| Name | Raffi K. Recommended |
|---|---|
| City | Victoria, BC |
| Teaching | Japanese, English |
| Native Language | English |
| Originally From | Canada |
| Working With | Kids, Youth, Adults, Groups |
| Levels I Teach | Beginner, Intermediate |
| Lessons Take Place | Learner's Home or Work, Public Place, Online |
| Review Rating | |
| Hourly Rate | C$40 |
Hello! My name is Raffi. I specialize in the teaching of English and Japanese. I'm always looking forward to meeting anyone that is interested in the prospect of languages! I will offer a one-month subscription to my services for a small deduction of the overall fee. Please contact me for more information. I prefer to use the Genki textbooks for teaching Japanese, and I tend to have various requests to use other English textbooks or school books when teaching English.
Canadian native English speaker with 7 years of Japanese language experience in Japan and Canada. I have knowledge of IELTS testing procedure through experience at Global Village Victoria, and I teach up to N3 level Japanese. I have a bachelor's degree in Applied Linguistics and a minor in Pacific and Asian Studies at the University of Victoria. I volunteered as president of Camosun College Japanese conversation club that offers free tutoring in Japanese for four years. I ran the UVic Japanese Culture club from 07/2017 until 04/2019. I have studied autism, ADHD, and other learning disabilities on my own through credible online sources and books.
I have tutored about 50 people in total. Teaching native English speakers is my forte because I was once in the same boat, and I understand the same linguistic errors that they will come across learning Japanese. I prefer a communicative approach with my students, which is focused on you and your needs rather than my own agenda. I will give an initial needs assessment, which is a combination of your needs and my suggestions. Any feedback is always welcomed. Errors made will be corrected with an implicit instructive method. The recast technique is one of my preferred methods. 英語で何かを説明するときに相手がよくわからない顔をしたり、または個人的な話をしたりするときには、わたしは日本語を使うことがあります。もちろんこれは日本語の練習じゃないから、日本語を使うのはそういう特別な時だけです。
I will base my lessons on the acquisition type of the student(s). (kinesthetic, oral, or visual learners). I will make sure we cover reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Of course, I will prioritize what the student(s) need the most help with first. Depending on the natural ability of the student, I might prepare a phonological index of their sound production (using a recorder) only on their first meeting with me and find ways to improve their pronunciation using my own teaching methods. Typically, this is not necessary, but for students whose goal requires top notch pronunciation, this is the best option.
[10 spots for students open at the moment] I am flexible and can easily adapt to the student's schedule. Please ask me for my availability.
Victoria, BC
My teenage son has been very interested in Japan for several years. This summer, he decided to learn the language. We were very lucky to find Raffi. He has an incredible knowledge of the Japanese language and culture, and is also a patient and supportive teacher. My son has learnt a lot in just a few months. Raffi has kept him engaged, interested and challenged. I can’t recommend him highly enough.
I took Japanese lessons from Raffi for several years. He was very professional and helped me learn at the pace that was right for me. His lessons helped me greatly with my school Japanese class, and I learned a lot from him even after the school class was over. I would recommend Raffi to anyone who is trying to learn Japanese or English if they want a great teacher who will help improve your skills.
I attended Raffi's class for a few months to keep my Japanese skills sharp between semesters. Raffi is very dedicated to his students and can accommodate a variety of skill levels with personalized study plans.Overall a great tutor to work with.
Raffi is a wonderful tutor, and if you're looking to learn Japanese, I highly recommend working with him. He is patient, kind, and knowledgeable. He's very good at explaining grammar concepts and providing supplementary knowledge over and beyond what a textbook can offer. Since I am not enrolled in a formal course, Raffi is really taking on the role of a teacher here and doing a phenomenal job. He makes the content fun, interesting, and manageable. His feedback in general is so helpful, and particularly so when it comes to speaking. He really is a great tutor and teacher!
If you want to learn Japanese and need a tutor, Raffi is an incredible option. He is kind, patient, understanding and it is obvious he teaches an area he is passionate about. I found Raffi when I was struggling in a mainstream college class. I have an appreciation for learning about culture and language but it is not my strong suite. With Raffi as a tutor, he helped to calm my nerves and prepare me for my class. Raffi is a native English speaker and this is something I sought when looking for a tutor. I wanted someone who knew the mistakes I was making because they had made the same mistakes themselves. Raffi was able to clearly and effectively explain my mistakes and how I could improve. His background education in linguistics and Asian studies is obvious as he focuses a lot of time on proper pronunciation and uses stories of his own errors to provide context to the learning. Overall, my time spent with Raffi paid off. I learned a tremendous amount about Japanese history, culture, and the language. I highly recommend Raffi to anyone seeking to learn Japanese.
Raffi is a qualified and professional language teacher. We have enjoyed working with him. His classes are informative and fun. We highly recommend Raffi’s classes.
I can’t say enough positive things about Raffi. Humble, generous, informative, and a clear speaker, Raffi conveys the Japanese language in a concise and incredibly informative manner. He has a well rounded understanding of the culture, which makes the language engaging and fun to learn. I have absolutely learned and retained more Japanese under the tutelage of Raffi, than in a classroom setting. You always leave a lesson learning something new and interesting!
Raffi has been a wealth of support in studying Japanese! He's been a great guide in my novice studies of the language. I can easily recommend Raffi.
Raffi is a wonderful tutor who is extremely kind and flexible! an excellent tutor in Japanese. Learned so much more with Raffi then in a Classroom setting. I would reccomend him to anyone who needed a Japanese tutor !
