Hi there, I’m Mami

You might be reading this thinking: "I don't know... all of these reviews are good. But maybe all the bad reviews are filtered out or something?" - to be honest I haven't even really read through the other reviews on here, but I will be genuinely shocked if I were to read even a single negative review. Personally, I've tried just about everything when it comes to studying Japanese (including University courses) - and I'll cut to the chase: Mamiko Sensei really is an extremely great instructor. My advice is to take one lesson and to see for yourself. (But please spare me my time slot so that I can learn too!)

If you take a lesson with her, you'll clearly see her talents and experience as she adjusts the materials, can slow things down when needed - but without over-explaining. If she notices during some lesson that you're struggling with something in particular that you should already know pretty well by now, she'll create an entire lesson for next time tailor-made to help refresh your memory and help you work those muscles again. Or sometimes she'll just shift that day's lesson entirely in that direction foregoing what was to be covered for next time if she spots some area that you're not clear on that needs explaining. She's very good at noticing the weak points that you yourself didn't even know you had. It's not only about seeking out weak spots and improving them, however. In fact, usually, she will have a lesson prepared to go through in advance before starting. Any shift in the lesson prepared in advance just depends on how that day's lesson goes.

When it comes to explaining subject matter, she's not afraid to draw diagrams and find whatever way needed to help explain a topic so that you can end the session with as much of a grasp on the topic being discussed as possible. There have been many times where she's created diagrams to help further explain areas I was having trouble understanding, as well as creating diagrams to strengthen my foundation of Japanese as a whole. For example, one time she pointed out that all of the various conjugations in Japanese actually all tied together in such a way that memorizing the conjugations from then on can be done with an easier system than just brute force memorization. It was really mind-blowing since all of the pieces were there but nothing (books, etc) ever actually pointed out just how closely linked the patterns were. She also provides illustrations in her lessons and other example material that makes learning much easier as well.

Again, I can't stress enough that she's very skilled at adjusting the lessons to suit your level and to help make sure that you still make progress bit by bit at a pace that will actually produce results. I came from a complex background of self-learner, then studied Japanese at a University, then self-learner again - and she was able to help me improve without breaking a sweat. She'll find the areas you're weak (or lazy) in, and she'll push you little by little to confront those areas, to challenge yourself, to improve yourself. When I was searching for an instructor to help keep me motivated and focused in my studies, it felt like the instructors were entirely focused on either absolute beginners or high level students. It's actually pretty rare to find someone who can adjust to whatever level you are and I think one reason is due to the amount of actual teaching skill and experience that's required to do such a thing.

Taking classes with Mamiko feels like I'm having a session with one of the Japanese University Instructors I had back in the day. It's up to you to take the time to memorize the vocabulary, the kanji characters during your own time. But frankly, that's ideal since it allows you to spend your actual lesson time to discuss, learn grammar, to practice listening and speaking and everything else that cannot be accomplished so easily on your own. She also provides homework assignments to do on your own time as well. They provide a challenge, a struggle to help you check if you actually were able to absorb the new information. 

Mamiko Sensei will ABSOLUTELY help you on your journey to studying Japanese. Be it through suggestions for how to study, what to study, podcasts for listening improvements, books that might help you - as well as of course her lessons themselves. Basically, you name it. She's there to help you learn Japanese. Period. Full stop. And she's great at it, one of the best!

I can't really speak for her, but if you're STILL unsure about taking lessons with her - then I'd say reach out to her, send her a message and voice your concerns. Or take a trial lesson. But what I can say is that she will absolutely be able to help you in your journey to learning and studying Japanese.