I work closely with my students to identify their goals and objectives and develop tailored lessons for a more effective learning experience.
I believe that you will absorb more effectively when you enjoy learning and you are encouraged to learn!
I teach basic through advanced Japanese.
• Speaking, listening, reading, writing, Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji
• Conversational Japanese: casual/polite/formal
• Real-life applications to Japanese life and culture
• Nuance in Japanese
• Japanese way of thinking, trends, custom, traditional and contemporary Japanese culture
About Wakana Y.
Hello! My name is Wakana. I am an energetic yet very patient native Japanese with many years of experience in teaching Japanese.
My motto is to provide a learning experience while having fun and being encouraged to learn more. I understand how frustrated it can be when one learns a language as a second or third language. I also believe that catering a lesson to an individual student to meet his/her diverse interests, needs and goals is essential as we all have a different learning style. I respect each student’s learning style and create a lesson plan accordingly. I strongly believe that repetition is key to mastering a language and making it enjoyable learning steps.
Help and knowledge will be provided in all areas. Please ask me any questions** that you have/have been wondering all these years.
(**related to Japanese such as grammar, formality, nuance in the language as well as Japanese culture, current trends, or anything!)
Please contact me for more information or if you have any questions or concerns.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Doumo arigatougozaimasu.
どうもありがとうございます。
Reviews
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Great teacher! Wakana tailors her lessons to your goals and makes the lessons a lot of fun! She’s very enthusiastic and definitely wants to see her students succeed. I would recommend her 100%!

Fantastic first lesson. I learned a lot very quickly.

My japanese level is intermediate, but I have difficulty listening and speaking. I was too nervous trying not to mess up or not to sound rude. She made it possible for me to carry on conversation without being awkward. She is engaging and her teaching method is effective. I would recommend her 100%.

She has a great grasp of Japanese culture and teaches relevant and important words and phrases to assist with learning Japanese and its culture. She understands all aspects of language and grammar, as well as cultural insights. She is fun to listen to and enthusiastic. I would recommend her 100%.

Wakana is very encouraging and fun to learn with. Practicing Japanese with her is actually the best part of my week because I love learning Japanese and she is truly an amazing teacher and amazing person to be around. I highly recommend her for anyone looking for a Japanese instructor.

My 5 yr old loved working with her. She made a lot of effort to create a fun learning environment.

I highly recommend Wakana-san. I have been taking lessons with her for 3 years. I was a complete beginner and the only exposure I had to Japanese prior to that was from Japanese anime. I am glad that Wakana-san has been very patient with me and putting up with my interests in animation. Her lessons have allowed me to understand the differences between the words and structure used in real life vs. those used in animation. Her ability in explaining the grammar and structure to me has definitely worked much better than any textbooks I have read.
My first trip to Japan last year was enjoyable, thanks to the lessons I have had with Wakana-san. I was able to get around Tokyo without much communication issues.
My goal is to be able to speak and listen to Japanese in a business setting and will continue to have Wakana-san help me reaching this goal.
Arigatou gozaimasu!

Wakana has been working with our daughter since she was high school. She wanted to study abroad in Japan and needed to pass exams and interviews.
Wakana made an enormous difference and our daughter was not only learning quickly but showing marked improvement in her progress. She got great grades and receiving strong, positive feedback from her teachers. Wakana formed a wonderful working relationship with her. I cannot recommend Wakana highly enough!

Wakana is an incredibly gifted teacher!
I have been studying Japanese with her for almost ten years. She is bright, warm, flexible, and she has a wonderful sense of humor. Anyone interested in learning the language would be lucky to have her as a teacher!

Wakana is an incredibly gifted teacher!
I have been studying Japanese with her for almost ten years. She is bright, warm, flexible, and she has a wonderful sense of humor. Anyone interested in learning the language would be lucky to have her as a teacher!

Wakana is a wonderful teacher. I was an absolute beginner and she has been my tutor for the last ten years. She is patient and adapts her teaching style very well based on my progress. The online lesson also provides a lot of flexibility around my schedule and she is very accommodating all the time. I have had 5 previous instructors prior to settling with Wakana, so you won't be disappointed.

Fantastic person to learn with!!!
She's personable, enthusiastic, flexible and really knows how to target the areas we use the most for learning a language. I love the lessons because they are centered around my everyday lifestyle and work needs.
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