Mutsumi A.

I'm a native Japanese teacher, trained in Yokohama, Japan, and based in London since 1992. I teach learners of all ages and levels — from complete beginners to advanced learners preparing for GCSE, A-Level, IB, or JLPT (N5–N1) — as well as adults learning for business, travel, or personal interest. My particular strength is pronunciation and pitch accent, an area many learners struggle with but rarely get clear guidance on from a native speaker. I tailor every lesson to the student's own goals and interests, and I genuinely enjoy helping students build real confidence in speaking and understanding natural Japanese. Most of my lessons are delivered live via Zoom, and I'm comfortable working flexibly across time zones. I'm also open to in-person intensive sessions for families able to arrange travel. My goal is not only to help students pass exams, but also to give them the confidence to communicate naturally in Japanese.

I trained as a Japanese teacher at Kyoritsu Women's University in Tokyo, graduating in 1987, and hold a qualified Japanese language teaching licence (obtained in 1991). I began my teaching career in Japan at Hokushin Gakuin, a Yokohama-based cram school, before moving to Urawa Municipal Ohara Junior High School in Saitama. I have lived in the UK for over 30 years, where I currently teach at Hockerill Anglo-European College (an IB World School), International House London, and Cactus Language School, alongside independent tutoring since 2016, covering GCSE, A-Level (Edexcel 9JA0), IB, and JLPT (N5–N1). I have also worked as a GCSE Japanese speaking examiner at Camden School, London.

I tailor each lesson to the student's level, goals, and personality — there is no fixed textbook-only approach. Lessons typically combine structured grammar and vocabulary work with conversation practice, pronunciation and pitch-accent training using authentic Japanese conversation, and cultural context. For exam-track students (GCSE, A-Level, IB, JLPT), I build a clear roadmap toward the exam with regular practice tests and feedback. For adult and business learners, I focus on practical, real-life communication. I'm patient, encouraging, and adapt my pace to each student — many describe my lessons as engaging rather than purely academic.