INSTRUCTORS
Ikuko Fujiwara
Language Programs Manager
Her academic and professional background spans Japanese language education, TESOL, and Composition, beginning with a Master’s degree in TESOL from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. As the Japanese Language Programs Manager at the Japan-America Society, she leads the program’s curriculum development, mentors instructors, and serves as a primary instructor herself. Originally from Japan, she brings both cultural and linguistic expertise to her teaching. In addition to Japanese, she has taught ESOL and college composition at various institutions in the United States. She is committed to creating inclusive learning spaces that foster cross-cultural understanding and empower students through language.
Grace Chalker
Texas born and raised, Grace graduated from the University of North Texas with degrees in Linguistics and Japanese. She spent a year studying abroad at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto where she fell in love with Japan’s history and culture. Upon graduating, Grace taught Japanese for over four years. She has assisted students with AP Japanese and JLPT test prep and led an 18-day study abroad trip in Japan in 2018. During the 2019-2021 school years, Grace worked as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) at junior high schools in Japan. She continued her Japanese studies and passed the JLPT N2 exam. She is excited to show students how fun learning a second language can be!
Keiko Yokoyama
Keiko’s 20+ years of professional experience include teaching a variety of subjects at a Japanese school, providing one-on-one English language support to Japanese students to succeed in their local school learning, and tutoring non-native Japanese students in the Japanese language. Her dedication and attentive support to each student represents the fulfillment of the mission of language education in an increasingly globalized world, while serving the community as a bridge for cross-cultural communication.
Izumi Sakurada
Originally from Nara, Japan, Izumi has lived in the United States for over 40 years. Also an educator at Gateway to Japan, she is an experienced instructor, providing language and cultural education in Japan via online workshops since 2006. She is passionate about bridging the gap between Japanese and other cultures, and her mission is to create an enjoyable and meaningful learning experience to promote a deeper understanding of Japan and Japanese culture for students of all ages and backgrounds.
Mariko Nijo
Mariko Nijo taught Japanese as a foreign language at a junior high school in Japan for seven years and has actively volunteered to support foreign residents, introducing cultural and linguistic differences to local children. She emphasizes students’ experiences of “being able to do” and “understanding,” creating practical, beginner-focused lessons centered on speaking, daily expressions, and basic literacy in hiragana, katakana, and kanji. She was born in Tokushima, she studied English in Ireland, French in France and Switzerland, and plans to study Chinese this year. Now living in Illinois, she enjoys connecting with people from diverse backgrounds.
Yurika Izumi
Yurika Izumi, an Osaka native, found her passion in language education during her study abroad at Sacramento State University, where she spent most of her time volunteering in Japanese classes. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Japanese language education in Japan, she returned to the United States to earn her master’s degree in linguistics, focusing on language education. She has since dedicated herself to teaching Japanese at universities for over 10 years. She aims to motivate students to further explore Japanese language and culture by providing real-world scenarios to make learning more relevant to students’ lives
Shiyao Zhou
Shiyao has a strong academic and professional background in the Japanese language, and understands well the challenges non-native learners face and the methods that truly work. She completed her undergraduate studies in Japanese, passing the N2 in her sophomore year and the N1 in her junior year on the first attempt. She was later admitted to a master’s program in translation with the top entrance score. After graduation, she worked as a translator at TDK and also taught part-time, guiding students to successfully enter graduate programs. In her classes, she shares practical strategies and helps learners study efficiently while enjoying the process.
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Ikuko Fujiwara
Language Programs Manager
Her academic and professional background spans Japanese language education, TESOL, and Composition, beginning with a Master’s degree in TESOL from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. As the Japanese Language Programs Manager at the Japan-America Society, she leads the program’s curriculum development, mentors instructors, and serves as a primary instructor herself. Originally from Japan, she brings both cultural and linguistic expertise to her teaching. In addition to Japanese, she has taught ESOL and college composition at various institutions in the United States. She is committed to creating inclusive learning spaces that foster cross-cultural understanding and empower students through language.
