Hello, my name is Rinko Sakuma and I'm an experienced native Japanese tutor currently living in the United Kingdom. I have been giving Japanese lessons online with Verbalplanet since 2009. I am currently offering a discounted initial trial lesson at 50% off my normal lesson price for new students.
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Latest Reviews
Jonathan M United Kingdom
We went through some homework set by Rinko that I had prepared. She carefully explained where I had made mistakes and was encouraging when I had correctly identified the appropriate answers. It was a valuable, enjoyable and helpful lesson. As my own teaching semester has now begun with an additional workload to prepare I will not be able to continue classes with Rinko on a regular basis for the time being. She has been an excellent and supportive teacher.
Jonathan M United Kingdom
Rinko took me through some exercises she had given me to prepare and clarified some of the grammatical points, which was very helpful. She opened a conversation that produced some new vocabulary and helped revise some half forgotten phrases. It was a good session.
Jonathan M United Kingdom
Unfortunately it was interrupted by problems with the internet and it was a bit difficult for us to pick up where we had left off. However Rinko gave me some useful homework to do and explained an important grammatical matter so the lesson was completed.
Jonathan M United Kingdom
Since we were only getting to know each other Rinko picked up a sense of my strengths and weaknesses and offered a good suggestion on what I needed to work on. It was a valuable session though cut short a bit too early when Zoom stopped. It was an enjoyable and helpful lesson.
thekitschsidekick United Kingdom
Rinko communicated brilliantly before our taster lesson and was wonderfully friendly during the lesson. She taught me some key introductory phrases and I found the repetition and explanations very helpful.
I'm a visual learner so more pictures could have helped, but this was only the first lesson so I can't speak to her other content.
Domo arigato gozaimazu, Rinkosan x
Stephanie A United Kingdom
Another excellent lesson. Rinko-san is helping me to review difficult lessons in Genki 2.
I am a fully qualified Japanese trainer currently teaching corporate and private groups in the UK. I have worked in the USA, Australia and the UK due to my love of travel and international relations.
My teaching experience with Japanese has ranged from young learners through to MDs and company directors. Whoever I teach, the methodology remains the same...dynamic,communicative, student centered and fun!
I will be happy to guide you in your Japanese studies whether you are a complete beginner or seasoned learner.
Aside from languages I enjoy sports and pop music.
Qualifications & Experience
BSC Hons International Studies
Japanese Language Instructors Qualification
Postgraduate Certificate TJFL (Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language)
Postgraduate Diploma (Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language)
Experienced in public school and private sector teaching. Experience with young learners and adults.
Experienced in training teachers in Japan and UK.
I am currently working as a Japanese teacher in the UK.
Teaching Approach
I have experience teaching both Japanese and English at levels from beginner to advanced. I follow a modern student centered communicative approach which has been developed through years of public and private teaching experience. The emphasis in my lessons will always be on guided production allowing you to start speaking Japanese straight away.
Jonathan M