Student's Review

Self-introduction

Hello! My name is Thomas Cazeneuve. I'm 31 years old and the owner of a recruitment company in France called Focus Recrutement. I also have a passion for chessboxing 2x world champion. Japan had always been a dream destination for me, and last year's trip was truly unforgettable. The culture and the country itself completely captivated me. Inspired by this experience, I decided to start learning Japanese!

What did you learn and improve?

I have been studying Japanese for 6 months now. Once a week without any homework and with a lot of cancellations because of my work. I think it is difficult to find a student who worked less than me, and yet Minami was always super comprehensive to me. I am surprised that I am already able to make some sentences and understand some anime content! I am very happy about the progression I made and it is all thanks to her and the way she is and teaches, and it's only the beginning!

How does Minami's teaching differ from others?

Minami is the absolute best Japanese teacher I could have asked for. She's fun, patient, and incredibly adaptable. She tailors her lessons to your specific level and learning pace, ensuring significant improvement. Her teaching style is the perfect blend of professionalism and fun, which makes learning engaging and enjoyable. Minami's positive energy is contagious, keeping you motivated and eager to learn more. She even incorporates interesting cultural elements into her lessons, making them well-rounded and informative. She has all the qualities you could hope for in a teacher.

Message for you

Hey there! Are you interested in learning Japanese? With Minami, you'll learn, improve your skills, and have a great time in the process. Don't wait for the "perfect moment" to take action – contact her today and see how much you can enjoy learning Japanese!!

Self-introduction

はじめまして！My name is Mira, I am a musician and singer, who also works in IT. I study Japanese, because I fell in love with the country, the culture and the people. I spent a year in Japan during my teens as an exchange student, where I studied the language mostly with the help of my host family and schoolmates. I restarted studying with Duolingo around 1.5 years ago and had my first lesson with Minami, almost a year ago. I really want to be as fluent in Japanese as possible, to be able to learn more about the history and culture of Japan, to visit it with my family again and would love to write my own songs in Japanese.

What made you decide to begin taking Japanese lessons?

I noticed that even though I have been in Japan and everyone finds that fact somehow interesting, I didn't have anyone here to speak Japanese with. I also noticed that I wasn't progressing with Duolingo or YouTube videos as much. I mostly spoke Japanese the way it felt right and didn't really understand the grammatical concepts and depths behind the language. I always wanted to be able to take the N2 test. I found Minami's Instagram account during this time and knew very quickly that I wanted to try a lesson with her.  

What did you learn and improve?

I was able to understand more of the connection between the Japanese culture and language. I also started to understand the grammatical constructs of Japanese and why I didn't progress the way I wanted on my own. I can now search and study new words and feel more confident using them in the correct way. Further, Minami made me realize why studying Japanese was so important to me and why I was so drawn to it.

What's Minami like?

Minami is one of the kindest teachers I have ever met! Her character and teaching style encourage you to study even the parts that are hard for you. Her lessons are so uniquely tailored to one's hobbies, wishes, and progress, and she never loses her patience and motivates you every step along the way. She regularly gives room for your own ideas and wishes for lessons and always answers any questions with an open heart. I am always happy to have a lesson with her - even super early in the morning. (I assure you, I am not a morning person ^^) Her love for teaching shines through her exercises and even homework is fun ^^

Message for you

Try it, dive in headfirst! You won't regret it! No matter if you do not know any Japanese words or have been studying for 10 years. I doubt you will find a more passionate, kind-hearted, and vivid teacher than Minami. If I had known her during my time in Japan, I know I would have gone for N2.

Self-introduction

My name is Bilal, I live in London and work in the shipping industry as a researcher. I am studying Japanese because I have a deep affection for the Japanese culture and thought learning the language would help me have a better understanding of it. Besides I hadn't studied any East Asian language until learning Japanese so I was really keen to understand how a language so different to the ones I speak functions. I have been studying for over two years now. 

What did you learn and improve?

I have learnt how certain grammatical features work and how to make sentences and have an actual conversation. There are many good online materials out there but I didn't think they gave me the confidence and the right skillset to put my studies into actual practice. 

What's Minami like?

Minami is not only a great teacher but also a really kind and caring person. She is very patient and has made sure to understand what and how I wanted to study. Her classes mix conversation, grammar and new vocabulary quite well. She doesn't stick to standard textbooks and makes sure to come up with her own teaching material (with personalised examples, questions and homework!). She also remembers even the small details I mention about my life (in the basic Japanese I can muster), which shows she is a caring person as well. 

How does Minami's teaching differ from others?

I have taken Japanese classes with three other tutors in the past and Minami has stood out as a great teacher and a really caring person. With her I have finally gained at least some confidence in speaking, which gives me motivation to go further. 

Message for you

I highly recommend Minami as a teacher, which should allow you to have a personalised Japanese learning experience focusing on the things that really matter to your learning journey. 

Self-introduction

My name is Elena, I'm Italian, 44 years old, Marketing Director in a chocolate company. I have a passion for foreign languages and Asia. In 2015 I travelled to Japan for the first time and after that trip I decided to start learning Japanese as a way to get closer to the culture. By now, I have been studying Japanese as a hobby for around 7-8 years, and managed to pass the JLPT N2 last year. Currently my main focus is reaching fluency in speaking (to have more meaningful conversations with my Japanese friends or engage with Japanese people when traveling) and becoming able to enjoy more and more native content, e.g. books, articles, videos, etc.

What did you learn and improve?

Thanks to Minami sensei's classes, I have been able to "change my posture" in studying Japanese, moving from a more passive grammar oriented approach (that was typical of the Japanese School I attended previously when living in Singapore) to a more dynamic and communication oriented approach. I have become more self-confident in speaking and more agile in navigating through native contents, like understanding articles and videos on a variety of topics related to my interests.

What's Minami like?

Minami sensei is a very cheerful, energetic, bright person, who can create a sunny mood in my room (even if I take my online class at 7:30 am!). She speaks and explains topic in a very clear manner, at a pace that is just adapted to my level or slightly more challenging at times, so that I can stretch myself and improve. She has a habit of noting down on an excel sheet all the new vocabulary and the grammar patterns that we encounter during the class and she will share the sheet with me shortly after the lesson. 

How does Minami's teaching differ from others?

Since I have busy schedule and lifestyle, I really appreciate Minami sensei's proactive approach in proposing every week new contents and activities in line with my professional and personal interests. I wouldn't have the time to research and find such valuable contents myself, so I think it's a form of learning that brings me also fun and entertainment. The pace of the lesson is never boring, yet never stressing - just adapted to my personal level and need. I always feel energized after my Japanese class with Minami sensei and I can go to work with a smile on my face!

Message for you

Go ahead! Learning Japanese is fun and Minami sensei can make it even more fun!

Self-introduction

I'm Mark. I am a software engineer. I am studying Japanese because both of my parents speak Japanese and I am trying to understand what they are saying. I have been studying Japanese for about a year.

What did you learn and improve?

I am learning Japanese grammar and vocabulary to try and pass the N5 test (and to keep learning afterwards). I never really studied Japanese at all before taking these lessons, so pretty much everything has improved by taking these lessons. I think the lessons have helped the most with my listening and speaking skills. 

What's Minami like?

Minami is very funny and easy to talk to. I feel like she is very approachable and easy to ask questions to when you are unsure about certain things. Most importantly, I think she is a very good teacher as I feel like I am learning a lot and improving. 

Message for you

I think taking lessons is a great choice. For me I had dabbled in trying to learn Japanese before (on stuff like duolingo), but I always struggled to get going as I didn't know where to start. I feel like having a set lesson schedule helps me keep on track and has allowed me to learn a lot faster that I otherwise would have. Additionally the lessons are very engaging and fun so I look forward to them. 

Self-introduction

Stefano Fasce, I'm a film composer. My main is reason is my passion for the Japanese language, but I also hope to eventually work on Japanese films. I've been studying for 3.5 years.

What did you learn and improve?

In my lessons with Minami Sensei I've learned a lot about grammar, and what made it really helpful was that she used examples related to my work in music. This not only made grammar more relatable but also improved my speaking fluency, with additional role-play exercises. Thanks to her lessons, I now feel much more confident speaking in Japanese.

What's Minami like?

Minami Sensei is an excellent teacher, both professional and accommodating. She strikes a balance between being friendly and maintaining a structured approach to our lessons. I appreciate her flexibility in tailoring the lessons to my specific needs, especially our practice of starting with open conversations, followed by grammar. It's important for me to apply what I learn in real conversations, and our lessons are not only productive but also enjoyable. We always have lots of fun!

Message for you

I can't speak highly enough about Minami Sensei. Her tailored approach to my industry, film composition, has been a game-changer for my language skills. She provides personalised examples that are incredibly relevant, and her focus on conversation practice has boosted my fluency significantly.

Minami's support and dedication are remarkable. When I miss a week of practice, I can feel the difference. She goes the extra mile to help me stay on track. Her commitment to my progress is evident in her teaching style, and I'm grateful to have her as my teacher. I highly recommend Minami to anyone looking to excel in Japanese. She's a fantastic educator.

Self-introduction

Hello! My name is Jose Pavli, and I am a French composer specializing in film and video game music. My deep appreciation for the art of storytelling through sound has fueled my desire to expand my musical horizons. It's with this same passion that I embarked on my journey to learn Japanese a year and a half ago. My goal was to expand my musical endeavors into the heart of Japan, particularly within the realm of anime. Guided by my wonderful teacher, Minami, I've come to not only appreciate the language but also the rich culture and opportunities Japan has to offer.

What did you learn and improve?

When I started my Japanese lessons, I was taking two classes a week. But seeing the progress I was making, I quickly moved up to three. It's amazing how much I've picked up in such a short time. Starting from the very basics, now I can comfortably speak, read, and write in Japanese, and a lot of that comes down to Minami's teaching approach.

Minami's lessons have this great balance. They're engaging and enjoyable, but you also know you're getting solid learning in without it feeling too tough.

What stands out is how Minami adjusts the lessons. She tailors the exercises to fit what I like, making sure I stay motivated and interested. It's a really personalized touch that I appreciate.

What's Minami like?

Minami is truly one of a kind. Her efficiency in teaching is evident in the progress I made lately. What sets her apart is her ability to genuinely listen and understand, ensuring that each lesson resonates and sticks. While she maintains a high level of professionalism, she brings a fun and engaging element to her classes that makes learning enjoyable. Even on those busy days when I haven't had much time to prepare, she knows just how to keep me motivated and on track. Her blend of being both professional and approachable, combined with her understanding and motivating nature, makes her an exceptional teacher.

Message for you

Hey there!

If you're on the fence about taking Japanese lessons with Minami, I'd say go for it without a second thought. I've been there, and trust me, it's been one of the best decisions I've made. Minami is professional, attentive, and she genuinely makes learning fun. Even on days when you feel overwhelmed or too busy, she knows how to keep you motivated. Dive in, and you won't regret it.

Best of luck on your learning journey!

Self-introduction

My name is Onder, I chose to study Japanese as a hobby, and if I could manage to learn it. I wanted to go to Japan and work at a car tuning shop and watching anime and car shows.

What made you decide to begin taking Japanese lessons?

Towards the end of COVID, I wanted to go to Japan, and I figured I should learn some basic phrases. After returning home, I really wanted to start studying and take it further.

What did you learn and improve?

With Minami sensei’s lessons I requested I wanted to learn reading, writing, speaking, listening, kanji just everything to build a foundation to be fluent.

What's Minami like?

Minami sensei is super chill and funny, always helpful, and will answer your questions with great explanations.

How does Minami's teaching differ from others?

Compared to my other lessons, I think Minami sensei is great at explaining structure and using her materials to show you how to make new sentence structures.

Message for you

I honestly think you are missing out if you don't want to learn from Minami-sensei!

Self-introduction

Hello! My name is Guillermo. I’m from Barcelona, Spain. I work in a rentacar company and as a Personal trainer. I’m studying Japanese since I was 16 years old, when I started to buy Japanese books and study by my own. 9 years ago I moved to Kyoto to study Japanese and I met Minami Sensei in the school. She was one of my teachers there. Now, back in Barcelona I still trying to improve my Japanese. Hope in the future I can use it for work.

What did you learn and improve?

I’m learning a lot of Japanese grammar. But also learning about Japanese culture, kanji… and also improving my conversation. 

What's Minami like?

Minami Sensei is the BEST teacher you can ever have. She is so sweet, kind and funny. I met her in Kyoto 9 years ago, where she was one of my teachers in school. Lessons are always amazing and it’s impossible to get bored. She knows how to make the lessons always funny and interesting and she is perfect explaining all the doubts you can have. Every week she can surprise you with a different style of lesson that makes you wanna learn more and more. 

How does Minami's teaching differ from others?

As I said, Minami Sensei’s lessons are the best. They are interesting, funny and always finding new ways to make you wanna keep studying and learning 

Message for you

C’mon! Do it! Japanese is an amazing language, Japan is an amazing country with the best culture. And Minami Sense has this spirit. 

Self-introduction

Hello my name is Andres, I work as a Case manager for a non-profit organization. The reason why I am studying Japanese is because I really enjoy the Japanese culture (Anime, Food, Music, Art, and much more). I hope to one day all be able to visit Japan. To have a conversation with my Japanese Friend's and the locals of Japan. I have been studying Japanese for a little over a year, and a couple of months with Minami san. I have been able to see a lot of improvements these last couple of months.

What did you learn and improve?

I have been able to improve my Japanese little by little. I am able to understand Kanji and make short conversational sentences when speaking.

What's Minami like?

Minami san, is one of the kindest Japanese teacher's I've have gotten to known. She always provides good feedback and her lessons are fun to take. She is able to tailor the lesson to the client’s ability. Her online lessons are not always about learning the language, she also includes culture such as Anime, Music, and awesome facts about Japan.

How does Minami's teaching differ from others?

I have taken Japanese language course in my local Community College and with other teachers online. Sometimes you don't get that one-on-one interaction with the professor when it's a large group in class. Sometimes u can fall behind. Some lessons from teachers are not well put. Or just go through the material to ensure you have understood it. Minami san provides good feedback, and tailors the lessons to the student abilities in Japanese. She is able to give the student her full attention.

Message for you

If you want to take Japanese lessons and improve your Japanese. I would say take lessons with Minami san. You will have a lot of fun and will learn a lot. がんばって。

Self-introduction

I'm an IT Consultant working in the Pharmaceutical Industry. I started to study Japanese in January 2022, Initially to prepare my first trip to Japan.

What did you learn and improve?

So much things! First taking lesson with Minami dramatically improved my listing skills we in less than a year all the N4 and some early point of the N3 as well as an introduction to the Keigo. I'm now more confident to speak with Japanese people. 

What's Minami like?

So much patient and comprehensive, she build all the lesson to fit your interest and adapt everything to match your learning speed. She's so good in English too so if some point are not clear she can also explain them in English. It's also always a fun time to discuss about our life in Japanese and learn new things about the Japanese culture! 

How does Minami's teaching differ from others?

As it's one-one session you can learn way more quickly and you will have as much time as you want to ask questions. Also compared to some online support, the each lesson and exercises are really build to match you interests which help a lot learning new point or new vocab.

Message for you

Taking lesson with Minami is the best way to improve your Japanese fast and with a lot of Fun. Whatever is your goal you will be able to achieve it and you will smile and laugh along the way! 

Self-introduction

Nice to meet you, I currently live in Japan working as a 3d character artist. Before taking Minami sensei's class I had already been learning Japanese for 5 years. The reason why I started studying this language is because I am a big fanatic of the animation industry in Japan and my dream as a kid was to someday he able to live and work abroad doing art. Once I started learning I also fell in love with the people, food, and culture and I have been hooked ever since. 

What did you learn and improve?

I took business Japanese lessons. We did a lot of role-play and reading of more advanced texts covering the themes of business and working in japan. These lessons helped me learn not only vocabulary and grammar but also the culture behind Japanese business relationships. I feel alot more confident expressing myself professionally after these lessons.

What's Minami like?

I think Minami sensei is very flexible, she can adjust to your learning style and will listen to your feedback. In my case, we wanted a harder lesson so she would always prepare challenging content for us. 

How does Minami's teaching differ from others?

My university courses had a large number of students so courses were not adapted to individual needs. But with Minami sense lessons its alot more customizable and student focused. 

Message for you

Individual instruction with a japanese native speaker will challenge you in the areas that self directed learning might be lacking. I could see a clear difference in my speaking abilities so I am glad I got to try these lessons

Self-introduction

Mi chiamo Diletta sono un'impiegata ed ho studiato giapponese all'università.Tutt'ora continuo a studiare per non perdere l'allenamento con la lingua giapponese. Saranno ormai 7 anni a più riprese che studio, 2 dei quali sono seguita dalla sensei Fujimura.

What did you learn and improve?

A lezione con la sensei Fujimura faccio per lo più conversazione e perfeziono il mio livello di conoscenza della lingua e devo dire che piano piano mi sto avvicinando all'obbiettivo desiderato.

Adesso ad esempio stiamo preparando insieme l'esame per l'N2 e posso dire che mi sta dando una grandissima mano soprattutto nel rassicurami di quegli aspetti del test che più mi preoccupavano. Mi motiva e mi incoraggia molto, forse é anche un po' merito suo se non ho mollato del tutto lo studio in tutti questi anni.

What's Minami like?

Minami Fujimura é una sensei solare e sempre attenta ai tuoi bisogni, personalizza molto le proprie lezioni a seconda degli interessi e le passioni dei propri studenti. Conosce davvero molti argomenti, con lei per un periodo ho letto dei brani in lingua di Haruki Murakami e sono entrata nel vivo della traduzione questo autore che adoro. Fujimura é una persona empatica e capace di consigliarvi al meglio nel vostro percorso di crescita con la lingua giapponese.Ormai é diventata il mio punto di riferimento per quelle cose ancora poco chiare nelle traduzioni dal giapponese all'italiano. É una persona piena di energia ed é molto positiva, motiva molto al miglioramento personale.

Message for you

Sia che siate alle prime armi sia che siate già avviati nello studio della lingua giapponese, Fujimura é la sensei adatta a voi in quanto parla bene l'inglese, quindi se non riuscite a capirvi inizialmente, soprattutto per chi parte da 0, é un vantaggio. La cosa più importante però é che mette 100% del suo cuore in quello che fa. Se come me siete semplicemente alla ricerca di una maggiore fluidità nel parlato e della possibilità di applicare la lingua giapponese al proprio lavoro, con Fujimura riuscirete sicuramente nel vostro intento, in quanto ha solide basi di Business and Japanese e sarà in grado di insegnarvi le migliori strategie per riuscire a relazionarvi al meglio in quei contesti lavorativi in cui vi troverete di fronte a dei madrelingua giapponesi.

Self-introduction

I work as international project manager, consultant and executive coach and was posted in Tokyo, Japan for four years. As the project leader for television coverage of Rugby World Cup in Japan as well as Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 for a major European public broadcaster, I was in need to communicate with expatriates and locals alike, dealing with officials from Japanese governmental bodies and in office related negotiations of all sort.

By now, I study Japanese on and off for a few years. More in depth and focused for up to a year with Minami-sensei. She allowed me to pick the lesson’s subject, fitting my individual and professional needs at every time. 

What did you learn and improve?

As she allowed me to pick what I wanted (or needed) to learn, we focused mainly to get around quickly in daily life. Taking taxi, asking and giving directions, shopping groceries or ordering food at a restaurant or answering the phone... On the side we looked at kanji, hiragana and katakana, whenever it was appropriate or needed, discussing grammar and how to express myself. 

What's Minami like?

She is the greatest of them all! She is flexible, adapting to the needs of students. For example we prepared all around doing groceries and then we took one of the lessons to the supermarket, looking and asking for items, discussing labels and how to read them, dealing with enquiries at the cashier, asking for help. Amazing! I loved it so much and I remember it until today.

She also hand wrote small cards with new words for every lesson, even sending some by post. She has an eye for details as well as listen to the individual need of the student. 

How does Minami's teaching differ from others?

I have taken both 1:1 session with Minami-sensei as well as other teachers before. I never had such a good connection before and never felt seen and confirmed so much. Learning with Minami-sensei was not dull or hard, it was like an enjoyable game and socialising while learning for life. 

Message for you

If you want to learn Japanese, maybe even struggled already a bit, consider taking lessons with Minami-sensei. She is open minded, adaptive, fun and has many new, often ground breaking ideas how to enrich lessons. She takes the lessons, if desired, out of the classroom to where the action is. I had lessons, among others, in cafes and supermarkets! Absolutely brilliant and so much fun to learn with her!