ServicesTestimonialsFAQArticlesContactFree Consultation

Learning Japanese

How to Choose a Japanese Tutor: What to Look For and What to Ask

By the Hanabuddies team · · 4 min read

A good Japanese tutor can save you months of going in circles. A poor match can make you feel stuck, or quietly put you off the language. The trouble is that most tutor profiles look alike: friendly photo, native speaker, “all levels welcome”. This guide explains what actually makes a difference, what to ask before you commit, and how to use a trial lesson to decide.

Start with your goal, not the tutor

Before you compare anyone, write down why you are learning and by when. “Pass JLPT N3 next December”, “hold a conversation with my partner’s parents by spring” and “handle meetings with our Tokyo office” call for very different lessons. A tutor who is great for relaxed conversation may not be the right person to drill you for an exam, and the other way round.

Your goal also tells you what to look for in a profile and what to ask in the first lesson. If a tutor never asks about your goal, that is a warning sign in itself.

What to look for

  • A native speaker who can explain. Being Japanese is not the same as being able to teach Japanese. Look for someone who can explain why a sentence is wrong, not only that it sounds strange.
  • Experience with learners like you. Teaching complete beginners, JLPT candidates and business professionals are different skills. Ask who they usually teach.
  • English when you need it. Beginners often learn faster when grammar can be explained briefly in English. As you improve, a good tutor uses less English, not more.
  • A plan. Ask how they will structure the next three months. “We’ll just chat” is fine for advanced learners and frustrating for most others.
  • Feedback you can keep. Notes after each lesson, corrected sentences or a shared document make review much easier.
  • Times that suit your time zone. A tutor you can only meet at awkward hours is a tutor you will cancel on.

Questions to ask before you book

  1. How do you usually plan lessons for someone at my level with my goal?
  2. What materials do you use, and do I need to buy anything?
  3. How do you correct mistakes during conversation?
  4. What should I do between lessons?
  5. How will we know if I’m making progress?
  6. What is your cancellation policy?

The answers matter less than how they are given. You want someone who listens, asks you questions back and gives clear, specific answers.

Make the most of a trial lesson

A free or short trial is the best way to judge a tutor. Come prepared so you learn as much as possible from it:

  • Tell them your goal and current level in a sentence or two, in English if needed.
  • Try to speak, even badly. You want to see how they handle your mistakes.
  • Ask them to explain one thing you find confusing, such as は and が.
  • Notice how much of the time you spent talking. In a good lesson it is usually you.

After the trial, ask yourself three questions. Did I understand the explanations? Did I feel comfortable making mistakes? Do I know what we would do next? If the answer to all three is yes, that is a strong sign.

Marketplace or small team?

Tutor marketplaces let you browse hundreds of teachers and book quickly, which is great for trying different styles. The downside is that you are on your own when it comes to planning, and if your tutor leaves the platform, you start again.

A small school or team works differently: someone matches you with a tutor, keeps track of your progress and can switch you to a colleague if needed. Neither is right for everyone. If you like to organise your own learning, a marketplace may suit you. If you want someone to build and keep a plan with you, a team is often easier.

Red flags

  • Every lesson is free conversation, with no correction and no plan.
  • The tutor talks more than you do, lesson after lesson.
  • You never get anything in writing to review.
  • Lessons feel the same after two months as they did in week one.

Changing tutor is normal, and a good tutor will not take it personally. What matters is that your lessons move you towards your goal. If you are still deciding whether you need a tutor at all, our guide to Japanese lessons vs language apps may help.