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Award-Winning Japanese Tutors
Certified Tutor
2+ years
I am a graduate of Carleton College, and received my Bachelor of Arts degree in linguistics. I have tutored Japanese at elementary and intermediate levels, and also worked as a teaching assistant for linguistics. I plan to continue tutoring and assisting in these fields. I also hope to continue my l...
Carleton College
Bachelor

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Everybody learns, and everybody learns differently. The importance of pedagogy, the practice of teaching, cannot be overstated. It is not enough to share knowledge; knowledge must be communicated. This is the philosophy by which I have tutored and by which I currently tutor. With 4th grade students ...
University of Nevada-Reno
MS
Vanderbilt
MS

Certified Tutor
2+ years
I am a certified Middle School Math Teacher with three years of classroom and tutoring experience, and a Korean and Japanese language instructor with over 15 years of teaching experience. I hold four Bachelor's degrees earned through dual-degree programs at two universities, with academic background...
Pukyung National University
MS
University of Padova
MS

Certified Tutor
2+ years
I am an undergraduate student at University of Alberta. Japanese is my native language and I have been using English for the past 15 years, so I am fluent in both the languages. I have experience in volunteering at a bilingual preschool, as well as working as a professional interpreter.
University of Alberta
Bachelor

Certified Tutor
6+ years
I am a Princeton University graduate ('19) where I majored in East Asian Studies. My academic interests center around language learning Chinese, Japanese, and Korean as well as history, anthropology, and media studies. I have worked as a college advisor for high school students in the United States ...
Princeton University
Bachelor of Fine Arts

Certified Tutor
10+ years
Sarah
I am currently a high school teacher with four-years experience teaching Regents bearing Biology (Living Environment), Chemistry, Ecology, and Earth Science. I completed my undergraduate work at Brandeis University and received a B.S. in Biology, and B.A. in International & Global Studies. I conduct...
Fordham University
Masters, Secondary Science Education
Brandeis University
Bachelors, Biology, General

Certified Tutor
3+ years
Andrew
I am excited to help teach and encourage students who are looking to grow at their own pace! My goal is to build up their knowledge and self-confidence in order that they may succeed.
Carthage College
Bachelor in Arts, Japanese Studies

Certified Tutor
8+ years
Hidefusa
I am eager to help learners of any age and educational background thrive through providing careful listening, guidance, and feedback. I enjoy teaching a variety of subjects ranging from statistics to psychology to the Japanese language. I was born in New York, NY, and grew up in northern New Jersey ...
Harvard University
Master of Liberal Arts in Clinical Psychology
New York University
Bachelor in Arts, Psychology

Certified Tutor
9+ years
Natasha
I am great at building rapport with students and figuring out what they need, especially with small groups of students or 1-on-1. I have a lot of educational theory knowledge thanks to my master's degree from NYU in TESOL and Foreign Language Education, and I've put that into practice during my teac...
New York University
Master of Arts Teaching, Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL)
Tufts University
Bachelor in Arts, Asian Studies

Certified Tutor
9+ years
Cori
I am a MIT undergrad studying Materials Science and Engineering with minors in Economics and Japanese. I was a TA for Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism at MIT, and I tutored in math and science in high school. I scored a perfect score on the SAT Math section twice, and have taken 11 AP tests wit...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science, Materials Engineering
Top 20 Languages Subjects
Meet Our Expert Tutors
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Katharine
College Algebra Tutor • +32 Subjects
I am interested in helping you achieve your goals and see results. I can be strict but I am also gentle and encouraging. Hobbies: reading, music, art, books, writing
Brian
AP Statistics Tutor • +115 Subjects
I'm a recent graduate of the California Institute of Technology in Economics and Computer Science. I was also accepted at Harvard, Princeton, MIT, and Stanford. I have a broad range of interests spanning science, math, engineering, social science, the humanities, the arts, and athletics (I also played on the Caltech basketball team). My background allows me to tutor general college prep, especially the SAT, ACT and the GRE. I love to teach analytical thinking, ranging from advanced Math and Physics to strategies for understanding literature and developing arguments.
James
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +26 Subjects
I am confident in my abilities in helping students complete homework in all academic areas. I like teaching math because over the years I have built up a great deal of insight into different ways to explain core mathematical concepts and relationships. As a tutor I like to find a baseline where my student feels confident and build on that confidence. I believe in practicing success but learning from failure.
Damien
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +26 Subjects
I am an intelligent, creative education professional with a passion for Math, English, curriculum development, and intervention strategies. I am currently an Associate Teacher of Mathematics at The School At Columbia University, Columbia's independent K-8 school. Previously, I was an Academic Program Lead and Teaching Fellow at a middle school in East Harlem where I taught daily Mathematics Intervention classes and led daily Guided Reading instruction. I am also a trained and qualified SAT / SHSAT Tutor as well as a graduate of Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. When I am not at school, I love relaxing with my fiancee and our two cats - Biscuit and Pumpkin - at our home in Astoria, watching football, playing video games, going to the gym, and listening to all different kinds of music. I am really looking forward to helping you rise to your academic potential and getting you to the head of your class!
Hatsuki
Calculus Tutor • +12 Subjects
I am a Japanese native who now resides in the Midwest with my daughter and grandkids. I have over 50 years of experience speaking, reading and writing in Japanese.
Dylan
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +51 Subjects
I am a freshman Computer Science major enrolled in the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University. I have a passion for teaching students, and I am experienced with having to give one-on-one guidance in teaching many concepts. Tutoring is very rewarding for me because I am driven to help others and give whatever knowledge I have gained over the years in every field. I also have experience dealing with situations in which students are not quickly or readily grasping concepts, and I have developed the patience to handle these situations. Teaching is just as rewarding for the student as it is for me, because I am thrilled when I see others achieve, and I would love to be part of the process. In addition to high school AP courses and test prep, I have taken college level multivariable calculus, linear algebra, physics electricity/magnetism and mechanics, computer programming (c++, matlab, LISP/Scheme), Dynamics of Systems, and Mechanics of Systems.
Caitlin
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +36 Subjects
I am a rising senior at Duke University who is Pre Med and majoring in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. I was born and raised in Miami FL and went to public school until college (Sunset Elementary, GW Carver Middle and Coral Reef Senior High for those from Miami). I decided to start tutoring because I would not be on this path had I not had good teachers supporting me along the way. For that reason I want to be able to help others achieve their goals without academics being a huge hurdle.
Jacob
Calculus Tutor • +26 Subjects
I'm New York City born and raised. I graduated from the University of Chicago last year with a degree in East Asian Languages and Civilizations. I am developing my own teaching methods to evolve traditional East Asian and French language acquisition, and to do this I need even more experience. My course of study has been directed at learning as much as I can about the culture, economy, and history of East Asia, China and Japan in particular. I view myself as someone who is entrepreneurial, collegial, individually motivated to produce high quality work, as well as foster a love of the subject which I teach. I am compassionate and enjoy working with both children and adults. I believe I have something to learn from everyone I meet.
James
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +55 Subjects
I am a graduate of SUNY University at Albany. I received my Bachelor of Science in Economics and Japanese with a minor in History in 2010. Since then (and even before as a sub) I have predominantly been teaching in the New York City public education system. I had worked as a substitute teaching assistant since 2008, moving between dozens of NYC public schools before finally settling in late 2011 at M.S. 216 George J. Ryan--an incredibly diverse middle school in Queens. During my tenure in the school system I have spent time teaching students from Pre-K to 12th grade, from all cultural background and socioeconomic statuses. Regardless of whom I have taught, I have always enjoyed it, partly because I often learn as much from my students as they learn from me. Regardless of the subject, I love teaching, and I find it to be one of the most rewarding and meaningful activities, which cliched as it may sound, really can make a difference in people's lives. Besides teaching, I am also keenly interested in the human body, specifically biomechanics, kinesiology, and rehabilitation through movement. I am currently enrolled in a Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at Washington University in St. Louis, which I should finish in 2018. Hobbies: art, books, sports, reading, music, writing
Abrahim
Middle School Math Tutor • +81 Subjects
I am passionate about teaching because I understand greatly a lot of the academic struggles and problems students may face through education, especially as a first generation college student. Currently I am studying for my medical doctorate degree (M.D.) at the Medical College of Wisconsin. I graduated UCLA with a Biology degree with Asian Languages minor in 2019, cum laude honors. Both during my undergrad and days since, I had a chance to tutor private clients in Southern California and work for a few exam prep companies. I enjoy tutoring math, sciences (chemistry, biology mainly), social sciences (history, politics), essay writing, and Japanese. I also help assist in studying for standardized exams (SAT, ACT, SAT Subject, AP, MCAT, PCAT, OAT)! My tutoring style will be very direct in trying to identify gaps in knowledge and working/practicing on those gaps. I like to be interactive and answer the students' questions directly. I strongly believe education is one path in which students may be able to reach their dreams and I will be your supporter along the way. In my free time, I enjoy playing the piano, practicing martial arts, and watching anime/playing games.
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Learning kanji is one of the biggest challenges for Japanese students—there are thousands of characters to master, each with multiple readings and meanings. A tutor can teach you strategic approaches like learning kanji by radical (the building blocks of characters), grouping characters by similar meanings, and using spaced repetition to lock them into memory. Rather than memorizing in isolation, tutors help you see patterns and connect kanji to vocabulary and real texts, making the learning stick faster than studying alone.
Japanese verbs conjugate based on tense, formality level, and whether they're positive or negative—and there are irregular verbs that break the rules entirely. This creates a system that feels overwhelming at first. A tutor breaks conjugation into logical patterns, shows you why certain forms exist (like the difference between casual and polite forms), and gives you targeted practice with verbs you actually use in conversation. With 1-on-1 instruction, you can ask questions immediately when something doesn't make sense, rather than getting stuck on confusing textbook explanations.
In a typical classroom, students get limited speaking time—maybe a few minutes per class. With personalized 1-on-1 instruction, you're speaking for most of the session, which means you build confidence and fluency much faster. A tutor can also tailor conversations to your interests and level, correct your pronunciation and grammar in real-time, and adjust the pace so you're challenged but not overwhelmed. This consistent speaking practice is essential for developing natural rhythm and accent in Japanese, which rarely happens in group settings.
Japanese native speakers speak quickly, drop particles, use casual contractions, and have regional accents—all of which make it much harder than textbook audio. Additionally, understanding context and politeness levels affects comprehension in ways that don't exist in English. A tutor exposes you to natural speech patterns, explains cultural context that affects meaning, and can slow down or repeat phrases as needed. They can also train your ear to recognize common listening patterns and help you develop strategies for understanding even when you don't catch every word.
Textbooks often teach grammar rules in isolation, but native speakers don't always follow textbook patterns—they use shortcuts, drop particles, and adapt based on context. A tutor teaches you the rules as a foundation, then shows you how real Japanese actually works through examples, conversation, and exposure to native content. This helps you understand when it's appropriate to use casual versus formal language, when particles can be omitted, and how to sound natural rather than robotic. You learn not just what's grammatically correct, but what native speakers actually say.
Japanese language is deeply tied to culture—politeness levels, honorifics, seasonal references, and indirect communication styles all carry cultural meaning that affects how you understand and speak the language. A tutor helps you grasp why certain phrases are used in specific situations, how to show respect appropriately, and what cultural references are embedded in everyday conversation. This context makes learning feel more connected and helps you communicate authentically rather than just translating words. Understanding culture also helps you remember vocabulary and grammar because it's tied to real, meaningful situations.
Japanese reading progresses through distinct stages: hiragana and katakana basics, simple kanji and grammar, newspaper and novel-level texts, and specialized materials. A tutor assesses your current level and creates a progression path tailored to your goals—whether you're aiming to read manga, news, literature, or business documents. They can introduce new kanji and grammar in context through actual texts you want to read, rather than isolated exercises, which makes learning more motivating and practical. This targeted approach helps you reach reading fluency much faster than working through generic textbooks.
Look for tutors who are either native Japanese speakers or have near-native fluency, ideally with formal teaching experience or certification. They should understand the specific challenges English speakers face (since your native language shapes how you learn), be able to explain grammar clearly, and have exposure to modern conversational Japanese—not just textbook language. A good tutor also understands different proficiency levels (from complete beginner through advanced), can teach all four skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening), and ideally has experience with Japanese cultural context. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who meet these standards and can work at your level and pace.
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