Dovydas Jakstaitis

I have been studying Japanese for over ten years, first independently and later as part of my Bachelor's Degree in Japanese Studies and Master's Degree in Translation Studies, and I have made use of my language skills professionally as a freelance Japanese-to-English translator, working primarily as a manga translator.

As a native English speaker and a formerly self-taught student of Japanese, I am closely familiar with the confusion that learning the language can cause (particularly to one accustomed to the English language). I aim to use my experience of overcoming the hurdles associated with language learning to help others do the same, explaining complicated and unfamiliar Japanese linguistic concepts in ways that English speakers can easily understand.
I offer classes to beginner, intermediate, and advanced students. Beginner-oriented classes aim to establish an understanding of basic Japanese grammatical structure, introduce the 'hiragana' and 'katakana' writing systems, introduce a vocabulary of useful terms, and practice simple conversations using set phrases commonly used in day-to-day conversations.
Intermediate classes are less standardised as they are tailored to each student's individual knowledge level and goals. We may cover advanced grammar and vocabulary, practice 'kanji,' do listening and reading exercises, practice engaging in free-flowing conversations, or work towards specific goals like passing the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test).
Advanced classes are even more individualised, and may focus on formal, business-level Japanese or other relatively niche areas such as pitch accent and cultural/social Japanese conventions. Moreover, as language acquisition requires daily effort and reinforcement, I will advise students on ways that they can practice the language outside of classes, as well as intermittently setting small tests in order to check progress.

I pair grammar study with frequent listening/speaking practice as I believe that a combination of theory and practice is crucial for effective language learning. Japanese is a complex and multi-faceted language, and I aim to consider each student's specific goals when preparing lessons and prioritising what grammar forms to focus on so that they are able to start using the language in real-life settings as soon as possible. The student is the priority, and so I aim to be as accommodating as possible when it comes to deciding the pace, content, and delivery of lessons.