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Award-Winning Japanese Tutors

Certified Tutor
2+ years
I have an undergraduate degree from Brown University where I double majored in International Relations and History of Art and Architecture. I also have a certification in teaching English as a foreign language. My favorite subjects to tutor are Russian, Japanese, and English, but I also am available...
Brown University
CTF
Certified Tutor
2+ years
Studying linguistics at Carleton College gave Maika a deep understanding of how Japanese grammar actually works — why particles like は and が behave differently, how verb conjugation patterns connect, and what makes keigo (polite language) so structurally distinct. She has tutored Japanese at both el...
Carleton College
Bachelor

Certified Tutor
2+ years
As a dedicated language tutor with several years of experience, I bring both expertise and enthusiasm to every lesson. I specialize in Chinese, Japanese, and basic Arabic, and I have had the privilege of guiding students of diverse ages and backgrounds through their language-learning journeys.
University of Chicago
Master's/Graduate

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Fifteen years of teaching Japanese means Lucy Je has walked countless students through the progression from hiragana and katakana to kanji recognition, verb conjugation groups, and particle usage. She holds a degree in Japanese and approaches the language structurally — breaking down sentence patter...
University of Padova
MS
Pukyung National University
MS

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Noel
From an early age, I have been fascinated by the power of learning and the joy of teaching. Growing up, I spent countless hours helping my classmates with their schoolwork, finding immense satisfaction in witnessing their understanding grow and their confidence soar. This passion for education led m...
University
Bachelor's

Certified Tutor
10+ years
Jacob
Jacob's degree in East Asian Languages and Civilizations from the University of Chicago means his Japanese instruction is rooted in deep study of the culture, history, and linguistic traditions behind the language. He connects vocabulary and grammar to their cultural logic — explaining why certain v...
University of Chicago
Bachelor's in East Asian Languages and Civilizations

Certified Tutor
9+ years
Cori
Cori is pursuing a Japanese minor at MIT, which means she's actively working through the grammar structures, kanji readings, and particle usage that trip up most learners. That proximity to the learning process gives her a practical sense of what sticks and what needs extra repetition.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science, Materials Engineering

Certified Tutor
Emily
Emily minored in Japanese at Texas A&M and continues to engage with the language through media and self-study. She teaches hiragana, katakana, and foundational grammar patterns like particle usage with the same structured approach she applies to her other languages, making the writing systems feel s...
The University of Nottingham
Master of Arts, Ancient History

Certified Tutor
Darin
Darin brings an analytical learner's perspective to Japanese, tackling the language's grammar patterns and writing systems with the same systematic approach he applied to his scientific training. For students working through hiragana, katakana, kanji recognition, or verb conjugation, he offers struc...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
PHD, Physical Chemistry
Tufts University
Bachelors, Chemical Engineering

Certified Tutor
2+ years
As a native Japanese speaker who has also worked professionally as an interpreter, Sonya understands both languages from the inside — the particles, sentence-final expressions, and politeness shifts that sound natural versus textbook-stiff. Her bilingual preschool volunteering sharpened her ability ...
University of Alberta
Bachelor
Top 20 Languages Subjects
Meet Our Expert Tutors
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Mary
Elementary School Math Tutor • +15 Subjects
I currently work for an afterschool enrichment program (Best Brains) tutoring elementary English and math, and I have 4+ years of experience as a private ESL tutor for both children and adults. I am working toward my Masters of Science in Secondary English Education and ESL at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. I graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative World Literature and Japanese, and from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Master of Arts in Japanese Language and Literature. I began tutoring while I was in high school, assisting with algebra homework. In college, I volunteered as a kindergarten reading assistant through a program called Start Making a Reader Today. I later volunteered while in graduate school at a local high school tutoring students in beginner Japanese. I have also been employed by the University of Wisconsin as a Teaching Assistant, and taught in Religious Studies and East Asian Studies. In all cases, it has been a pleasure watching students progress in their academics and to see them grow as young scholars. I especially enjoy teaching language arts because of the feeling of connection that language can bring. My favorite part of teaching is seeing the smiling face of someone the moment that they finally "get" something they've been struggling with and watching their confidence boost. In my free time, I host a small book club, pen pal with friends around the world, and try my hand at new recipes.
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.
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
Hidefusa
AP Statistics Tutor • +42 Subjects
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 attending the local public school system and the Japanese Weekend School of New Jersey. After completing two high school diplomas, I pursued a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Psychology at New York University and worked in New York, NY for six years in private industry. I returned to higher education, moving to Boston where I conducted research, taught, and studied Clinical Psychology. After completing a Master of Liberal Arts in Clinical Psychology at Harvard University, I moved to Salt Lake City, UT to pursue a PhD in Psychology (Clinical Neuropsychology). I am proficient in SPSS, Stata, APA formatting, and research methods for the behavioral sciences. I have limited exposure and experience with R and MATLAB. Hobbies: art, books, traveling, music, photography, travel, reading, writing
John
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +39 Subjects
I am most passionate about English, History, Math, and the SAT. I am fascinated by the SAT. I love teaching struggling test takers how to view the SAT as an approachable, accessible set of riddles and games instead of as an intellectual brick wall. I firmly believe that the majority of people can find great joy in academics once they discover the individual approach that works for them. I see it as my job to help them find that path. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, rock climbing, running, travel, and reading. I am also a section editor for the Los Angeles Review of Books and the literary manager for two theater companies based in New York and Los Angeles.
Karen
ESL/ELL Tutor • +8 Subjects
Hello! My name is Karen, and I am a Japanese, Spanish, English, and ESL tutor. I have lived and worked locally and abroad, serving both in classroom and translator roles. After receiving my Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Washington, I worked for the Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program in Fukushima, Japan. Here, I taught English to elementary and junior high students. After this, I spent time working in the Richland and Pasco School Districts as a Japanese coach and substitute teacher. I also spent time with the Columbia Basin College ESL Program, where I was a volunteer ESL tutor. In addition to these classroom roles, I spent time acting as an interpreter for Spanish, Japanese and English lectures on various topics and interpreted for local guides on tours aboard 800-passenger cruise ship run by international non-profit organization on a global peace voyage. I love sharing my passion for teaching, languages, and communication with others, and I look forward to working with you!
Wataru
Japanese Tutor
Hi! It's Wataru. I am originally from Japan and have been living in New York since 2000. I had a career as an industrial newspaper pressman/editor in Tokyo so that I know newspaper level strict grammar and manner of business speech. I watch anime and I can talk about Japanese subculture with you if you like. I have been teaching Japanese language in person and online. I have taught from beginners to JLPT N3 certificate prep students. I've taught American, Canadian, English, Indian, German, Australian, Mexican, and so on. Teaching is one of my way to feel the joy of supporting people. I'll help you master the language and dive into Japanese culture and subculture. Once you start to think in Japanese, you will notice that your way of communication changes. English is good for business, law, and science while Japanese is more about sharing feelings. The waiters in Japan may be reluctant to serve your table, but my students prepare well to make them feel at ease and they have fantastic travel in Japan.
Sophie
Calculus Tutor • +22 Subjects
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 and have also taught English in Japan to students of all ages. Beyond these academic interests, I enjoy playing cello and guitar, cooking, reading, and drinking all kinds of tea. I'm excited to know my students and look forward to working together with them!
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.
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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