Meet Emiri, an online Japanese teacher and Tokyo tour guide. She shares Japanese culture through social media, offering private lessons tailored to individual needs. Emiri’s passion for Japan drives her dream to start a nationwide tour company, making Japan’s charm accessible to everyone.
Interview – Japanese Teacher in Japan
- WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
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Japan
- PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF!
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Hi! I’m Emiri.
I teach Japanese online and also work as a tour guide in Tokyo. On social media, I share videos to help people learn Japanese and show off Japanese culture.
I love traveling abroad, but I love Japan even more, so I want to spread the charm of Japan to the world!
- TELL US ABOUT THE CHARM OF THE CITY YOU ARE CURRENTLY LIVING IN.
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I live in Tokyo, so everything is close by and it’s convenient to go anywhere. You can eat food from all over the world, and the shops stay open late. There’s always something new to discover every day, so it never gets boring. I also love how there are so many different people, each living their own lives at just the right distance from each other.
- WHERE IS YOUR LOCAL RECOMMENDATION IN THIS CITY?
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My favorite area in Tokyo is Harajuku! Recently, the number of tourists there has increased a lot. Harajuku is a great place to check out the latest fashion trends in Japan, and it’s fun because there are so many unique people around. There are also many vintage clothing stores where you can find unique outfits, which is one of its charms. Right next to Harajuku is Omotesando, a quiet and luxurious area, and the large Meiji Shrine, so you can experience a variety of cultures within walking distance. I highly recommend it!!
- WHEN AND WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO TEACH JAPANESE?
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After graduating from university, I traveled to various countries. Through these experiences, I grew to love Japan even more. After returning home, I wanted to share Japanese culture and language with the world, so I started posting on Instagram as a hobby. Before long, I received many messages from people asking me to teach them Japanese, and that’s how I got started. Now, I have many students who enjoy learning Japanese with me, and it makes me very happy 🙂
- HOW ARE YOU TEACHING JAPANESE NOW?
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I do private lessons online. I use textbooks I made myself, and I customize the lessons based on each student’s needs, whether it’s everyday conversation or business Japanese. I don’t do group classes because I prefer to give each student my full attention.
- WHAT DO YOU FIND ENJOYABLE ABOUT TEACHING JAPANESE?
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Each student has a different pace and way of studying, so it’s fun to come up with a method that suits them. Seeing students enjoy their studies makes it enjoyable for me too. The best moment is when I see their Japanese improving. It’s especially rewarding when they pass the JLPT or when they visit Japan and we can have a conversation in Japanese!
- WHAT DO YOU FIND DIFFICULT ABOUT TEACHING JAPANESE?
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Japanese has so many rules that even I, as a native speaker, find it difficult at times. It’s challenging to keep my students from getting discouraged. Once they start feeling negative about Japanese, it’s hard to get their motivation back up. So, I work hard to make studying Japanese enjoyable and to keep their motivation high. Things that seem normal to Japanese people can be really puzzling for students, and sometimes it can be tough to answer all their questions.
- WHAT DO YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT WHEN LEARNING JAPANESE?
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Japanese has a ton of rules, but we native speakers don’t really worry about them. It’s just like English. So, don’t stress about being perfect. The most important thing is to have fun!
- WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?
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I have a lot of dreams, but my biggest one right now is to start a tour company. I want to make the trips of people who come to Japan even more amazing by showing them local spots and unique experiences. Right now, I only do tours in Tokyo, but I hope to expand my tours all over Japan someday.
- MESSAGE TO OUR FRIENDS WHO ARE STUDYING JAPANESE.
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I think Japanese is a really difficult language, but that’s what makes it interesting, so please don’t give up!LOL Whether your motivation is to make local friends when you visit Japan or to watch anime without subtitles, keep working towards your goal and have fun studying! Remember, you don’t have to be perfect!;)
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