Tom

I had already tried a few teachers on italki and honestly had great experiences with many of them. However, Tom really stood out, and I think he is an exceptionally good teacher. I always had trouble “just getting the words out.” Of course, I still do, but I feel like I've finally reached the point where I can have actual conversations in Japanese. Tom manages to create an atmosphere where I don’t feel nervous at all. He speaks at a level that makes him easy to understand. At every moment, Tom is very attentive, incredibly friendly, and overall just a pleasure to talk to. One thing that makes the lessons valuable is the shared Google document where Tom writes down new words, corrections of errors I've made, as well as some useful phrases. This is very helpful for reviewing the lessons and preparing for the next one. If you are scrolling through these reviews trying to determine if Tom is the right fit for you, I am absolutely confident he is.

I've had quite a few lessons with Tom and honestly I still can't believe I was lucky enough to find him as a teacher. Our conversations are always so fun, I feel like I'm talking to a friend. He mixes formal and informal language and speaks in a way that is neither too easy nor too difficult. That way I still get a challenge without being discouraged. Also, Tom is always so nice and available when it comes to questions/ lesson changes/ scheduling/ etc. 絶対におすすめです!

Tom is a great teacher, he is super patient, willing to help, he has a super nice personality and on top of that he speaks very good English, so if push comes to shove you can rely on English to clarify things. I would highly recommend Tom.

Tom-sensei explains the Japanese language in context, as well as the nuances between formal and informal speech. He also explains grammar with clever connections which facilitates learning. 10/10 would recommend!

Tom-San is really ideal in every way as an instructor. Really appreciate!

I just had the trial lesson with Tom sensei and I thought it was very promising. We discussed my previous experience with learning Japanese as all as my expectations for the next classes. I am looking forward to studying with Tom sensei.