My Language Learning Journey
Since I was a kid, I’ve had a fascination for languages. I would create my own alphabets for fun and learned some shorthand. Eventually, I wanted to learn a new language, French. I was bilingual (English and Mandarin Chinese), so I thought picking up a third language would be easy.
Despite my dedication and passion, it didn’t go as smoothly as I hoped. Over the years, I would listen to podcasts and drill myself on flashcards. I even found a box of Pimsleur Method CDs in my mom’s workplace closet, which I used to attempt to learn French. Later, my mentor at my internship recommended Rosetta Stone and let me borrow her CDs to learn.
It was frustrating to see my friends casually learn new languages and piece together sentences with ease. Meanwhile, I struggled and got nowhere with my French.1
Learning Japanese
I gave up on learning French. After a short break, I switched to learning Japanese, partially because I wanted to move to Japan. (A strong “why” can sometimes help as a good motivator to learn.)
I approached Japanese the same way – podcasts, flashcards, grammar explanations. And I ended up with the same results – almost no results. I tried out group classes. I even studied abroad at a well-accredited language-learning program for a few weeks, to no avail.
I understood almost no Japanese.
How Everything Changed
My turning point came when I realized that learning doesn’t have to be boring. That learning isn’t about acing exams and performing. This led to researching less conventional language learning methods. I found a small but strong community of Japanese language learners who used a combination of memory techniques and immersion. They learned Japanese quickly, and they magically sounded like native speakers.2
I experimented with the principles of effective learning, memory techniques, training my focus with meditation, and comprehensible input. For the first time in my life, I saw progress. 2 years later, I passed the Japanese N2 exam (equivalent to Upper Intermediate, or B2) with an almost perfect score. All while having fun, and without specifically studying for the test.
What Language Learning Did For Me
Although I no longer live in Japan, I still use my spare time learning new languages. I’ve come up with new ways of learning, and I’d love to share those with others. In a world where information is being censored and intentionally destroyed, the ability to acquire a new language is powerful. And I truly believe the world would be a better place if we could speak each other’s language. To think in a unique way.
I want to help others who may be struggling to learn English, because learning a language opened up my world. I was able to attend school and work in Japan. I was able to read things written only in Japanese, and gained a deeper understanding of how different people see the world.
One of my favorite language learning moments is when I was in Indonesia on a group tour, and I translated for a Japanese woman who was still a beginner in English. I practiced English with her, asked about her language-learning journey, and gave her some learning tips. She thanked me afterward because she was able to feel more at ease during the tour.
with Majalah Bobo, a kids’ magazine
How I Like to Teach
What differentiates me from other tutors is that I care about the structure required to meet your learning needs and life goals. As I mentioned before, learning isn’t about following a list of things to remember. It’s about experimentation, creating an environment where you can stay consistent, and overcoming your doubts. The best learning happens when you are relaxed and having fun. I work with you to create this optimal environment. Also, I don’t directly teach and test you on new words and grammar. Instead, I practice English with you by speaking with you in a way that is easy for you to understand and process.
I wasn’t always a language teacher. When I transitioned from working in animation to video game technical art, I used my language-learning skills to learn basic coding in 4 months. And as I worked as a game developer, I tutored languages on the side. I helped my students reach goals such as preparing for a trip to Japan, or landing a job using English. I also ran an accountability group that met weekly to help people reach their individual goals.
Fun facts about me: My favorite pastime is paddleboarding! I am learning electric bass, building out a mini campervan, and have a cute doggo who looks like a teddy bear. My favorite champion to play in League of Legends is Gwen, and I am (currently) learning Indonesian.
► To learn more about working with me, take a look at my services page!
- What I’ve learned is that language learning comes more naturally to some people than others. But we are all hardwired with the same natural ability to pick up a new language. If you can speak your native tongue to a certain ability, rest assured that you can learn a new language to that level as well. ↩︎
- One of the people I followed was Matt vs. Japan, who used a learning method created by Khatzumoto called AJATT (All Japanese All the Time.) ↩︎