Meet The Teachers: Welcome to the team, Rikio!

Welcome to Intrepid English! Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Of course! I am originally from the United States. I grew up in California, but currently attend an international school in Japan. Being in such a diverse environment, I love being able to learn from so many different perspectives. Being one of the few native English speakers here, I often find myself thinking about my own perception of the language.

I love to read, and having access to a great library here at my school has been great. Non-fiction can be really thought provoking, but I also love just curling up with a good fantasy book. Besides that, I live in a forest, and I love to run on the trails here. There can be a lot of snow in the winter, but it’s a great environment to relax and take some time to myself.

Tell me about your experience of living and tutoring English abroad.

As a student at an international IB school with few native English speakers, I’ve found my English skills come in handy as a member of the Academic Support Club. There, I’ve assisted peers with written assignments, college applications, and subject-specific (science and mathematics) writing.

Living in Japan, I’ve also seen how, ironically, having a good understanding of English really opens up the country to you. English truly is the most international language and it can open up so many different cultures to you.

What’s the hardest thing about learning a language?

For me, the hardest part is definitely finding the motivation! I’ve been learning Japanese for the past five years or so, and it can get really frustrating when I don’t know how to express myself fully. Practicing everyday and tracking progress, even with a good teacher, can be difficult and tends to come all from within. The key, I believe, is setting tangible goals and tracking progress!

What do you like most about teaching English?

My favorite part of teaching English is seeing the pure excitement that some students feel! One of my students in Poland has made an effort to send me a voice recording every day giving a quick recap of their day, and it’s been like a window into their life. Being able to have interesting interactions with my students and seeing how their English is improving is really rewarding.

Is there anything else you’d like to say to our Intrepid English students?

I wish all of you the best of luck on your English learning journey. I understand how frustrating a new language can be at times, and I hope you remain patient and kind to yourself even during those times.

With enough dedication and with the right teacher, I know you can master the English language! I look forward to meeting you soon!

Book a free trial lesson today and talk about your learning goals with an experienced English teacher. Say goodbye to boring English lessons! If you’re not sure what you want to learn, let your teacher choose from the range of English courses that have been designed to help our students to achieve their goals.

This blog was written by Intrepid English Teacher Rikio.

Find out more about Rikio on his Intrepid English Teacher profile page. 

If you have any questions, or you would like to request a topic for a future blog, you can contact us using the chat box, or email us at Intrepid English.