Hello everyone, my name is Ricky and I'm from Rhode Island, the smallest state in the U.S. I've been studying Japanese for about 5 years, and will hopefully be making the move soon! Though I've never taught in a physical school, I've taught many of my Japanese friends the different usages of grammar points and slang words used in real everyday English.

       Throughout my years of studying Japanese, I've come across so many words you would never dream of finding in a text book, and thats the kind of environment I want my students to learn in. I want them to be able to hear, understand, and converse in real everyday English, not just a simple text book break down. Of course I'd be more than happy to explain that half of the language as well, but I don't want it to be the main focus, I'd like to teach mostly intermediate level students who have a decent grasp on common words and grammar, but want to experience a real version of the language.

       My teaching style will certainly be very laid back, I'm not a super strict teacher, and my main goal will be that the student ends the lesson feeling accomplished, and happy. I want them to be able to learn what they want to learn, at their own pace, and I'll be there to guide them every step of the way. The advantage I feel I have is being able to speak enough Japanese to give them equivalent sayings that they (most likely) already use nearly everyday.
       
      Personal interests are mostly focused around music, and video games. I love to play guitar, drums, and piano, and have been playing for about 14 years now. Video games in general have always been a big part of my life, specifically the Final Fantasy series. Of course I have an interest in Anime and Japanese culture as well, which is what pulled me toward learning the language in the first place! Thanks so much for reading! I hope I can make a lot of students happy!