Yamane Tutor Interview

Q. Hello Yamane Sensei! Please introduce yourself.: A. Nice to meet you! I’m Yamane and I’m a Japanese teacher on Skype. In Japanese we usually call our teachers by their surname + Sensei, so I registered on Cafetalk using just my surname. I am a certified Japanese teacher and I have been teaching at Japanese language schools, vocational schools, and corporations for a very long time. I began teaching lessons on Cafetalk in 2012. I live in Kanagawa Prefecture, which is right next to Tokyo, and I speak standard Japanese. I am a very curious person who loves going out to Tokyo every month to see and hear new things.
Q. We hear you’ve been teaching Japanese for 19 years! What inspired you to become a Japanese teacher?: A. Volunteering at a Japanese class in the city I was living in at the time! Although I received 6 months of training before I began teaching, my classes didn’t go well at all. The truth is, just because someone is Japanese, it doesn’t mean they can teach Japanese! We usually use grammar and particles without putting much thought into it and can’t really tell the differences between their usage. I was pretty thrown off by that, which made me want to learn more about Japanese and decide to become a pro at it! Becoming a pro was hard work, and even after becoming one the studying never ends. However, it’s also very fun and rewarding. Now I also teach people who want to become teachers, and it really brings me back to those days.
Q. What do you do during your free time? Please tell us about your hobbies!: A. I love hot springs and go to them whenever I have the time. I also love traveling, whether international or domestic. I like places like zoos and aquariums, where I can see living creatures. When I have a lot of lesson requests and can’t go out, I enjoy my time at home by cooking lots of food.
Q. The first lesson on your profile is called “Counseling for New Students.” Could you tell us more about it?: A. Before we meet, I send some questions, and during the session we check or re-establish your goals. I ask you detailed questions about your preferences such as whether you would like homework, small talk, etc. Once we have established your goals, I will use that to suggest some lessons or textbooks. Rather than forcing a specific learning style on you, I suggest lessons that would make the you the star of the show. Once we come to an agreement, I will have you make a lesson request.
Q. What makes your Japanese lessons unique?: A. Think it’s the fact that I am a professional. For example, I can explain the nuance differences between two similar sentence patterns or synonyms right on the spot and make it easy to understand. That’s the reason why many of my students pass JLPT N1 every year. Additionally, while other teachers charge their students for proofreading, I do it for free. I think that’s a huge factor.
Q. Do you have any advice for people who are starting out with Japanese?: A. Thank you for being interested in Japanese! It’s a bit of a strange language, but that’s what makes it so interesting. I think it’s a great idea to learn more about the unique aspects of culture that Japanese people don’t express in words. This knowledge will come in handy when you interact with them. I will give you tips on studying Japanese language and culture, and make it fun! I hope that learning Japanese will make Japan even more fun for you.
Q. In conclusion, is there anything you’d like to share with our students?: A. Thank you for always choosing me! I secretly love it when my students say “Yamane Sensei is expensive but her lessons are like no other!” Not only do I offer test prep courses, but I also create customized lessons that make my students the star of the show. I have all sorts of textbooks prepared. If you’re serious about learning Japanese, please try a lesson with a pro like me!