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Tomoko.Y
Lesson Categories
Language Fluency
| Japanese | Native |
|---|---|
| English | Daily conversation |
| Spanish | Daily conversation |
| Chinese | Just a few words |
| French | Just a few words |
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Tomoko.Y Tutor Profile
Leave it to Tomoko to check your Japanese pronunciation and word choices to sound like a native speaker. I especially focus on teaching pitch accent and expressions that create a good impression with Japanese speakers.
Lessons are available via Google Meet or Zoom (up to 40 minutes).
☆ Lessons that help you realize your pronunciation mistakes and incorrect accents
☆ Audio recording and pronunciation files for review after your lesson
(Excluding consultation and casual conversation lessons)
☆ Guidance to help you choose words that sound more native-like
〜Recommended for the following learners〜
☆ Learners who already understand grammar and vocabulary but feel their pronunciation and intonation sound unnatural
☆ Those who are working in Japanese companies but are struggling with Japanese society’s unique communication style
☆Those who are currently living or studying in Japan, and want to expand their daily conversation skills. I also welcome any of you who are planning to visit Japan.
〜For those who want to upgrade their pronunciation to sound more like a native Japanese speaker〜
After taking a lesson, be sure to review what you learned! To assist my students who would like to review what they learned in the lessons, I provide files and audio recordings. (Some lessons don’t include audio, so please be sure to check each lesson’s description.)
To make your pronunciation closer to a native Japanese speaker, you will need to be persistent with your effort, and repeatedly practice Japanese pronunciation after your lessons.
For learners with busy schedules, even just looking at the files/listening to the recordings and practicing pronunciation during your commute or short breaks can serve as review.
・This is my 4th year teaching on Cafetalk. On weekdays I work at a call center in Tokyo, so I mainly teach on weekend.
・I trained for six months at an announcer school in Tokyo.
・I teach not just pronunciation, but also softer speech techniques and Japan’s unique form of consideration.
・Lessons are conducted in Japanes, but I can speak a little English or Spanish when you need help.
〜Carefully considering word choice〜
While working for over 20 years at a travel agency in Tokyo, hotels, call centers, ad so on, I have been refining my communication skills on the daily.
Even when grammatically correct, I advise using softer, gentler expressions when something might be misunderstood. For instance: “できません (We can’t do it)” → “難しそうです (That seems difficult)” and “いたしかねます (We’re unable to accommodate that).”
The tricky part of Japanese is how expressions change depending on whether you’re talking to a friend, a colleague, a superior, or a customer. I check who my students are conversing with and the situation, then suggest the most appropriate way to speak.
For instance, if you’re talking to a colleague: “これで大丈夫ですか (Is this okay?),” and if you’re talking to a customer: “こちらでよろしいですか (Would this be acceptable?)”
〜Why I Teach Pronunciation Lessons〜
Perhaps because I have attended music classes as a child, I’ve always had a good sense of pitch. I’ve always been sensitive to differences in pitch accents and intonation patterns I hear in daily life.
I want to use this sensitivity to sounds and musical tunes to help students speak Japanese with a more natural pronunciation and pleasant-sounding phrases through native checks.
〜Requests to My Students〜
・To prepare for your lessons, please let me know about any practice texts or requests you may have when booking a lesson with me. For details, please check each lesson description.
・For my “Business Pronunciation” or “Japanese on the Phone” lessons, speech patterns change depending on whether the other party is a client, superior, or a colleague, so please let me know in advance about your job and who you want to practice conversing with.
・I prepare lessons tailored to each students’ requests. If you join a lesson without messaging me in advance, it will be either a general lesson or one where we discuss your needs and plan together as we go.
・Please consider 30-minute per topic for a lesson. If you have multiple requests for a 30-minute session, I may ask you to limit it to one request.
・If the text you want to use has small font or is overly lengthy, I’ll prepare only what we can cover within this lesson time limit. For better visibility in my lessons, I use Word documents with font size 12.
・If conversation topics or requested topics are inappropriate or constitute harassment, I may ask you to change the subject or decline your lesson request.
～What kind of tutor is Tomoko?～
I am easygoing and like taking things at my own pace. People say I have a calming presence, but I don’t really see it myself.
I love going on leisurely solo trips and taking photos. (^^♪ I often photograph flowers, scenery, cats, and food. Looking at the ocean or beautiful landscapes and soaking in hot springs are my favorite ways to refresh myself.
My favorite dishes are mostly noodles, including light soy sauce ramen and tonkotsu ramen. I especially like Kitakata, Sano, and Hakata ramen. I often eat shrimp wonton noodles as well. I love sweet things too, such as fruit parfaits, cakes, and chocolate♡
～I love studying languages～
I’ve always enjoyed learning languages since I was young and have continued it as a hobby, though I’m only at a basic level for most of the languages. In my younger days, I often traveled to Europe as a tour conductor for a travel agency. To understand local customs, I stayed with host families while briefly studying Spanish and French. I was inspired by how teachers and students freely exchanged ideas while learning in European schools.
I have also experienced short-term English study abroad in the Philippines. I was deeply impressed by how one was able to focus with one-on-one learning. I feel I was given a wonderful learning opportunity as an online teacher there.
I am currently studying beginner-level Chinese. During my student years, I took a one-year introductory course in simplified Chinese, but I thought it would be a waste to forget everything after just learning the basics. In addition, since a lot of my students are from Chinese-speaking regions, I hope understanding even just a little bit of Chinese vocabulary and speech patterns will be helpful in teaching Japanese. However, I am still at a very basic level, so please speak to me in Japanese (*^^*)
I’ve always loved Peter Rabbit since I was a child♡ Even now, when I see Peter Rabbit merchandise, I can’t resist buying it.
※Lesson fees may be changed without prior notice due to various circumstances.
【 Cafetalk Translation / July 2025 】
Please note that this profile has been translated by Cafetalk for easier understanding.
This tutor's cancellation policy
Before request is confirmed (fixed)
- Cancellation possible at any time without charge.
After request is confirmed (fixed)
- Less than 12hours before lesson start time.→ 50% of price charged.
- No-Show→ 100% of price charged.
Lessons by this tutor
All Lessons
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Japanese pronunciation 30 minutes, with recording and pronunciation files
Tokyo accent lesson with recording and pronunciation file for your review. Practice more effectively with audio recordings and pronunciation files.Japanese
30min 1,100PHas Trial -
日本語 発音６０分 音声＋発音ファイル付
６０分レッスン。ネイティブのようになめらかで自然な日本語を目指すレッスン。録音音声と発音ファイルで より効果的に復習しましょう。Japanese
60min 2,200P -
N3 日本語発音 単語と例文
N3で出てくる単語と例文を発音練習しましょう。 ファイルと音声で復習できます。Google MeetとZoom対応。Japanese
30min 1,100PHas Trial -
30 minute Japanese Casual Conversation with Feedback [no video on both sides]
Speak Japanese with a tutor who speaks with a Tokyo accent as if you were on the phone. Pronunciation advice will also be given. Without video. Includes feedback for review.Japanese
30min 900P -
にほんごフリートーク １５分 フィードバック付［双方カメラなし］
東京アクセントの講師と電話みたいに日本語で話しましょう。発音のアドバイスもします。カメラなし。復習できるフィードバック付。Japanese
15min 500P -
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Self-introduction in Japanese 50 minutes, with corrections、recording and pronunciation files
Practice introducing yourself in a classroom setting or at work. This is a lesson for those who might get nervous easily.Japanese
50min 2,000P -
Japanese for Phone Calls 30minutes, with Conversation file and Recording file included
Let’s practice making business and daily life phone calls with a Tokyo accent.This lesson is recommended for students who are intermediate or above and have already studied keigo (honorific expressions).Japanese
30min 1,100P -
［双方カメラなし］にほんご 仕事のお悩み相談 １５分
日本人と働く方、日本の会社で働く方。にほんごを使ってお仕事する方のお悩み聞きます。日本人の方も歓迎です。Life Advice
15min 500P -
［双方カメラなし］にほんご 仕事のお悩み相談 ３０分
日本人と働く方、日本の会社で働く方。にほんごを使ってお仕事する方のお悩み聞きます。日本人の方も歓迎です。Life Advice
30min 900P -
Japanese for customer service, with conversation files and pronunciation advice
Learn how to say polite and concise phrases. Recommended for those who have already studied keigo (honorific expressions).Japanese
30min 1,100P -
Lesson pack 30 minutes x ３ times
Pronunciation, Japanese for phone calls, Japanese for customer service, and a variety of other affordable lessons to choose from. With recording and pronunciation file.Japanese
30min X 3 3,000PPack of 3 -
Lesson pack 30 minutes x 5 times
Pronunciation, Japanese for phone calls, Japanese for customer service, and a variety of other affordable lessons to choose from. Valid for 90 days.Japanese
30min X 5 5,000PPack of 5
Feedback from students
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Professional Feedback after the lesson Good for in-depth study -
Good for in-depth study
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Professional Feedback after the lesson Good for in-depth study
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Professional Feedback after the lesson Friendly
***enyang