Strengths and Features of Oku-sensei's Japanese
1Learn practical and useful Japanese in a short period of time while having fun!
No apps, no homework, and no time-wasting study materials, and you’ll be gaining practical Japanese reading, writing, and speaking abilities in just a few months.
Many students who have studied with Oku-sensei became fluent within just a few years and have since used their skills to find great success around the world.
Even students who struggled with Japanese before have not only improved their language abilities, but have also changed their lives 180 degrees and become significantly happier.
2Exceptional student satisfaction with generous support.
Based on the concept that “students are our treasure” and “students come first,” OSJ provides students with comprehensive support (employment, life transition, worries, emotional support, etc.) so that they can lead a fulfilling life through Japanese language study.
We take great pride in watching our students grow and develop, and will continue to walk the path of OSJ with our students now and into the future. We will never forget that our students are at the heart of what we do, and the core reason we started OSJ.
Both Oku-sensei and Julian have studied foreign languages and lived abroad, giving them deep insight into the challenges and concerns of learning a new language.
3Comprehensive Japanese language instruction from beginner to advanced.
While there are many free or cheap apps for learning Japanese, they rarely lead to real fluency (which is fine if you‘re just looking for surface-level satisfaction).
At OSJ, you can achieve real fluency and unlock new opportunities in life, whether you’re a complete beginner or someone who has studied before but still hasn’t mastered the language.
Our Passion for Learning Japanese
Oku Sensei's Japanese or “OSJ” is an online school for students who are passionate about learning Japanese and about Japan.At OSJ, our primary mission is to help all students discover their passion, achieve their goals, and live the life they have always dreamed of through the study of Japanese.
For over 20 years, Oku-sensei has changed the lives of countless people by not only helping them acquire the best Japanese language skills, but also by giving them a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and values. Our students not only learn to speak Japanese, they learn how to be loved and accepted by the Japanese people for who they are and truly grow as human beings.
OSJ’s Mission Statement
At OSJ, we are dedicated to cherishing each and every student,
fostering a deep understanding of different cultures, and
spreading happiness to as many people as possible.
There are too many people in this world who are stuck in environments that put them down and fail to appreciate them. Hundreds of thousands of good, hard-working individuals accept these negative surroundings, which leave them feeling empty and undervalued, lacking the confidence and motivation they deserve, and unable to change their situation.
Through Oku Sensei’s Japanese, we aim to put an end to this. By valuing each and every student and helping them understand a completely different culture’s way of thinking and living, students can free themselves from negative environments and the mental barriers they've built, allowing them to become truly happy.
There are three pillars to the philosophy and beliefs of OSJ
Every student is a “宝物”, or treasure, and it is our utmost mission to help them achieve their dreams and goals.
Every student deserves to receive the best quality Japanese education at a price they can afford.
Oku Sensei’s core teaching philosophy is derived from the words of Isoroku Yamamoto, 「してみせて 言って聞かせて させてみて 褒めてやらねば 人は動かじ」, which translate to “Show them how it’s done, and explain how to do it. Then let them try it themselves and praise them for it. If you don’t teach this way, you will never be able to motivate anyone”.
The People of OSJ
Oku Sensei
- Hobby
-
yoga, watching movies,
reading, skin care
- Favorite food
-
green tea, fruits and vegetables
- Motto
-
「してみせて 言って聞かせて させてみて
褒めてやらねば 人は動かじ」
Academic background/work history
Oku Sensei has over 20 years of teaching experience at universities and colleges across the US. During that time, she taught at two State Universities and four different Liberal Arts Colleges as a full-time faculty member.
She also created her own courses tailored to each University and student level, teaching beginning, intermediate, and advanced Japanese language courses from 1st year to 4th year students.
Additionally, she taught specialized independent study courses, Japanese culture courses, Japanese linguistics courses, fast-track language intensive summer & winter courses, and hands on learning courses for Japanese language and culture in Japan (taking students to Japan through faculty-led trips).
The universities and colleges she taught at are: University of North Texas, University of Colorado, Boulder (as both a TA and Instructor), Bucknell University, Wittenberg University, Colby College, Middlebury College, and University of Rhode Island.
At two of these universities, Oku Sensei was successful in developing a full Japanese minor program from scratch.
At one of these schools, Oku Sensei grew new sub-programs such as the Japanese International Engineering Program (JIEP) and established connections with sister schools in Japan, including Kochi University, Kyushu University, and Okayama University, for study abroad programs.
Oku Sensei earned her Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 2008.
Julian Andriulli
- Hobby
-
weight lifting, piano,
video games
- Favorite food
-
pasta, bread, tonkatsu
- Motto
-
「The most important things in life are
worth fighting for」
Why I support Oku Sensei?
If there’s one thing I’m certain about, it’s that meeting Oku Sensei completely changed my life. Before I met her, I had no motivation, no passion, and no goals in life. There wasn’t anything I wanted to do in particular, and I was just coasting by every day. But that all changed when I met her.
It was like I was struck by lightning when I came to her class for the first day of her 101 beginner’s Japanese course. From that day, an unrelenting fire lit up inside me, and I was absolutely determined to become fluent in Japanese, no matter what. Since then, through the help of Oku Sensei’s unfailing guidance, care, and attention, I became completely fluent in Japanese, and am now using my bilingual abilities as an engineering liaison to help Japanese and western industry collaborate and compete on some of the top leading-edge technology available in the globe.
If it wasn’t for Oku Sensei, I wouldn’t be here, and I will be forever grateful to her. As such, it is my life’s mission to help her change and better the lives of many other students just as she helped me, and lead people to true happiness and fulfillment through learning Japanese.
