Certifications:
Japanese Language Teacher Training Course (420 hours above)
Passed the Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test
TOEIC 950
I aim to support each student’s journey by adapting to their goals, interests, and learning styles so they can continue learning with confidence and enjoyment. While we practice the basics thoroughly, I also help students talk about themselves and express their ideas. I use as little English as possible and keep the lessons mostly in Japanese. I always do my best to explain grammar and vocabulary clearly and respond to students’ questions with care.
Hobbies
Sewing, piano, choir, watching musicals, studying languages (Polish, English, beginner Russian), traveling, camping, beginner birdwatching, visiting museums and historical sites, listening to Coten Radio, cheering for the SoftBank Hawks
Best movies/anime/manga/games
Films
3 Idiots
The Intern
The Sound of Music
My Neighbor Totoro
Kurosawa films (not all, but many!)
Books
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Pride and Prejudice (I love both the book and the BBC drama) by Jane Austen
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Language learning essays
High-quality picture books
I read widely depending on my interests at the time
Manga
Piyo-chan, a 4-panel manga from the Nishinippon Shimbun (West Japan Newspaper)
(Not recent, but I used to love: Candy Candy, The Rose of Versailles, and works by Osamu Tezuka)
Favorite conversation topics
Parenting & Education:
I have two children who previously struggled with school attendance, and I’ve also worked briefly in childcare. I’m deeply interested in parenting, early childhood development, the declining birthrate, and education issues in general.
Language Learning:
I’ve dabbled in more than 10 languages over the years—some with success, others not so much! These days I focus on three. I love thinking about grammar, learning methods, and how to stay motivated—from both the learner’s and teacher’s perspectives.
Art & History:
I enjoy art in all forms and often reflect on its role in society. I’m also passionate about both world and Japanese history—not just as a subject, but as a way to understand today’s world through the human stories of the past.
I've been to
🇵🇱 Poland (studied in Kraków and traveled extensively)
🇷🇺 Russia (Kazan, Moscow, St. Petersburg)
🇹🇷 Turkey
🇦🇹 Austria
🇭🇺 Hungary
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
🇫🇷 France
🇩🇪 Germany
🇬🇧 UK
🇪🇸 Spain
🇨🇭 Switzerland
🇲🇵 Saipan
🇮🇩 Bali
🇹🇼 Taiwan
🇰🇷 South Korea
🇳🇵 Nepal
🇮🇳 India
🇦🇺 Australia
Southeast Asian ports via Peace Boat cruise:
🇨🇳 China
🇻🇳 Vietnam
etc.