Sho

I recently finished Lesson 25 of Minna no Nihongo with Sho-sensei and I've really enjoyed learning from him. Each class is a fun experience where we learn a new grammar point and then steadily practice hearing and using it in conversation. Sho-sensei has an expressive and welcoming personality, so classes and the exercises we do are never dull. He is also patient and articulate, so whenever I do stumble and have any questions, he guides me and clarifies using a level of Japanese that I can easily understand. Since starting lessons about half a year ago, I've definitely noticed a huge improvement in my Japanese ability. Shows and books are much easier to follow without translations, and conversations aren't as daunting. I'm very thankful to Sho-sensei for my progress, and am excited to continue studying with him!

I’m finally finished with the first 25 chapters of Mina no Nihongo. Sometimes I’m very hard on myself, as I still have trouble finding certain words or saying the right thing during my interactions with the people I work with (in Japan). But when I look back on where I was when I started, it’s crazy how far I’ve come. I’m so much more confident doing things in my every day life. I have lived in Japan for three years, but have only really started studying for the past five months or so. It’s incredible what a difference these lessons have made. My co-workers will speak to me in Japanese completely, whereas before they would insist on speaking English. I can speak clearly with my barber, waiter, friends etc. Even on days where I’m struggling to find the right words, I can look back on where I was, hardly even able to talk about the weather, and find joy in my journey of improvement. It’s crazy how much I didn’t know that I didn’t know. Thank you very much Sho sensei. Ganbarimasu!

I have been learning with Sho-sensei for 6 months now, meeting 3 to 4 times a week on average. I just achieved the milestone of completing the Minna no Nihongo beginners course. This is been an incredible experience. Sho-sensei is patient, kind, warm, and a delight to work with. I could not speak or understand any Japanese at all at the beginning, and now I can have basic conversations and understand almost 100% of the beginner Japanese audio content I’ve engaged with. It’s amazing how much progress I’ve made with Sho-sensei in such a short time. I love the immersive approach of his teaching materials and lessons. It would be tempting to resort to English to try to understand things, but the immersion focus really sped up my progress. Sho-sensei is excellent at moving at a students pace and carefully using vocabulary and grammar that the student can handle. I will continue with him for intermediate studies and would highly recommend him to anyone looking to advance their Japanese

Sho is a fantastic teacher and I really enjoyed our first lesson. I am already looking forward to our next lesson!

Sho was really diligent: He tried to find out more about my abilities before the trial lesson and did a quick test in the beginning of the class, to make sure the level was right. He puts you at ease with his teaching method and friendly temperament. His use of mostly only Japanese might sound daunting, but it's actually very effective to make you learn new vocabulary and expressions quicker. It was a very promising start!

I’ve learned a lot since I started studying Japanese with Sho-sensei, and I advanced more in my studies than I’d have by myself. The lessons are fun and engaging, and Sho-sensei is always kind and attentive. I’m motivated to keep studying and I feel closer to achieving my goals!