Student Testimonials

"Noriko is so friendly and helpful, she really makes you feel at ease - which is so important when you are trying to learn a language. She tells you a lot about Japan and the culture, which gives depth to your understanding. She creates her own, very clear and well-structured teaching materials. She is encouraging at all times.

Noriko goes above and beyond what is expected of a language teacher - she is so well organised and business-like, and even willing to email me between classes to 'chat' in Japanese!"

"Noriko’s classes are always fun and well prepared. She adapts the classes based on individual needs and takes her time to explain concepts. She is very patient and has many different methods of teaching. After taking Noriko’s classes for a few months I feel much more confident having conversations in Japanese about a variety of topics. We have worked on many aspects of the language; reading, writing, speaking, listening, grammar, shadowing and learning about Japanese culture and I feel as though I am making good progress.

Noriko is very easy to get along with - I always look forward to my lessons!"

"The classes are catered specifically to myself to help develop my weaknesses & further improve my strengths. As someone who came from group classes learning simply via textbooks, the difference is incredibly noticeable. The teaching style is varied - a mixture of listening, speaking, reading and an array of visuals which I personally find help with comprehending immensely. Homework aids with testing oneself to be creative and make use of learnt vocabulary, as well as encouraging to learn more.

Noriko-san is an excellent teacher who I would recommend time and time again. I could not think about learning the language with anyone else now!"

"I really enjoy the effort that goes into making sure the classes are right for you, meaning I’m constantly feeling like I’m learning new vocabulary and having the opportunity to put that learning into practice. I also enjoy the contextualising of what is learned by putting it into real life scenarios and conversations, as well as the further learning of a lot of cultural events and aspects in Japan.

I’ve really enjoyed Noriko's teaching so far and feel like I’ve learned a lot, I’m looking forward to continuing!"

"Noriko is a very motivating, positive and encouraging teacher. She is flexible, and quickly responds to my learning needs and styles. Her written materials are well-organised and clear and are a constant source of useful reference to me. I find her swift feedback on any homework I do very motivating and helpful. I also appreciate her patience when listening to me read. Noriko also provides interesting cultural and linguistic insights as well as a variety of activity types within lessons.

My one-to-one lessons with Noriko feel very 'tailor-made' and are full of interest, challenge and smiles! The lesson time flies by!"

"Noriko's classes have been so very impactful for my son. Noriko has become a part of the family and opened up the Japanese culture to our family not just my son. He has grown so much respect and affinity for the language, food and culture, thanks to Noriko-san for making this possible.

The immersive talks that Noriko arranged multiple times to encourage talks and presentations in Japanese with native Japanese speakers was part of the highlight for us, as it gave more confidence in Japanese speech. As a result of this, my son has attempted the higher tier Japanese Language GCSE paper."

"Noriko-san is patient and encouraging. She has excellent prepared materials, but also personalises the lesson to help you learn in the most useful way.

I really enjoy my Japanese classes."

"Noriko is cheerful and very patient, and seems to work around each individual with ease, tailoring lessons and exercises on demand. She pays close attention to any progress and any areas that need more attention."

"Thank you for being a great teacher for the past ~20 months. I’ve always looked forward to our lessons."

• Teacher is helpful – grammar/vocab around the subject
• Patient and kind when I make a mistake
• Offers helpful feedback after tests and exams

"Noriko-san has a strong passion for teaching and her proactive communication with myself (the parent) about my daughter’s progress and challenges shows her dedication to fostering a strong partnership.

The use of questioning techniques demonstrates a remarkable ability to engage my daughter actively. Noriko-san has the unique way of using constructive feedback and encouragement to motivate Eva to strive for excellence."

"Noriko is clearly a passionate teacher. Her lessons are far more than just ‘learning’. She is welcoming and always very hospitable, providing a calm and encouraging environment.

Our son has clearly thrived since beginning his lessons with Noriko. He always enjoys his time with her; I know this because there is often much laughter. We are very grateful to her."