I have only the highest praise for Kumiko Takeishi. She is not only an excellent Japanese language teacher,but is also so much more! Her consulting services are indispensable to any expat seeking support navigating Japanese bureaucracy. She has supported me with medical translations, childcare logistics, and insurance claims. She was also an amazing travel agent for my parents and created an incredible travel itinerary that they adored. If you are a foreigner in Japan without perfect Japanese, you need Takeishi sensei!
I give Ms. Takeishi my highest recommendation as a Japanese language instructor. I have been learning Japanese at the college, graduate, and professional levels for the last 15 years. She is the best instructor I have worked with due to her creative and engaging curriculum, professional teaching certification, and flexibility. My goal when I started my current job was to raise my language score to a Foreign Service Institute (FSI) 4/4 in speaking and reading. This was a goal that I had been working towards for the last five years, and due to my lessons with Ms. Takeishi, I was able to finally achieve my goal. She is certified as a ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) instructor, and she makes lessons engaging as she ties in current events and Japanese cultural expertise with our lessons. She comes prepared to each meeting with a agenda to meet my professional needs, but also stays flexible in case I need to prepare for a media interview or speech. I know that you will learn and accomplish your language goals with Ms. Takeishi.
I’ve taken lessons from Kumiko-san for three years while living in Fukuoka, and found her to be a skilled, dedicated instructor who greatly enhanced my ability to speak Japanese. Initially, our lessons were in-person, and Kumiko was always professional and well-prepared. When the coronavirus pandemic started, we switched to on-line courses. While meeting face-to-face has some socializing advantages, Kumiko leveraged technology to enhance our online sessions, resulting in an even more productive and engaging learning experience. She also was very flexible with my busy, changing schedule, and always made time in her own busy schedule to ensure that we were able to meet. Kumiko-san’s teaching style and ability to read the student was critical to successful learning. Her skills and experience allow her to sense when a student is struggling, and she uses alternative explanations or finds additional resources to adapt to the student’s way of learning. Learning Japanese isn’t always easy, but Kumiko-san always makes it enjoyable and productive. Her personality, skills and dedication have earned my highest recommendation.
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