Yumiko Sensei

Take It Further, Deeper & Beyond

Specialties

Business Japanese
Intermediate / Advanced Conversation
Interview Preparation
JLPT N2 / N1 Preparation

Levels

Intermediate
Advanced

Languages

Japanese (Native)
English (Conversational)
Chinese (Conversational)

Materials

TRY!
Quartet 1 & 2
Other Business Japanese textbooks and materials, depending on the student’s needs.

Style

I tailor each lesson to your individual goals, level, and interests. Rather than relying solely on textbooks, I use a variety of materials such as Japanese novels, articles, and news videos to help you develop Japanese that you can actually use in real-life situations.
I also provide clear explanations for questions that intermediate and advanced learners often have, such as “What’s the difference between these two words?” or “Can I actually use this expression in everyday conversation?” I’ll explain not only the meaning, but also the nuances and differences in how each expression is used.
I place a strong emphasis on giving you plenty of opportunities to speak Japanese during lessons. I’ll also provide detailed feedback on grammar, vocabulary, and expressions that come up in conversation, including mistakes and areas where you could express yourself more naturally. (I can also take notes on your mistakes during the lesson and share them with you afterward.)
For Business Japanese, I’ll teach you not only grammatically correct Japanese, but also natural expressions used in real workplaces and ways of communicating that leave a positive impression.

License

WJLC 420-Hour Japanese Language Teacher Training Course, completed
Registered Japanese Language Teacher Training and Practical Training Course, currently enrolled
Level 2 Chinese Language Proficiency Test
Level 2 Bookkeeping Certification (Nissho)
Level 3 Business Legal Affairs Certification

Experience

3 years as a full-time employee at a major materials manufacturer, working in accounting and general affairs
3 years as a self-employed business owner, running an import/export and product sales business
1 year as a director at a PR and communications startup, mainly handling social media marketing
2025–Present: Teaching Japanese online

About Me

I love listening to people and hearing their stories. During icebreakers with my students, we often get so caught up in conversation that they tell me, “The lesson went by so quickly!” I always aim to create fun, relaxed lessons where you can feel comfortable and speak as much as you like.

My hobbies include visiting cafés, museums, and shrines, reading books about the Japanese language, and collecting folk handicrafts. In my personal life, I’m a mom to an elementary school-aged daughter and a Shiba Inu.

Drawing on my experience working in a variety of business settings in Japan, I teach Business Japanese as well as conversation lessons for intermediate and advanced learners. However, one of the main reasons I became a Japanese teacher is simply because I love the Japanese language itself.

I’m especially interested in wago (Yamato kotoba), traditional Japanese words that have been used in Japan for centuries. I believe that a language reflects the culture and the way people see the world. I’d be happy to explore and talk with you about the fascinating and beautiful aspects of the Japanese language.

If you want to do more than simply “study” Japanese and would like to discover and enjoy the Japanese language itself on a deeper level, I’d love to chat with you!

What My Student Say

Yumiko-sensei is friendly, patient, and organised. She always comes prepared with topics for the lesson and makes it easy and enjoable to learn. I'm studying business Japanese and Yumiko-sensei has been very helpful at explaining the nuances of formal situations and answering any questions I have. I very much recommend her to help you on your learning journey. 🙂

Lily

I truly look forward to my lessons with Yumiko Sensei. She strikes a great balance between structured learning and more free-flowing conversation. She always comes to class with prepared materials, but she also allows us to explore a topic when it comes up naturally in discussion. What I especially appreciate is Yumiko Sensei's calm and friendly presence. She brings her own personality into the lessons in such a natural way, making the classes feel comfortable, engaging, and fun. Moreover, she is great at correcting my mistakes while still making sure our conversations continue to flow naturally.

Kia

The class was fun! I liked that we had a little icebreaker before starting — it helped me ease my nerves because I was nervous lol. The conversations we had were enjoyable, and whenever I made a mistake or said something unnatural, Yumiko-sensei gently corrected my grammar. Even when a word’s translation was complicated, she explained it in simple, easy-to-understand terms, which I really appreciated.

チェイ

Yumiko-sensei is so delightful! She makes learning formal Japanese challenging and fun. I really appreciate the detailed notes she makes after every lesson.

Yumiko Sensei has been a great teacher and conversation partner. She has been a tremendous help in assisting me with my reading and conversation skills. She takes into account of my interests to make the lessons fun, and provides me with corrections on when my sentences are unnatural or if there is a better way of phrasing things.

Bryan

The teacher really understood my specific needs. She was very kind and took the time to explain whenever I didn’t understand a specific notion. Since it was at a business level and I took a package, this lesson was very efficient for improving my skills! It definitely helped me get a job. Thank you so much, Yumiko Sensei!

Pauline

Yumiko先生の授業にはいろんな場面のビジネス用語を学べて、先生の説明もわかりやすくて、とても良いと思います。 During classes with Yumiko Sensei, you can learn Business Japanese for various scenes. She explains very clearly and I really liked her classes!

Tanh