Experience Summary
Having lived in Japan for more than a decade, I turned my experience teaching English to helping ex-patriots and students communicate more effectively in Japanese.
During that time, I applied the language I had learned post-graduate in the real world working as the only Westerner at a Japanese company as well as in my personal live as a DJ in Tokyo nightclubs to provide my clients with the appropriate communication strategies and cultural background to be able to comfortably navigate Japanese society at any level.
Upon return to the US, I have helped students and business professionals meet their personal and professional goals. I look forward to helping you unlock that part of Japan with which you most hope to interact.
Teaching Style
I tailor a curriculum to the individual needs of the student. While focusing on core competencies and fundamentals, I build vocabulary acquisition and communications strategies tailored to the student/client's areas of interest and personal/professional requirements.
Throughout, I employ a rising spiral learning approach which naturally builds in regular review to ensure the highest levels of retention.
In addition, a large number of original materials are used to get the lessons away from a text-based class environment and apply language learned to real life situations.
My Hobbies
Music, reading, film, gaming, cooking, and painting.
Other Comments
My students have ranged from executives looking for the ability to take their communications and understanding beyond cultural niceties and into cultural nuance to those who wish to deepen their appreciation of Japanese culture though the medium of cuisine or popular culture. Whatever your interest or level of focus, I aim to make my lessons fun and culturally informative, respectful, but unafraid to guide my students past the surface of the Japanese mystique.