Start speaking Japanese and
connect with others!
Have you been interested in learning Japanese, but never tried it? May be you tried some Apps and online materials but couldn’t seem to get the hang of it…? Or you are looking for an opportunity to use the language in conversation?
“I want to be able to say a few phrases when I visit Japan.”
“I’m interested in the language and culture and want to get to know more.“
“I want to learn how to speak more.”
Do those sound like you?
Let me guide you through the Japanese language learning process!
Here, we have different workshops and courses to focus on different topics. We will be using real-life conversation strategies and scenarios. We will not just go over textbooks and do practices from the textbook. You will be speaking right away through step-by-step examples and you will learn the grammar by speaking and using the language.
Check out the workshops and courses!
Live online group sessions
There are 50-minute stand alone workshops offered a few times a month, as well as 6-week courses offered throughout the year. There will be lots of examples and tools to have you start speaking Japanese right away! What’s offered…
Lesson notes
You will have access to the materials used in the workshops and courses for your reference and to review and practice further on your own.Instructional videos
Pre-recorded videos will be uploaded periodically for you to view on your own time.Live Online Japanese Speaking Workshops offered several times a month.
6-week courses offered throughout the year.
Learn Japanese with Natalie sensei
Fostering Speaking Skills
Natalie sensei grew up in Japan and is a native speaker of Japanese. She has a Bachelor's degree in Linguistics and a Master's degree in Japanese Linguistics. She also holds a 6-12th grade teaching license in addition to having a Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Secondary Education. She has been teaching beginner to advanced level Japanese across the U.S. since 2009. She has taught at middle schools, high schools, universities, Japanese language schools, Japanese immersion programs, and taught adult language courses. She has developed Japanese course curriculum in various institutions and created countless lessons tailored to the learners. In addition to teaching Japanese, she has served as an interpreter at the Hawaii Film Festival, Wagyu Sommelier workshops, and other meetings between Japanese and English speaking clients. She also held Japanese workshops at OTAKON every year since 2021.
Natalie sensei focuses on speaking skills, which is best motivated and fostered through person-to-person interactions. Given her bilingual and bi-cultural background and expertise, she can give an in-depth explanation and practices of the language in context-specific use.
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Interpersonal communication
The approach here is that language is best learned through interpersonal connections. By talking to others, you will practice relevant language skills as well as interpersonal communication skills. Using the language, especially through building speaking skills will help you be immersed in the language and have real-life incentive to use the language, which textbooks and language apps cannot offer. Also it feels great to be able to gain a new skill and converse with others. Through the guided sessions, you will be able to use the language better than just learning on your own. 
Motivation, inspiration and connections through language skills
Learning Japanese opens doors
Visit or Live in Japan
Japan has so much to offer: food, hospitality, artifacts, entertainment, beautiful sceneries etc. It is one of the most sought-after destinations in the world. The Yen currency is low and tourism is booming. Will it be time to check off one thing off of your bucket list?
If you wish to live in Japan, there are some ways to get your foot in the door. There will be discussions on visiting and living in Japan in the “one-off” workshops offered in Patreon.
Anime
There are some phrases that are untranslatable to another language. Learning Japanese and the context in which the phrases are used, you will have a deeper understanding of the meaning of what’s being said in Anime and movies. Imagine if you can understand what they are saying without the subtitles.
Job prospectives
There are hundreds of Japanese-affiliated companies in the world. Even with a beginner level Japanese skills, if you have cultural awareness, it is a leg up for you to be a candidate for a job.
Let’s start the journey
Language = Communication = Human Connection = Motivation
Daruma
You set a goal and color its left eye, and when the goal is accomplished, you color in the right eye. There is a Japanese proverb 七顛八起 ; fall 7 times, get up 8. Daruma, with its round shape, even if it gets knocked down, it bounces back up. It represents perseverance, tenacity and determination.