Testimonial from my (Please Do Not Touch) students

Got another testimonial from 2 of my private students.

It’s been a great pleasure getting to know them and it’s them that i invented the “Please Do Not Touch” formula with.

So what does Please Do Not Touch mean?

Please->Plain form

Do->Dictionary form

Not->Nai form

Touch->Ta form

Plain form consists of Dictionary form, Nai form and Ta form.
Te form is under the family of ます-form.

Note: We invented that together in a noisy Subway restaurant.
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K&A:

I want to start of by saying that my sis and I have been very selfish. We’ve been tardy with this testimonial as we are afraid Sensei will be too popular and he will have no time for us. Upfront, we want to say that Sensei is our 2nd weekly commitment to our Japanese language journey. We are still taking weekly regular course at a local Japanese school. One will argue that the learning of the language should be with a native speaker/teacher. We beg to differ as learning with our Sensei privately (just the 2 of us) has its myriad of advantages. Amidst Sensei’s busy schedule over the months that we have been with him since XXX (? which month), FLEXIBILITY & COMMITMENT to HIS STUDENTS are 2 characteristics of Sensei that has consistently resounded pre-, during and -post lessons.
My note->K & A, i think it’s Feb 2012 if i am not wrong. =)

My sister and I have very complicated work schedule and arrangements. Being senior in our busy career life – to an extent -commitment and interest on our part has many a times been wavering. Sensei changes that. Since lesson 1 with Sensei, along the way, intensive prep classes for JLPT N5 and now, our new strategy for N4, Sensei has been thoroughly accommodating and keeps to his promise to carry us through. And, we know he is and trust him to be that “non-native” Japanese teacher with that understanding of what a student needs. He has “been there, done that… and more…” – I think that describes the
feeling with have post-reflective of the lessons we have with Sensei. Weird times with flexible switch to Skype lessons, extended times, almost always beyond the 2 hours without “extras” or “complaints”
for silly individuals like both of us who may not be punctual or are so slow during the lessons. That marks Sensei as the teacher we respect and has made us grow to love Japanese even more.

The journey hasn’t been easy for us. I started at a school that did not have flexibility for a working person like me and there was no way I could make up for lost time. Switching from that school after a break of many months for a flexible school schedule with resourcing capabilities to accommodate missed lessons and private lessons too was the next step in my journey; then with my sis. But, there is always too much structure and less “fun” in these school classes. Sensei makes the classes fun, practical, using real “live examples” at our lesson venues. He has always been encouraging for weak students like us. You may call both of us KIASU – private lessons and school lessons. But we are used to this – both are complimentary for us (till time comes later when we will have to give up the school). We are happy with our schedule and our “strategy” and sensei supports that, he respects that. Note that I said – “…till time comes later when we will have to give up the school…” Yes, it will not be Sensei. One really needs to have that 1st lesson with him and get used to his naunces of being able to ALWAYS spot-on some questions for JLPT exams, practical language tips from his many years of teaching experience. And, just being there for us during our study times, our
difficulties in expression and grammar, our complex kanji and “broken Japanese”. Sensei is always patient, kind and that loving friend…

To put it simply, don’t think we would continue our Japanese journey with our current enthusiasm without him being a wonderful part of our learning journey.

Thank you, Sensei.

K&A
– “Beginner-Intermediate” students, private