About
Hello! My name is Grace Barber.
My credentials:
I have been learning Japanese for 15 years now, and began tutoring Japanese about 3 years ago. I have passed level N2 of the Japanese language proficiency test (JLPT) in 2019. I also received my second foreign language teaching (SFLT) certificate in June of 2023. Lastly, I will be receiving my masters degree in Japanese literature in 2023. For my tutees, I create custom curriculum tailored to their needs and goals, and we proceed at your pace! I particularly like to incorporate opportunities to practice speaking Japanese, as well as creating and giving my tutees custom flashcards to help them study.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
In our initial virtual meeting, we will get to know each other a little bit! Please note that I am not currently accepting any students under the age of 16, and if you are under the age of 18, you will need to have your legal guardian or parent with you for our first Zoom call. I will ask questions to get a feel for your preferred learning style, what you already know, and what can be improved on in your Japanese language skills. After our first meeting ends, I will put together a plan for your curriculum that is tailored to your needs and learning style/preferences. This means I will select one or two books/textbooks that I think are best for your current language level and goals. I will also attempt to find digital versions of the selected book(s) online so that you have them for free, but if I cannot find them online, you would need to buy the book(s) on your end so that we both have our own copies to work with. I would send your tailored curriculum plan to you via email for your approval, and if you accept, then we would move ahead with scheduling lessons.
What a typical lesson with me looks like:
We will work at your pace for each lesson doing the following -- A typical lesson with me starts with a short review of the previous lesson, answering any questions you may have from the homework, then working through the next section(s) of the book(s) while answering your questions along the way. We will also be speaking in Japanese as much as possible, with some English mixed in depending on your language level. I will also encourage you to practice speaking Japanese with me conversationally so that you get some speaking practice!
Lastly, we would finish up with a review of what your homework is for next time. Usually, homework consists of reviewing/studying what we just learned. This can take different forms depending on your learning style, but one thing that other tutees have found helpful are the custom flashcards I make for you to study with. I make these flashcards using the Anki app (available on smartphones and computers) to help you review any vocabulary, kanji (Chinese characters) , or grammar that from our lessons from anywhere! Rather than giving you the usual mind-numbing flashcards with only one keyword on the front and back, I like to make flashcards more fun! For example, my flashcards often include pictures, relatable sentence examples, and color-coding to make them more memorable and enjoyable to study.
If the above lesson outline sounds like something you are interested in, please feel free to send me a message! I look forward to hearing from you. :)
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Education received and related experience -
- Sept. 2021-Present: On track to receive a Masters degree in Japanese Literature & my second foreign language teaching (SFLT) Certificate by Summer 2023.
- 2020: Bachelor's degree double-majoring in Japanese language and literature (completed 4 years of college-level Japanese).
- Dec. 2019: Passed level N2 of the JLPT.
- Sept. 2019-March 2020: Studied abroad at a university in Shinjuku, Japan.
- 2008-2015: Received private tutoring lessons from a native Japanese speaker.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
A typical 1-hour lesson with me costs $40, but final pricing is determined after our initial meeting to determine how much of my services are being requested.
How did you get started teaching?
I started tutoring students in the Japanese language back in 2020 when I realized my passion for teaching the Japanese language and about the Japanese culture. :)
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with young adults to adults. Children under the age of 16 are currently not accepted.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
- What do you intend to use your Japanese language skills for? (Personal interest, dream job, school, JLPT, etc.)
- What experience do you have with the Japanese language?
- How many years of experience do you have with learning Japanese? (Or, how many classes have you taken?)
- Do you know how to read hiragana and/or katakana?
- Roughly how many kanji do you know how to read and write? (Between 0-2,500)
- Do you have a specific timeframe/deadline that you need to achieve certain results by?
- What is your learning style? (i.e. what teaching/learning methods do you prefer?)
- How often would you like to have lessons?