Visited 4 hours ago
山下明美 Akemi Yamashita
Japanese
Native
English
Spanish
Chinese (Mandarin)

From Japan

Living in Other, Japan

10 Years of International Experience Teaching and Communicating in English & Spanish I love traveling and am a former tour escort and backpacker. Through my journeys, I have explored many countries, including India, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Canada, Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Spain, France, Italy, and Turkey. I also love manga and anime, so I enjoy talking about Japanese culture as well! I am passionate about language learning and cultural exchange. I lived in Australia to study English, in Taiwan to learn Chinese, and spent three years in Mexico teaching Japanese while learning Spanish. These experiences helped me understand both the challenges and the joy of learning a new language. With my international background and love for communication, I enjoy helping students learn Japanese in a fun, relaxed, and practical way. I can teach students from absolute beginner level, so please feel free to join my classes. I explain grammar and other points in English or Spanish, so it is helpful if you understand these languages. I usually give homework, but if you are busy, it is completely okay not to do it. I believe learning hiragana and katakana is the most important first step. Without reading and writing skills, it is very difficult to improve your Japanese. Step by step, I will help you build a strong foundation and enjoy the learning process!
My teaching material
  • PDF file
  • Text Documents
  • Presentation slides/PPT
  • Audio files
  • Image files
  • Flashcards
  • Articles and news
  • Quizzes
  • Homework Assignments
My creations
QuizQuiz(33)
Read more

Interests

History
Animation & Comics
Travel
Trial Lesson
43 lessons completed
USD 9.00+
From 0 level: まったくの初心者 『みんなの日本語 初級1』Minna-no-Nihongo
A1
Language Essentials
1,058 lessons completed
USD 10.00+
5% off
Elementary level and more 『みんなの日本語』Minna-no-Nihongo
A2-C2
Language Essentials
555 lessons completed
USD 10.00+
5% off
Free Talk: フリートーク
B1-C2
Conversation
548 lessons completed
USD 10.00+
5% off
Based on your timezone (UTC)
5.0
125
Reviews
100%
Attendance
100%
Respond
Provides materials·4
Patient·8
Pronunciation·1
Structured lessons·2
For beginners·103
Student Katherine Saucedo
Katherine Saucedo
2 Japanese lessons
Great first class with Akemi. Her material is exactly what I was looking for as a beginner to help me learn.
Student Thomas 榮天漠
Thomas 榮天漠
13 Japanese lessons
Great teacher, very friendly and knowledgeable!
Student Jermaine Tucker
Jermaine Tucker
19 Japanese lessons
Akemi-sensei instructor embodies a humanistic and learner-centered approach to language teaching. Her calm, thoughtful presence immediately establishes trust, which is foundational for meaningful learning. She demonstrates strong reflective teaching practices, adapting lessons based on learner responses rather than rigidly following a script. Her background and interest in becoming a mangaka subtly influence her teaching style, bringing creativity and narrative thinking into language instruction—an approach that supports dual coding theory and deeper cognitive processing. She excels at pacing, allowing learners the time they need to process language without pressure, which is particularly effective for adult learners. From an educational standpoint, her kindness and intentionality foster intrinsic motivation and sustained engagement, making her an excellent instructor for learners who value depth, clarity, and thoughtful guidance.
Student Elba
Elba
25 Japanese lessons
She's always well prepared
Student Marcello M
Marcello M
42 Japanese lessons
Akemi sensei is a thoughtful, patient and serious teacher. I am a slow learner and I feel she has well adapted to my pace, making sure that what we are studying, is well understood before moving forward. I enjoy our lessons and I am looking forward to continue studying Japanese with her. Definitely recommended. .
Student Jack Kostylo
Jack Kostylo
5 Japanese lessons
She is a very skilled teacher with a clear and flexible structure tailored to what little I know. It feels like school in a good way. I’m very grateful.