Karuna
Visited 8 hours ago
Karuna
Community Tutor
Teaches
Japanese
Native
Speaks
English
Native
Croatian
Other
Serbian
Your bilingual cross-cultural specialist 🌊
Teaches
Japanese
Native
Speaks
English
Native
Croatian
Other
Serbian
Your bilingual cross-cultural specialist 🌊
From United StatesLiving in Los Angeles, United States (07:37 UTC-07:00)
About Me
italki teacher since Jul 24, 2024Interest topicTravelHistoryWritingArtFilms & TV Series
Hi! I'm Karuna, a bilingual Tokyo-born educator. I received my B.A. from Cornell University and my Master's from Tokyo University of the Arts, where I also worked as a TA/Research Assistant. I’ve also worked as a Curatorial Assistant to a Japanese museum director and as a Japanese-to-English translator. 📍 Currently I split my time between California, Japan, and various other destinations.
🍥 MORE ABOUT ME 🍥
I enjoy architecture, design, history, cooking, and most things “Showa retro.” Also currently dabbling in studying basic linguistics and etymology. When I'm not teaching Japanese, I myself am (slowly, arduously) learning Serbo-Croatian!Me as a Teacher
Express yourself with nuanced cultural cognizance while staying true to your authentic self 🎋🏮 My methodology focuses on facilitating your voice, i.e. student-generated output. This will include journaling/writing assignments and structured speaking challenges.
Above all, our lessons together will be compassionate to both the cultural and linguistic standpoints of a non-native learner.
Japanese is a complex but also incredibly flexible language: I can equip you with the most efficient conversational “tricks” that natives use in everyday communication — but won’t skimp on important foundational grammar, either.My lessons & teaching style
My lessons are best for adult students ranging from beginners to intermediate learners (Levels N5, N4, N3). I'll default to Genki I, Genki II, and Tobira for grammar exercises — but by no means exclusively, if you prefer another resource.
Some of my customized resources for students include:
🕯 Effective self-study tools, quizzes, and flashcard optimization strategies, so that our one-on-one time can focus on the things you *can't* so easily teach yourself
🕯 Analyzing brief excerpts from a range of colloquial native Japanese content, e.g. blog articles, restaurant reviews, artist Q&A interviews, or your favorite anime/manga
🕯 Journaling & writing promptsMy teaching material
- Text Documents
- Image files
- Video files
- Flashcards
- Articles and news
- Quizzes
- Test templates and examples
- Homework Assignments
Education
2012 - 2016
Bachelor’s - Government, Film
2018 - 2020
Master's - Arts Studies & Curatorial Practices
Work Experience
2016 - Current
Freelance Travel & Culture Writer
2021 - 2023
Marketing Coordinator
2016 - 2017
Sr. Associate, Social Media
2018 - 2019
Gallery Associate
5.0
Rating
11
Students
30
Lessons
100%
Attendance
100%
Response
Japanese Lessons
Trial Lesson
7 lessons completed
USD 7.00+
Japanese for N5, N4, N3 Learners 🕯️ Beginner to Pre-Intermediate
A1 - B2Language Essentials20 lessons completed
USD 28.00+
Package with 6% off
Japanese Conversation Session 🎋🏮 Pre-Intermediate and Above
A2 - C2Conversation3 lessons completed
USD 28.00+
Package with 6% off
Japanese for Young Learners 🍥 age 14 & under
A1 - B2Language Essentials0 lessons completed
USD 70.00
Availability
Based on your timezone (UTC+00:00)
My creations
Quiz (5)
4 Reviews
Martin Lim
1 Japanese lesson
So I've taken a good amount of lessons in the past. In learning any language I would highly recommend to pick someone with the same native language as you.
If you're in the United States or in English Speaking country I would highly recommend Karuna as a teacher. She is very knowledge about the language, culture, sub-culture, and also American-sub-japanese culture. I know that's a lot of cultures lol, but having someone you can connect with makes all the differences.
If you're one of the lucky few if you get the opportunity to have her as your Japanese coach.
Good luck fellow students and have fun!
Sep 18, 2024
Jeremy
3 Japanese lessons
Trial lesson- Karuna is seems very prepared and professional, with interesting lesson plans and homework ideas. Looking forward to continued lessons.
Sep 12, 2024
It's Pick'n Time!
3 Japanese lessons
I'm excited to work with Karuna..I feel like she has a good grasp of how difficult it is to be a beginning language learner.
Sep 9, 2024
Damon Broussard
1 Japanese lesson
Great tips, very articulate, and insightful! Will book again
Aug 30, 2024
Trial Lesson
USD 7.00
Your final payment will be made in USD