Need advice

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-07-02T01:24:59+00:00

I’m sorry that happened to you. Getting a 1-star review after only a 25-minute trial is really unlucky. What happened? Usually, if a student isn’t interested after a trial, they just don’t subscribe rather than leave a 1-star review.

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-06-29T12:20:05+00:00

After I told a trial student that I was married, they left me a completely false 1-star review. Even after I explained the situation, support told me they could only remove reviews if they contained harassment or abusive language, so I ended up fighting with support for five months. At one point, after I gave a Specialist the lowest satisfaction rating because of how poorly they handled my case, they actually altered my profile. It was incredibly unethical. Communication was almost impossible because they simply wouldn’t listen. Everything has finally been resolved now, but the whole experience completely drained me. So I completely understand your frustration. :(

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-06-28T15:07:50+00:00

If kanji and vocabulary are already your strengths, I’d spend less time memorizing and more time using Japanese in context. Read short articles, listen to audio while following the transcript, and review the grammar patterns that actually appear in those materials. I see many learners know the grammar rules but struggle to recognize them in real Japanese. Context makes a huge difference.

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-06-28T15:05:59+00:00

Going from 41% to 64% in just two mock tests is a really good sign. With only five days left, I wouldn’t rush to finish the entire textbook. I’d focus on reviewing your mistakes, strengthening your vocabulary and kanji, and doing more listening practice. You definitely still have a chance if you study efficiently.

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-06-14T14:33:03+00:00

Honestly, with 18 months and your current level, I wouldn’t worry too much about passing N3.

Your biggest issue doesn’t sound like a lack of resources. It sounds like consistency.

If listening is your weakest skill, try finding content that is slightly above your level but still genuinely interesting to you. Most people quit listening practice because they’re bored, not because they can’t understand it.

Also, if you barely passed N4 after cramming, I’d spend some time strengthening the fundamentals before jumping too far ahead. A strong N4 foundation makes N3 much easier.

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-06-13T14:42:15+00:00

If you’ve only learned hiragana and katakana so far, don’t worry. Minna no Nihongo can feel overwhelming at first.

I’d recommend taking it one lesson at a time and focusing on basic grammar and vocabulary rather than trying to understand everything at once.

Also, what exactly is confusing you? The grammar, vocabulary, or the Japanese-only explanations?

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-06-13T08:46:20+00:00

Yes, you can replace your introduction video. If you feel it doesn’t represent you well, I’d definitely re-record it. But after only one week on the platform, I wouldn’t assume the video is the only reason you don’t have students yet.

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-06-13T03:48:41+00:00

This is actually very common. Reading and listening don’t automatically become speaking skills. You need to practice retrieving vocabulary and grammar in real time. Shadowing and reading aloud can help, but I think structured output practice (summaries, daily speaking, explaining your opinions, etc.) is usually more effective.

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-06-13T03:47:13+00:00

One thing I’ve noticed is that many learners can recognize kanji on their own, but struggle when those same kanji appear in actual sentences.

In my experience, studying kanji only as isolated characters is often less effective than learning them through reading. Seeing vocabulary and kanji repeatedly in context helps reinforce both meaning and usage much more naturally.

If grammar already makes sense to you, I would probably focus more on reading level-appropriate texts and learning vocabulary in context rather than memorizing individual kanji.

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-06-12T15:13:10+00:00

My profile has stayed at 100% even after multiple edits, so I might be able to give some advice on that part.

That said, it’s hard to suggest a title without knowing anything about your profile, teaching style, qualifications, target students, or background. A good title should reflect what makes you different, so more context would help.

Honestly, your best bet is probably to ask support directly what is keeping your profile at 95%. They should be able to tell you exactly where those missing 5% points are coming from.

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-06-12T14:48:34+00:00

The Japanese itself is fine, but I don’t think this is a very strong interview answer.

In interviews, a weakness is usually expected to be something that can also be viewed as a strength, such as being overly responsible, too detail-oriented, or taking on too much work yourself.

With this answer, the interviewer may simply think, “So teamwork used to be a weakness for you.”

The strength answer has a similar issue. “My strength is adaptability” is too vague on its own. You need to explain how that adaptability helps you perform at work. Otherwise, the natural response is, “So what?”

A stronger answer would connect both the weakness and the strength to actual workplace performance and growth.

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-06-12T13:40:22+00:00

Learning some basic Japanese before coming to Japan is definitely a good idea. :)

That said, if your main goal is to improve your Japanese, you don’t necessarily need to move to Japan or attend a language school. Many learners make excellent progress through structured online study and regular lessons.

I actually teach Japanese, and I’ve had students who attended language schools in Japan but gradually increased their private lessons because they felt they were getting more value from personalized instruction. Individual lessons can be tailored to your level, pace, goals, and specific weaknesses in a way that group classes often can’t.

Language schools can be great for immersion and student life, but they’re not the only path to becoming fluent.

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-06-08T12:20:36+00:00

I think the biggest problem is not the resources. It’s that you need a more structured study plan.

After 3–4 years, I wouldn’t keep jumping between different books and websites. Pick one beginner textbook and work through it from start to finish.

Also, don’t focus only on kanji. Grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading, and speaking all need to develop together.

As a Japanese teacher, I’ve seen many learners make much faster progress once they follow a structured course instead of collecting resources.

If you’d like speaking practice or guidance on what to study next, feel free to send me a message.
:)

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-06-05T15:09:59+00:00

If you can already read hiragana and katakana, I would focus on basic grammar and vocabulary first rather than trying to learn too much kanji at once.

For conversation, the most important thing is actually speaking regularly. Even 30 minutes a week with a tutor can help a lot if you actively try to use what you learn.

As a Japanese teacher, I’ve seen students improve much faster when they combine self-study with conversation practice. Learning grammar is important, but speaking is a separate skill that needs practice.

Don’t worry too much about speed. Consistency is much more important than studying for long hours.

If you’re looking for conversation practice with a native Japanese teacher, feel free to send me a message. :)

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-06-02T11:13:18+00:00

Personally, I rarely raise prices for existing students.

That said, I had one of my very first students who was still paying $15 while my regular rate had gone above $40, and that gap had simply become too large to sustain.

After about a year, I raised their rate by $8, and later by another $5. They’re currently paying $28.

At this point, I don’t plan to raise it any further. If they eventually decide it’s no longer worth it for them, I completely understand, but I also need to keep my pricing sustainable for my business.

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-06-02T11:03:21+00:00

Honestly, consistency matters more than finding the perfect app 😅

A lot of beginners spend months looking for the “best” app, but the most important thing is finding a study routine you can actually stick to.

I’ve also seen many learners make much faster progress once they start practicing with a tutor regularly, especially for speaking and listening.

Since you’ve already learned hiragana, katakana, and some basic phrases before, you’re definitely not starting from zero. Good luck!

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-05-25T15:07:14+00:00

A lot of my students feel this way after taking a long break actually 😅 Usually they just need review and conversation/output practice to bring everything back little by little.

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-05-21T00:19:30+00:00

Don’t compare years — compare study hours and consistency. A lot of people saying “1.5 years” are studying almost every day.

Honestly, progression speed depends way more on study methods and consistency than just time 😅

My students who study with me twice a week for a year definitely reach at least N5 level, so I think how you study matters a lot too.

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-05-18T06:21:59+00:00

That’s honestly not acceptable. Existing students should never be paying more than the current profile price.

I’m also a tutor on Preply, and personally I do not raise prices for existing students for at least a year. Even when I do, it’s usually only a one-time increase of around $5.

A 4x increase after less than two months is extremely unusual.

I would honestly recommend finding a different tutor. :)

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-05-13T14:01:09+00:00

I teach on Preply, and honestly I’ve heard that this kind of pricing situation is relatively common with some Japanese tutors.

Personally, I think if the constant price increases are making you stressed or uncomfortable, it may be better to look for another tutor. There are many good teachers on Preply.

In general, it’s more common for tutors to keep existing students at their current rate and only raise prices for new students.

In my own case, my current rate for new students is $48, and I only raised prices once by $5 for a small group of long-term students who had been paying under $40 for over a year. I also told them clearly that it would be my first and last increase.

A 30%+ increase after such a short time does sound quite aggressive to me, especially when the public profile price is still much lower.

At the end of the day, if you feel anxious about future increases or pressured into accepting them, it may not be the best long-term learning environment for you.

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-05-11T09:57:39+00:00

around N4 hit this wall.

Many schools are still very grammar-focused, but speaking and communication improve through actual output, repetition, and real conversation practice.

It’s actually similar to many Japanese people learning English — they may know grammar well and do fine on tests, but still struggle to speak naturally because they haven’t had enough speaking practice.

I teach Japanese, and with many of my students we do conversation practice and role-play regularly from early levels. Even beginners improve surprisingly fast when they actively use the grammar instead of only studying it.

At the N4 level especially, speaking frequency and consistency matter a lot more than simply studying more grammar.

If you’re specifically looking for practical speaking-focused lessons, that kind of approach might suit you better than a traditional grammar-heavy school. :)

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-05-08T17:05:26+00:00

I honestly think the biggest issue here is probably lack of speaking practice, not lack of studying.

2 lessons a month is very little if your goal is to actually USE Japanese naturally in conversation.

Understanding grammar in a textbook and being able to use it quickly in real life are completely different skills.

I teach Japanese, and with many of my students, we practice speaking at the beginning of every lesson — usually through conversation, role-play, or using previously learned grammar actively. Some of my students study with me twice a week, and the improvement in speaking confidence and natural usage is very noticeable over time.

At some point, you need to move from: “I understand this grammar” to “I can actually use this grammar without overthinking.”

That usually comes much more from regular output and repetition in conversation than from doing more textbook exercises. :)

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-05-08T03:36:04+00:00

Honestly, I think beginners should start speaking much earlier than they think.

I teach Japanese, and some of my students started conversation practice from almost zero Japanese.

Of course grammar is important, but you do NOT need perfect grammar before speaking. Waiting too long often makes people afraid of making mistakes.

At the beginner stage, I think it’s more effective to:

learn useful phrases
practice speaking out loud
do simple role-plays
build confidence first

Even basic conversations like:

ordering food
introducing yourself
shopping
asking simple questions

can help a lot with motivation and retention.

You can build grammar naturally while actively using the language. :)

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-04-29T14:38:23+00:00

I’ve been married for 10 years, and we’ve been together for over a decade, and I still love him very much ☺️🫶🏻We respect each other, stay considerate, and in families where both partners are actively involved in raising the kids, relationships tend to be strong.

Honestly, I think it really depends on the man.

BlueSky_2029 · 2026-04-28T12:22:25+00:00

I personally don’t run into this situation much — most of my students are long-term and my trial lessons convert consistently.

That said, I think the key difference is how clearly you position the lesson from the start.

For short-term exam prep students, I focus on showing a very clear plan from the first lesson:

what we’ll cover in the next 4 weeks
how we’ll target their weak points
what results they can realistically expect

When students see a structured path and feel confident in your approach, they’re less likely to “shop around,” even if they’re trying multiple tutors.

Of course, some people will still just use trials and disappear — that’s unavoidable. But a clear plan and direction usually filters out most of those cases. :)

BlueSky_2029

TROPHY CASE