Case Studies: Teachers

Hi Syarifah! Will you tell our readers why you chose to teach Japanese and a little about your teaching history?

Learning languages is one of my favorite hobbies and teaching Japanese in a foreign country has been my dream since I was a child. Since I spent most of my life in Japan, I was embedded in the Japanese culture, sense of thinking, values, norms and etiquette. Having this background knowledge about Japanese, and to some extent Malay, my mother tongue, enabled me to offer a more complete and refined way of teaching. I further enhanced my knowledge of the Japanese language and its cultures by enrolling at Musashino University Tokyo, where I earned my first degree in Japanese Literature and Cultures. At the time, I was already interested in second language acquisition, so I went on to study Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages at the Western University in London, Ontario. I have been teaching Japanese ever since and, over the past two years, I have dedicated myself to improve my bilingual (i.e. Japanese and English) skills to aid my lesson planning and learner evaluation abilities.

What made you want to work with Language Trainers?

Language Trainers allow teachers to work with fantastic, enthusiastic students. And the company supported my teaching in so many ways, including providing teaching materials, teaching tips, and access to resources.

And what has been your most memorable experience with us, so far?

I always feel happy when I see my students are making progress. It is the best moment when I can communicate with them in Japanese.

And what do you expect from your students for them to achieve this progress quickly and efficiently?

Curiosity and constancy are the key requirements to learning any new language.

Similarly, what should students expect from you?

I keep in mind each student’s goals and interests, so I can make lessons interesting and keep the student motivated in their learning.

So, would you recommend students to sign up for a course with Language Trainers?

Absolutely! Language Trainers take care of their students and encourage their language learning. You can get so much support from them!