English | Native |
---|---|
Japanese | Near-Native |
Spanish | Daily conversation |
Greetings!
My name is Niko, and I'm a freelance English teacher, Japanese-English translator, and writer of English-study books (TOEIC, EIKEN) for Japanese readers. I'm currently living in Sapporo, Japan.
Language is my passion. They say that passion is not a light switch, but a volume knob. It starts small, then slowly goes up the more you turn it. My passion for langauge started with literature, leading me to major in English (literature) at the University of San Diego, where I graduated Summa Cum Laude (Top 1%).
Later, my interest in language expanded into other languages, and I took up studying Japanese, eventually passing the highest level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT N1).
Realizing that I loved sharing my passion for languages with others, I built websites detailing my unique, methodical study process.
I know how difficult it can be to master a foreign language, and that's why I want to help people who are studying English.
MY TEACHING STYLE
My favorite style of teaching is to use Free Talk with students. Then, I can explain various grammar points and give pronunciation tips as they come up naturally in conversation.
I also like to consult with students about their study methods and help them to create effective study plans that they can achieve.
For Japanese students, I also like practicing pronunciation and listening comprehension by using minimal pairs. For example, we could review the difference in sound between the words "river" and "liver" or "sheep" and "ship."
Overall, I think that the most important thing is to create a lesson environment that students enjoy. Learning a language should not be stressful. It should be fun, relaxing, and enjoyable.
MESSAGE TO STUDENTS
Don't worry about your English skill level. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced student, I promise that we'll be able to communicate with no problems.
For low-level students, I can type anything that you don't understand (I'm a very fast typer), and then we can point out the language points that are difficult for you.
For Japanese students, I am highly experience at explaining English grammar in Japanese.
I look forward to meeting you.
***inn