Testimonials

"I am not an A-student, and I don't like studying either; but I always enjoy the time learning Japanese with Maki sensei! 
Believe it or not, sensei's interesting, knowledgeable and patient teaching style always, every time, makes me feel 4 hrs/week lesson is totally not enough!! makes me want to learn more and discover more fun stuff about Japanese!!
Sensei always tries her best to explain materials to me and answers all the questions I have.
Her encouragement builds up my confidence to move on and challenge whatever is possible.
マキ先生に会って、本当によかったと思います!先生、ありがとうございます!" - Jessica 

"A while ago, I told my friend that I have been learning Japanese for about two and a half years.  She said, "Oh it must be tough to study after work.  It must be tiring."  Well, on the contrary, it's actually quite relaxing and fun to go to sensei's class. 
Sensei usually starts the lesson casually with chit-chat, which is a very good way for us to catch up and see how each other is doing.  Although it's only chit-chat, it's a very good opportunity to practice listening and speaking Japanese.  I really appreciate how sensei adjusts the level of Japanese according to our abilities.  Now I think about it, sensei is speaking more Japanese than English, and speaking a little bit faster (than before) to us.  Hmm... I hope sooner or later, I will be able to understand a conversation with sensei entirely in Japanese! :)
 With the rest of the lesson, sensei would teach and explain things very clearly and patiently.  Sensei would use many examples to explain grammar points to make sure that you understand.  And if there are things that are still not clear, sensei would look for some other teaching materials to help with the explanation. Sensei prepares a lot of materials for each lesson; you can really tell that sensei puts her heart into teaching.  I'm really glad to have met someone who is so dedicated.
 For me, going to sensei's lesson is not really like a "lesson," it's more like "meeting a friend who is very willing to share knowledge with you."  That is why I look forward to every Tuesday's lesson.  It's actually very refreshing to enjoy a cup of starbucks and chat with a friend after work AND learn Japanese. 
先生,ありがとうございます。" - Nicole  二コール

"Before I met Maki, I had struggled with trying to learn Japanese by attending night school classes and felt I really wasn`t making any progress. But, after working one on one with Maki, even for a short time, I could see an amazing improvement. She is very skilled at creating strategies to help you learn and very patient and understanding in helping you work through complex Japanese grammar.
If you are wanting to learn Japanese, I would strongly recommend you work with Maki. It is a decision you will not regret."
- Roy Bishop


 Ever wonder what you should do with your passion for Japanese anime/comics/games? Sometimes a good teacher is the only thing you need. I started learning Japanese with only a textbook and years of passion for Japanese anime/comics. With sporadic tutoring sessions during summer holidays, I managed to pass level 2 mainly through self-studying. Then I got stuck. Self-studying got me pass grammar and reading, and anime got me pass listening, but speaking, the one thing JLPT can never test, is something I never got to practice. And that was when Maki-sensei (my saviour~) came into my life. Besides teaching the grammar and vocabulary needed to pass the test, Maki-sensei always has time for chit-chatting. We've talked about my school life, future plans, Japanese drama/anime, literature... just about anything that interests me. Even after the exam, I still spent an hour a week with sensei, reading classic Japanese novels. Being with Maki-sensei is not just about passing the JLPT (or any other exam you have to take), it is about merging Japanese learning into your everyday life and making the learning process fun and interesting. I have only been learning with Maki-sensei for a little more than one year, but I have benefited much more than I have expected.
ありがとう!先生!
(マキ先生+日本語の魔力は実にすごいです。一級を合格し、大学に行った今の私も、今年思わずN1の申し込みを出してしまった んです。) - Barbara


 Hi, my name is Jennie and I've been learning Japanese for almost half a year.
Maki-sensei is a wonderful, patient, and professional Japanese tutor. She tries to cater to what I need. I enjoy the classes we have together. Her lessons are easy to keep up and understand. Maki-sensei always answers all my questions, problems, and concerns. She cares about what I need and require to learn Japanese. She goes at the pace that I want and she is flexible with scheduling lessons. I had other language tutors before, but Maki-sensei is one of the best. I enjoy and will continue to take lessons with her.Thank you Maki-sensei for having the patience to deal with me. - Jennie


I prepared for my first JLPT exam under Maki-sensei's guidance. At the beginning, I was not very confident and did not know where to start on my own, but sensei's professional and experienced soon guided me to the right track. She was extremely resourceful with many valuable practice questions, texts and teaching aids.
  Maki-sensei is friendly and interesting. Her humourous examples and explanations made exam preparation sessions stress-free. We sometimes discussed and chatted enthusiastically on the practice reading passages and a variety of other topics.
  Most of all, I believe Maki-sensei is exceptional in her dedication. She makes an effort to know her student well and answer their problems even if it sometimes means going over class time. I would definitely recommend Maki-sensei to any Japanese learners. - James