Chambers

Games
Sudoku

Favorite conversation topics

Sleep: Iโ€™m experimenting with ways to boost my sleep score on my smartwatch!

Feminism: As a woman and a parent to two daughters, I often reflect on gender issues and the structure of society.

Sleep: Iโ€™m experimenting with ways to boost my sleep score on my smartwatch!

Feminism: As a woman and a parent to two daughters, I often reflect on gender issues and the structure of society.

Sleep: Iโ€™m experimenting with ways to boost my sleep score on my smartwatch!

Feminism: As a woman and a parent to two daughters, I often reflect on gender issues and the structure of society.

I've been to

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Canada

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง United Kingdom

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Germany

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ญ Switzerland

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italy

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡น Austria

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ China (Shanghai)

๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ฐ Hong Kong

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ผ Taiwan

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡พ Malaysia

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฌ Singapore

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Canada

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง United Kingdom

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Germany

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ญ Switzerland

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italy

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡น Austria

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ China (Shanghai)

๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ฐ Hong Kong

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ผ Taiwan

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡พ Malaysia

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฌ Singapore

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Canada

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง United Kingdom

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Germany

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ญ Switzerland

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italy

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡น Austria

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ China (Shanghai)

๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ฐ Hong Kong

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ผ Taiwan

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡พ Malaysia

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฌ Singapore