RITSUKO Sensei

"I adore my classes with Ritsuko-sensei, and I appreciate the structured format that she uses; the notes she types up for me is particularly helpful since I am so fully focused on what I'm reading/listening that any slip up causes me to lose out on information - so it feels like she has my back in that which is a relief! I tend to ask very nuanced questions, and Ritsuko-sensei has been able to answer all of them without any issue. The English-suppport has been a big relief too because sometimes I struggle fully verbalizing things into Japanese (that's why I'm here!). Lastly, I greatly appreciate Ritsuko-sensei's appreciation to detail, such as my intonation. In particular, she's very good at detailing and explaining the things you need to do. Even though some of the material are things I've learned before, going over them again with her has provided me a new set of lens which is something I haven't quite experienced in a Japanese class (and I've taken quite a few, even in Japan). My very long-term goal someday is to be able to speak like a Japanese native such that natives even think I'm a native. I leave class feeling like I'm just a teeny, tiny bit closer to my goal. I'm very happy to have chosen Ritsuko-sensei as my teacher! (Also a student wrote in a different review that Ritsuko-sensei has a very pretty voice, and I must agree!)"

"Since my third year of university, I have been attending your Kansai dialect lessons, and this is now my third year. Time really flies! In the beginning, I learned the basics of Kansai dialect grammar, but I couldn’t quite remember it, and my intonation was very unnatural. Still, you always encouraged me warmly, giving me the confidence and courage to speak out loud.

The materials you prepared were always centered around comedy, which made every lesson a lot of fun. After learning the basics, we read fairy tales together. The stories written in the dialect were fresh and very interesting. After that, we even challenged ourselves with mystery novels, which became a fun memory. Learning new expressions in meaningful contexts was so enjoyable. Gradually, I got used to the intonation of Kansai dialect and started to imitate it more and more.

Thanks to all the advice you gave me, I was able to feel my own growth. Later, we read the story of Ganesha together. Ganesha is always doing outrageous things and could be called the comedic role, but sometimes he shows his wisdom as a god, and I was deeply moved by those words. I love Ganesha, and he’s my second favorite after you, Sensei, from the SUPER EIGHT!

Also, your lessons on business Japanese were very helpful and informative. The last lesson felt so fulfilling that I was surprised when it ended. Now, we are reading the second part of the Ganesha series together. I look forward to continuing with you! Thank you so much for everything!"

"Ritsuko sensei is a friendly and professional teacher, truly attentive to students’ needs and always able to explain words I don’t quite understand. I feel like I can talk to her about anything. Her lessons are structured and based on a textbook, while at the same time being focused on speaking and listening. This means I’m able to track my progress and stay motivated as well as get some conversation practice, which was exactly what I was looking for. I think Ritsuko sensei is an amazing teacher for intermediate/advanced level students!"

"First of all, your voice is beautiful, and I think the preparation for the lessons is excellent. During the lessons, the speed of interaction with the students was just right. You listened carefully to the students' needs and reasons for learning Japanese. The lesson content was also interesting, and I learned a lot of practical things, like facts about Nara Prefecture. Thank you for all the praise. However, I know that my Japanese grammar and intonation still have many mistakes, so I would appreciate your continued guidance in correcting them. Thank you again for recommending the materials."

"The classes are incredibly productive and well-structured! The first lesson was especially engaging, and I appreciated Ritsuko-sensei's thoughtful approach in assessing my level of proficiency. One of the most significant aspects of the lessons is that I don’t experience any language barriers—Ritsuko-sensei actively encourages me to learn new vocabulary to better express my thoughts and feelings. My goals for learning Japanese may evolve over time, but Ritsuko-sensei helps me identify those goals and adapts her teaching methods accordingly. Unfortunately, due to my busy schedule, I’m unable to take as many classes per week as I would like. If I had more time, I would definitely increase the number of sessions, as the time truly flies during her classes!"

"It’s been over a year since I started taking your lessons. The content of the lessons was rich, covering daily life and culture, and you explained even the difficult topics in a way that was easy to understand. Before each class, you always waited for me, and now, compared to a year ago, I can really feel how much I’ve improved in listening, speaking, and writing skills. I’m really glad I took your lessons and I’m so grateful to you from the bottom of my heart. It has truly been a great learning experience."