Japanese | Native |
---|---|
English | Near-Native |
Hi everyone! I'm Nao♪
I'm a native Japanese speaker, born and raised in Japan, and I also speak English fluently. I achieved a full score of 990 points on the TOEIC exam!
Teaching is my greatest passion, and I have dedicated over 20 years to the field of language education. I’m excited to share my knowledge and help you all on your language learning journey!
The secret to improving language skills is to relax, have fun, and keep going! Those"a-ha!" moments along the way give you an extra boost, and I'd be thrilled to help you achieve your goals while providing you with those exciting breakthroughs during our lessons.
I offer a variety of lessons, including English pronunciation (American English), English grammar and TOEIC coaching! If the available lesson hours shown here don't work for you, just let me know♪
☆ My favorite things ☆
I absolutely love traveling! I've had the opportunity to visit more than 15 countries! I've lived in the US for a total of about 3 years, spent a year in the UK, and even had a summer adventure in Russia.
Art and design are also my passion. I used to work in the interior design field, and I still have a deep appreciation for all things art and design-related.
Cycling is another activity I enjoy. Last year, I embarked on a bike trip around Lake Biwa (the biggest lake in Japan!) and conquered the hill-climb up Mt. Fuji. Just a few days ago, I completed a 126-kilometer ride around Lake Kasumiga-ura. Cycling is so much fun, even though riding uphill can be quite challenging!
...Language acquisition is essentially the understanding and learning of three closely related elements: ① pronunciation (phonetics and rhythm < listening and speaking>), ② grammar (underlying thought/view of the grammar <listening, reading, speaking, writing>), and ③ vocabulary (core meanings, emotions and sensations attached to the vocabulary <listening, reading, speaking, writing>). To master a language, one must comprehend and learn these three elements and be able to use them effectively.
...Language is acquired unconsciously rather than consciously by comprehensively reading and listening to (input) natural ① pronunciation, ② grammar, and ③ vocabulary. It becomes a realization of "Oh, this is how it's expressed in such situations," rather than a conscious effort.
To effectively learn English, Japanese learners should first understand the differences between Japanese and English in terms of ① pronunciation and ② grammar. By grasping those differences, they can prepare themselves for efficient input. Once prepared, they simply need to absorb the language through massive exposure to natural usage.
Language acquisition occurs when the actual images and sensations of pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary of the target language are fully understood, and without the intervension of their mother tongue, learners will unconsciously accept the natural input knowing instinctively how they can naturally express themselves in different situations.
...However, there is a challenge. Through years of language learning and teaching, I have noticed that adults often struggle at the stage of grasping this understanding. Unlike children who naturally achieve understanding of pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary, adults tend to interpret them within the framework of their established native language system. As a result, the understanding of the language itself becomes insufficient, making the subsequent process of 'input' inefficient.
For example, in the case of grammar, if you understand it, you can instinctively feel that "this sounds correct!" However, if you lack understanding, you may struggle and try to fit the pieces like solving a puzzle, relying on rote memorization and comparing it to your native language system.
Achieving mastery of a language requires more than just immersion or extensive usage. While these factors contribute to language learning, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of understanding the language itself. Deep comprehension of the target language's thought patterns, underlying grammar systems, and sound structures is essential for successful mastery.
And that is exactly why learning becomes relatively but not completely easier when there are linguistic similarities between your native language and the target language. For instance, Japanese natives often find it more accessible to learn Korean due to shared linguistic characteristics. Similarly, English natives may have an advantage in learning French or Spanish, while French natives may also find it relatively easier to learn Spanish or English.
Regardless of how much immersion or extensive usage one has, without a solid understanding of the language's thought patterns and the foundation of its grammar and sounds, the path to mastery can be exceptionally challenging. It is not enough to simply engage with the language; one must also grasp the underlying principles that shape it. Without this understanding, progress towards mastery may be prolonged and frustrating.
To summarize, while immersion and extensive usage play a role in language learning, it is crucial to prioritize the understanding of the underlying thought patterns, grammar systems, and sound structures of the language. This is especially true for those who already have wrongly established views on the grammar or sound of the target language based on their mother tongue. As we all know, transforming a deeply ingrained habit is much more challenging than developing a new one from scratch. Thus, for adult learners, this deliberate ‘understanding’ of the target language forms the foundation for learning and is the key to successful language mastery.
To learn efficiently as an adult, it is necessary to consciously work on this deliberate "understanding" .
That's why here on Cafetalk, I have prepared some special lessons based on my teaching experience to assist those who feel something is missing or are struggling in their English learning journey, from beginners to advanced learners and professionals. These lessons aim to help learners gain a sensory understanding of pronunciation and grammar, which have been proven to be highly effective.
The Pronunciation lesson focuses on correcting pronunciation habits by thoroughly learning the differences between English (American English) and Japanese pronunciation.
The Grammar lesson provides a native-like sense of English grammar by teaching from a slightly different (unique?) perspective, focusing on the differences in thought processes between Japanese and English.
In addition to these, I offer various other enjoyable lessons, such as TOEIC coaching, news reading focusing on pronunciation and rhythm, and more. These lessons can be taken as one-time sessions or on a bi-weekly or monthly basis (1 to 10 lessons per month), depending on your goals, schedule, and budget.
Teaching Experience and Qualifications:
⚫︎ TOEIC score of 990 (achieved multiple times)
Teaching Experience (excluding Cafetalk):
⚫︎ Everyday English conversation (from beginner to advanced discussions)
⚫︎ Business English conversation
⚫︎ TOEIC classes (for beginners, intermediate, and advanced levels)
⚫︎ Corporate group English training, individual English training for corporations (including business English, pronunciation, TOEIC, etc.)
⚫︎ Short-term TOEIC training for universities
⚫︎ English grammar course at a translation school
⚫︎ Personalized Japanese language learning support
Teaching Experience (Cafetalk♪):
Since autumn 2020
Requests and Cancellations -
Regarding Lesson Packs -
Same-Day Requests now available! -
☆☆☆☆☆
To Japanese learners!
(!!Please note that all Japanese lessons, except for online standby lessons, are currently unavailable. I apologize for the inconvenience!)
Once again, let me introduce myself! I'm Nao, a native Japanese speaker, born and raised in Japan. As you may already know, I teach Japanese and English here at Cafetalk.
Teaching English is my favorite job in the world, and while I have little experience as a Japanese teacher (for now), I still want to be of help to you if it's possible (and I'll do my best!). Being a language learner myself, I understand the struggles you may encounter along the way, and I'm eager to use my skills and knowledge as a native speaker to assist those in need.
What can a language enthusiast like me, who also happens to be a native Japanese speaker, do? The first thing that came to mind was providing a free conversation lesson called "日本語SMALL TALK," where you can practice speaking in the most natural way possible. Choosing the appropriate level of politeness/formality is crucial in Japanese speech and communication, and so I offer three levels to choose from: honorary, polite, and casual. During the lesson, I'll stick to one level while engaging in a natural conversation with you, allowing you to relax and enjoy chatting in Japanese♪ (Please note that this lesson, along with all other Japanese lessons, is currently unavailable. Apologies for the inconvenience!)
Additionally, I'll be offering a "reading in Japanese" lesson. Are you currently reading any books in Japanese or interested in starting? I can help you with that! As a language enthusiast, I firmly believe that reading is vital for language learning. I'm still in the planning phase for this lesson, so please be patient and stay tuned for more information!
Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to embarking on this language-learning journey together with you!"
***gho