Tutoring is especially useful for targeting and working through things that are tripping you up. These would be things where you want someone to, for example, help you with pronunciation, teach you how to learn Japanese in a way that really works for you or get your vocabulary beefed up enough to join a special event.
Should I choose this learning option?
This is for you if you’re shy, need focused help or have a hard time staying motivated.
What’s included?
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private sessions with a teacher * |
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tailored schedule |
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learning record |
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workbook |
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custom lessons |
How often/When are the lessons?
Sessions can be scheduled in any open slot between 10AM – 10PM Central for as often and as long as you like. We can meet once a month, once a week or a few times a week depending on what you need.
Speaking-focused
To get good at speaking, I recommend shorter sessions, like 15 or 30 minutes, 2 to 4 times a week. We would spend the entire time talking in Japanese.
Everything (speaking/listening/reading/writing) -focused
Longer sessions of an hour or more would be better so we have time to go over the material and then practice together.
Where are lessons held?
Online lessons
You’ll get a link to your own private Discord classroom in our learning community. If we can’t get Discord to work, we’ll use Google Meet.
In-person lessons
On the day designated for that library (see Japanese Tutoring), we can meet at
1) Glenview Public Library (1930 Glenview Rd, Glenview, IL 60025),
2) Logan Square Branch, Chicago Public Library (3030 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60647),
3) Lincoln Park Branch, Chicago Public Library (1150 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60614),
4) Cicero Public Library (5225 W Cermak Rd, Cicero, IL 60804),
5) Oriole Park Library (7454 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL 60656) / Austin-Irving Library (6100 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60634)*
* No convenience fee. Schedule at least 3 hours before the lesson. We may have to reschedule if I’m in a different area and can’t make it to the lesson within 3 hours.
OR
6) a public location of your choice within 15 miles of Harlem Irving Plaza or one of the libraries above on a day other than what’s listed on the Japanese Tutoring page.
Choose the location when you book your lesson.
See breakdown of costs associated with in-person lessons.
How fast are the lessons?
What will I be learning?
Sessions are totally at your own pace. If you have books you want to study from, I’ll mix that into my teaching materials. You can see the course outlines for a general idea of when and what I’ll teach you but let me know if there’s something specific you want to learn!
How much does tutoring cost?
One-on-one: $40/hr.
Each additional person (up to 3 people): +$10/hr.
+$3/lesson for all in-person lessons to cover transportation and printing costs.
+$12/lesson convenience fee for lessons held at a public location of your choice (including the libraries listed above if it’s on a day I’m not usually there).
Timeslots can be booked in 15-minute increments.
How do I “book” a lesson?
I booked my lesson. Now what?
Once you have bought Japanese Tutoring or Monthly subscription for Japanese Tutoring, an email asking you to fill out this booking request form should be in your inbox shortly! (Check Spam and Promotions folder if you don’t see it after 15 minutes.)
You’ll fill in your Japanese goals and ability along with times and if we’re both free at the same time, I’ll send a Google calendar invite.
If we’ve been talking by email, you can skip the form and continue emailing me. Send dates and times you’re free.
Check when I’m already booked on my Availability Calendar so you can narrow down the dates. It only shows confirmed events and appointments. So, what you request might already be filled by the time you message me. But we can figure out other times together.
(Booking calendar is coming soon. In the meantime, please use the form. Thank you for your patience!)
Booking and paying for a session locks in your session time except:
- when there’s an hour or less before your online session or
- when there’s 3 hours or less before your in-person session or
- when it’s after midnight and your session starts before 11AM
In any of these cases, if I don’t see your booking in time, the lesson will be delayed or rescheduled.
**Please note that even if we’ve been chatting and find a great day/time and location for both of us, it isn’t a reservation or booking without the payment. It won’t go on the Availability Calendar. And this calendar is what I follow since each day is slightly different.
Is it okay if I’m a little late?
If we start late and I don’t have back-to-back lessons, your lesson can be extended up to:
- 15 minutes past your lesson’s start time for sessions an hour or longer.
- 5 minutes past your lesson’s start time for sessions shorter than an hour.
Sorry, I’m not going to make the lesson today.
No problem! Just message me
- 3 hours or more before your in-person lesson
- 30 minutes or more before the start of your online lesson
to cancel/reschedule and the payment goes towards your next lesson. Cancellations/Rescheduling after this time costs
- 50% of your session fee for an in-person lesson.
- 25% of your session fee for an online lesson.
Sorry, I forgot about the lesson.
I couldn’t make it. Can I reschedule it now?
I know things happen. The first time you miss a lesson every 3 months (from your start date), there’s no charge.
Any lessons missed after that will be the full fee.
You are more than welcome to book another lesson but the payment for the missed lesson won’t roll over and be used for that lesson. When you reserve a time, that means someone else can’t schedule a lesson during that time.