**JLPT-focused, Conversation** | Beginner→N1 | KR/EN/JP support | Sydney/online | 7+ yrs teaching | JLPT N1 (near perfect) & BJT J1+

Find out more about Niji Sensei

• Did you grow up speaking this language? Or were you inspired by a trip abroad, an individual or a certain aspect of the culture?

  No, I grew up speaking Korean.
  I became interested in Japanese culture when I was 17 years old and later moved to Japan, where I lived and worked for nearly 10 years.
  Japanese became a language I used every day, both at work and in daily life.

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  I would choose Hayao Miyazaki, the creator of Studio Ghibli.
  One of my favourite animated films is Spirited Away.
  I love the story, the atmosphere, and the music used in Ghibli movies.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or expression in the language that you particularly like? I like 「にじ」(Niji = rainbow), which was my very first Japanese word. I love its soft sound and its beautiful meaning.

  I like 「にじ」(Niji = rainbow), which was my very first Japanese word.
  I love its soft sound and its beautiful meaning.

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Japanese changed my life.
  It allowed me to build a career overseas, work in global companies, and connect deeply with people.
  That’s why I truly enjoy teaching it.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  I believe the most difficult parts of Japanese for English speakers are kanji and grammar.
  From my experience as a trilingual speaker, the fastest way to improve a second language is [Exposure effect]
  I provide customised learning materials that help students practise naturally and repeatedly.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  When I first arrived in Japan, I was 18 years old with no network and no work experience.
  I was even fired from an izakaya and a Korean restaurant within my first month.
  After working in places like an Amazon factory, I gradually found better opportunities.
  This experience made me mentally stronger and more resilient.

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  Living and working in Japan for almost 10 years helped me learn practical and natural Japanese.
  Now, living in Australia, I teach Japanese from a global and easy-to-understand perspective.