"Hi, I’m Chris! I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in Japanese Literature, and obtained my M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language from Saint Cloud State University. I scored 100% on the Illinois Japanese Language Proficiency Test, which covers reading, writing, and speaking.

As a licensed 5th grade teacher at a dual language school in Illinois, I teach Japanese reading and writing, and one English class for ESL students. I discovered my love for teaching when training new hires during my first full-time job. Helping them go from feeling overwhelmed to confidently prepared was rewarding, which led me to tutoring ESL students online as a hobby. Before long, I had grown a large network of students in Japan, and was ranked in the top three among over a thousand tutors on the platform. Now that I teach in Illinois, I no longer work on Japanese Standard Time, so I’m excited to help students in the U.S. reach their language goals!

Japanese:

My students' levels range from those who are still learning kana to native speakers with a strong grasp of kanji and grammar. I’ve led students who once struggled to write their name to gain command and confidence in their writing, incorporating literary devices such as four-character compounds and proverbs. My students have won awards such as first prize at the Japanese Speech Contest in Chicago.

English:

I’ve taught all ages, from toddlers to retirees. Together, we’ve accomplished: passing EIKEN to qualify for top schools in Japan, preparing presentations for international business, developing pamphlets for tour guides, and strengthening conversation skills to make the most of their study abroad experience.

I use formative assessments to assure that students are appropriately challenged, and fit the lesson to students’ motivations so they can enjoy learning. I love to get to know students so I can make achieving goals meaningful and fun. If you or your child want to improve your English or Japanese skills, feel free to contact me!" less...