When to Switch Japanese Tutors (and How to Do It Without Losing Progress)
It’s time to switch Japanese tutors when you’ve stopped making progress for a couple of months, your lessons no longer match your goal, or you can’t get regular times that suit you. Switching is normal and doesn’t mean starting again: bring your notes, your current level and a clear goal to a trial lesson with a new tutor, and you can usually pick up where you left off within a lesson or two. A short, polite message is all your current tutor needs.
Signs it’s time to change
| Sign | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Same mistakes for months | You’re not getting clear correction, or the lessons don’t revisit weak points. |
| Mostly free chat, no plan | Fine for practice, but not if you’re aiming for the JLPT, a job or an exam. |
| Your goal has changed | For example from travel phrases to business Japanese, or to a test date. |
| You dread lessons | Pace, style or personality may not fit. That matters for sticking with it. |
| Scheduling never works | Missed lessons cost more progress than an imperfect tutor. |
Before you switch, try saying what you want: “Could we do more speaking?” or “Could you correct me more?” A good tutor will adjust. See getting the most out of Japanese lessons.
How to tell your current tutor
Keep it short and thank them. Something like: “Thank you for all your help over the last few months. My goals have changed, so I’m going to try a different approach for a while.” You don’t need to give a detailed reason. In Japanese, a polite version is いつも丁寧に教えていただき、ありがとうございました。 (thank you for always teaching me so carefully).
What to tell a new tutor
- Your level and how you got there: how long you’ve studied, any JLPT level, which grammar you know.
- Your goal and deadline: a trip, a test date, a job, conversations with family.
- What worked and what didn’t with your previous tutor.
- Your notes or vocabulary list, so they can see what you’ve covered.
- How you like to be corrected: straight away, or at the end.
A placement chat in the first lesson helps the new tutor fill any gaps. See Japanese placement tests.
Use the trial lesson well
Come with a question or a short task, such as introducing yourself or a grammar point you find confusing, and notice whether the tutor explains clearly, lets you speak, and suggests a plan. Our guide to choosing a Japanese tutor has a checklist, and what happens in a free trial lesson explains what to expect.
How Hanabuddies can help
We match learners with native tutors by goal, level and time zone, and if the fit isn’t right we’ll suggest another tutor. Tell us what you’ve already covered and we’ll build on it rather than starting from the beginning.