Yuki Imai Can teach Japanese online in a natural way
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Acquire Japanese through Comprehensible Input

"...The central hypothesis of the theory is that language acquisition occurs in only one way: by understanding messages. We acquire language when we understand what we hear or read in another language..."

Stephen Krashen and Tracy Terrell
[The Natural Approach: Language Acquisition in the Classroom]

I can teach you Japanese with children's stories, magazines and TPR (Total Physical Response).

- I will describe the pictures from children's stories or magazines in simple Japanese, I will try to make it comprehensible for you by drawing, gesturing and pointing out (showing) things around me.

-TPR: I can give you a list/ lists of commands (eat, drink, walk etc.) and you can act it out by using your hands.

I have learnt this method from a YouTube video "How to acquire any language NOT learn it!". If you are interested, the method I mentioned above is explained from around the 25:45 minute mark.

In my understanding, it mimics the way we acquire our first languages as babies, which is through listening ("comprehensible input"), and it aims at "Picking up the language, subconsciously absorbing the language..." (4:31 mark).

I am using this method to acquire some languages myself and I think it works, however, I do not have any formal teaching experience, and I am not an expert of this method.
I would like to learn and improve my teaching skills with you.

Some rules for this method:

*I will not focus on teaching you grammar or pronunciation during the lessons. In fact, I do not have the knowridge to do. If it is necessary or if you have any request, I can do some research and teach you, but otherwise I will not focus on these topics.

*I will try to stick to speaking Japanese with the method so that you can get more comprehensible input, but don't worry, you can talk to me in English and I will use English when necessary (greetings, discussions, explaining the method etc...)

*I will not try to correct your grammar or pronunciation. Of course, if you call a dog a cat, I will tell you that it's a dog because it is actually different, but if you make a "mistake" in terms of grammar or pronunciation, I do not want to correct you because I believe it is not really effective and is a little discouraging.

So during the lessons...

・You can focus on listening.
I can ask you simple yes/no questions (e.g."Is this a car? Yes or No"), but you don't have to speak when you are not ready.

・You also don't have to study grammar, and practice reading or writing. (Until you "acquire" the language.)

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I would like to use Zoom for lessons because I find the drawing and screensharing features useful for the method.

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If you would like to have conversations in Japanese, I can also be your conversation partner, please let me know.

Subjects

  • Japanese Beginner-Expert

Experience

No experience mentioned.

Education

  • Business management (Apr, 2016–Mar, 2020) from Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto

Fee details

    ¥720–2,000/hour (US$4.74–13.15/hour)

    ...I am planning to start increasing the price gradually at some point as I gain more experience in the future.
    -Currently: the minimum fee (720 JPY)
    and up to 2000 (planning, as of now) in the future.

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