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Award-Winning Japanese Tutors
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
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
I would like to work with people who want to advance their Japanese knowledge and capabilities. I have lived for 18 years in Japan and can guide someone through the intricacies of the language. I have certified top level proficiency on the Japan Foundation Japanese Proficiency Test.
Carleton College
AB
Certified Tutor
2+ years
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 ...
Tokyo University of Science
BS
Certified Tutor
2+ years
Learning Japanese means juggling three writing systems, honorific levels, and grammar that works nothing like English — and Karen tackles all of it from firsthand experience using the language abroad. Whether a student is memorizing their first hundred kanji or practicing particle usage in complex s...
University
Bachelor's
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
8+ years
Caitlin
As an Asian Studies major at Duke, Caitlin engages with Japanese language in an academic context that goes beyond textbook dialogues — she understands how kanji, hiragana, and katakana each function within the writing system and why particles like は and が trip up English speakers. She walks through ...
Duke University
Current Undergrad Student, Asian Studies
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Shane
Between his East Asian Studies major at Harvard, his presidency of the Harvard College Japan Initiative, and his work in the Yenching Library's Japanese Collection, Shane lives and breathes Japanese. He reads novels and plays games in Japanese for fun, which means he teaches the language the way it'...
Harvard University
Bachelor in Arts, East Asian Studies
Certified Tutor
7+ years
Shona
Shona's semester abroad in Seville proved that immersion reshapes how you learn any language — a lesson she carries into teaching Japanese, where she emphasizes building comfort with sentence patterns and particles through active use rather than translation drills. Her AP Japanese Language and Cultu...
Johns Hopkins University
Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics
Certified Tutor
Damien
Damien studied Asian studies at Cornell, where Japanese language and culture were central to his coursework. He approaches the language by grounding grammar patterns — particles like は versus が, verb conjugation groups, and sentence-ending forms — in real context so they stick. Rated 5.0 by students...
Cornell University
Bachelor in Arts
Top 20 Languages Subjects
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Andrew
Calculus Tutor • +14 Subjects
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. Hobbies: writing, music, art, books, reading
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
Zhaleh
8th Grade math Tutor • +38 Subjects
I am currently studying Mechanical Engineering and Japanese at Carnegie Mellon University. I enjoy tutoring because I love sharing knowledge with others, especially in one-on-one sessions, or with a small group. Teaching others is a great way to expand understanding of how other students think and develop ideas, and it allows myself to see new ways to look at problems. While I'm not studying (or helping my friends study), I love to play music (piano, flute, guitar), take a walk through the forest preserve, draw, design/sew clothing, chat with friends, etc. I look forward to contributing to students' learning endeavors!
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.
Sarah
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +29 Subjects
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 conducted my graduate studies at Fordham University and received an M.S. in Secondary Science Education. I am currently certified in New York State for Biology 7 - 12 and am pursuing a secondary certification in SPED 7 - 12. Hobbies: running, reading, cooking, music, writing, singing, art, books
Mary
Elementary School Math Tutor • +7 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.
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.
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 • +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
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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