5-stars for Atsuko sensei and The Language Experts! I tried, like many, to learn the Japanese language on my own. I ordered the Genki I textbook and started out strong. It didn't take very long for me to run into questions that I scrambled to try and answer through Google. I skipped a lot of the lessons that required a partner or a CD player. I ended up getting stuck and gave up. I decided I wanted to give the language another chance but this time I'd try taking lessons. I found The Language Experts through Yelp. I called and e-mailed and received responses very quickly and it gave me a good introduction and some expectations before signing up for the classes. I was a little reluctant to join a class with other students. It's part of the reason why I avoided taking a class at a nearby college. The prices are great for both private and group lessons and there's lots of different options to make payments as well. Despite the great prices of private lessons I gave the group lessons a try. I'm so very glad I decided to take the group lessons. Atsuko sensei will put you in a group that has a similar level whether you're completely new, or you've stopped and are starting again, or you have some sort of experience, she'll know which level and class to fit you in. My group is awesome and supportive and really fun! It's been less than a year but I've already learned a lot of the language and the culture that I would never have been able to do on my own and at a level I didn't think I'd ever get to. I'm really pleased and happy to be learning Japanese at The Language Experts. I hope to continue as long as possible! read more

My son wanted to go to Japan for his gap year to learn Japanese and immerse in the culture. Unfortunately due to Covid he wasn't able to. Thankfully I found Sensei Atsuko after doing some research on the web. My son has been with Sensei Atsuko for about 3 months now and I am so impressed on how much he has learned. If you are thinking of taking Japanese I would highly recommend Ms. Atsuko at The Language Experts. read more

I've been taking classes with Atsuko sensei for almost a year, she is a true expert in the Japanese language and has helped me tremendously prepare for my trip to Japan along with building my grammatical and verbal skills for Japanese in business. I highly recommend her because she will help tailor what you need in order to accomplish your goals. She's been helping with not only text book Japanese but with real-life conversations and situations. This has gone over and beyond other classes. Thank you for your help in building my confidence in Japanese! Thanks to her contagious passion in the language, I truly enjoy learning Japanese and find it mentally stimulating. read more

Makino-sensei holds a local MeetUp Group for both people who wish to speak English and those who wish to speak Japanese. I have met several long-term friends in this group, and was inspired to continue my Japanese studies at her school, The Language Experts. The Language Experts provided me not just with instruction oriented at passing the JLPT (N3 and N4), but also filled in the gaps with history and literature to fully develop both my understanding of and ability to effectively use Japanese. Makino-sensei has a mastery of education and language, and she uses it to profound effect with her students. read more

I had advanced Japanese class with Atsuko Sensei for about 20 sessions. Last month I got an offer from a language school in Tokyo and I will be starting in April all thanks to Astuko Sensei. She is a responsible, knowledgeable, kind, and intelligent woman. Not only did she prepare me with my language skills, she also provided me with cultural knowledge and advice to better prepare me for my life there. The materials and books she carefully picked is very suitable for my level, and I'm sure she does for all other students as well. Her class is clear and easy to follow. The response this organization did for COVID was great as well. During my time at the organization, Atsuko Sensei held a language exchange session via Zoom and it was very successful and worth the money. Language learning is a long process and Atsuko Sensei is definitely the person to go to in OC for Japanese learning. read more

I took a private lesson with Makino-sensei for 6 months. I used to study Japanese casually but was able to leap into intermediate level and passed N3 on my first try because of her guidance. I can't stress enough having a good teacher when learning a difficult language like Japanese. Makino-sensei gave me learning materials (either in books, printed handouts, or even her own notes!) which served as a guideline for my learning path. She was also patient in answering my questions and explaining the nuances of the language. She also organizes JLPT prep sessions for people taking the exam. It was a big help for me. Overall, I am glad I took classes here. I definitely plan to continue pursuing my Japanese learning pursuit with Makino-sensei. read more

I recently finished my Chinese courses with Amy. Even though I had no background knowledge of Chinese whatsoever, she made it really easy to learn not just the pronunciation, but the Chinese characters as well. Any questions I had would be answeres thoroughly and concisely. As busy as I was, Amy was also incredibly understanding and patient with my lessons, making sure I understood everything before proceeding onto the next lesson. I highly recommend Amy for your Chinese courses if you do plan to enroll! She was such a pleasure to learn from and if I had the chance, I would continue my lessons with her! read more

I started to take Japanese classes for a year now, I feel very satisfied with the level of the instruction. For a beginner, it's difficult to learn Japanese, but our teacher explains well the topics in the group session and we go over details during private classes. After a year, I just took the Japanese Proficiency Language test (JPLT) to qualify for N5 level (lowest) and awaiting results now. For me, Japanese is not only a way to get that next promotion at work, it has become a hobby. The language experts also have Kanji writing activities and a presentation during the summer (you can find them in Youtube). I highly recommend this school if you're serious about learning Japanese the right way. Fernando. read more

I took private lessons from Makino-sensei for approximately a year and half, and I was able to pass the N1 for JLPT! I wouldn't say it was an easy process, but with the help, guidance, and support from Makino-sensei, I was able to pull it through. What I thought that was significant about her teaching style was that she tailored my studies, so that it was enjoyable. She also really cares for her students and knows what the best practices are. It was a wonderful opportunity and experience to have been able to learn from her. Another wonderful aspect I wanted to point out is that The Language Experts offers JLPT prep sessions. This will help you get used to the test format and also point out the areas you may need extra help with before taking the actual exam. read more

What a wonderful experience! I came to The Language Experts because I am going to be spending four months in Japan for business. I began one-on-one classes with Makino-san and they have been great! I've been going over the basics of the language (enough to get by), workplace culture, how to greet people, order things in a store, etc. Each lesson is tailored and all of the materials are provided. Overall, I highly recommend anyone looking to learn the basics of Japanese - or any level for that matter - in a fun, personable, and welcoming environment. read more

I had an important Japanese interview to prepare for over a six month period. I researched a few different language schools in Orange County and found this program to be the most flexible and cost effective. I enrolled in both private and group lessons. Atsuko Sensie did an excellent job preparing me for my interview. She tailored lessons to help achieve my goal. Individual lessons included custom vocabulary lists and reading comprehension projects. Group lessons are centered around the "Genki" textbooks. I have used a number of different Japanese study programs over the years and found this program to be one of the most efficient study methods. In addition, group lessons only consist of a few individuals (3-4 students) and therefore create a significant amount of one-on-one interaction. In the end, I achieved my goal of advanced low for my interview. I can't thank Atsuko Sensie enough for her help. I plan to enroll in her group lessons again when I return from the east coast! read more

The Japanese lessons with Makino Sensei at The Language Experts are an amazing experience. I've been a student for over a year now and I am very happy with how much I've learned so far. I've studied a little when I was younger, but I believe now I have a much better ability to communicate. The teacher is very thoughtful about the students' needs. I would definitely recommend this school to anyone interested in learning this fascinating language. read more

The lessons were one on one and focused on improving my pronunciation. We read news articles pertaining to the industry I work and was able to learn words and expression unique to the industry. I learned the how exactly my tongue has to move in order to have get the right intonation. I recorded my lesson on my phone and reviewed it while driving. Although $50 for a 1 hour lesson is a bit expensive, if you use that time wisely, it is completely worth the price. read more

I started to consider taking a Japanese class after self-studying for almost a year. It so happened that one day, I met a teacher's aid at the nearby Kinokuniya bookstore, and she recommended this place for lessons. I decided to give it a shot after my first meeting with the teacher. The eight weeks that I've been in the class have flown by and we are scheduled to do calligraphy this coming week! I would recommend studying with this company if one is looking for structure in a small-group environment that is not intimidating, but enjoyable. read more

I studied with Atsuko-Sensei during the latter part of 2017 to work on my Business Japanese and to prepare for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test in December. I was able to pass the JLPT Level 1 test because of what I learned at The Language Experts! I would highly recommend this school if you have an interest in learning anything from beginner to advanced Japanese - there aren't so many schools in the area with a teacher as helpful, understanding and dedicated as Atsuko-Sensei. read more

I have been taking Japanese lessons from The Language Experts for over 6 month and my Japanese improved greatly. I highly recommend Makino Sensei. The class is always fun and entertaining. She not only cares about you and your learning experience, she will go extra-mile to help you achieve your goal and keep you motivated. If you want to learn Japanese, she is definitely the right teacher to learn from!! read more

I've been taking Japanese lessons for a year and it is amazing how much I've learned in this period. I had no prior knowledge of Japanese until I started taking classes with Makino Sensei and I can already have simple conversations and recognize almost a hundred Kanjis. The lessons are very stimulating and fun and I learn a lot about Japanese culture as well. Definitely recommend for those wanting to learn Japanese! read more

I don't write many reviews, because I believe good service should be expected. However, when I receive great service, I feel a review is in order. I have been taking private lessons now for roughly 6 months with The Language Experts, and I have really enjoyed it. I am learning a lot and a private lesson is great because I can focus on learning at my own pace. Recently, I was asked by my company to give a demonstration in Japan in Japanese. I was not ready for that, but I really wanted to step up so they would send me to the Japanese office. Atsuko Makino (the teacher giving me 1 on 1 lessons) helped me translate the demo to Japanese, learn business polite speak and prepare to give the presentation. She really stepped up and helped me when I needed it, going way above and beyond what I expected. I have tried learning Japanese several times over the years only to get stuck at a point and not progress. With the Language Experts and Atsuko Makino not only am I learning beyond what I have done in the past, I am excelling in new ways I didn't expect. I highly recommend coming here. read more

I cannot say enough good things about The Language Experts. I signed up for Japanese language classes in anticipation for a big move to Japan where I will be teaching English to middle school children. I chose The Language Experts for a few different reasons, mainly for the most flexible class schedule and small class sizes. Atsuko Makino (Sensei) is absolutely wonderful! I could not, in my wildest dreams, imagine that I would learn so much in such a short period of time. Since classes were so small (3-4 students on average), I was able to get the attention I needed when learning. Her classes are challenging, but very fun. She teaching style enables you to not only learn quickly, but actually remember everything that is being taught. Thanks to Sensei, in just 16 weeks, I can confidently have basic Japanese conversations AND read/write Hiragana and Katakana. I feel so prepared for my journey; definitely worth it! read more

Makino sensei is the best at teaching Japanese at any pace that fits you. In my case, I had to retake Japanese 2 after 4 years of not studying Japanese at all (don't ask...). After returning from a long study abroad and with only less than a month before the start of the class to prepare, I looked for help at The Language Experts. Makino upon hearing my situation, didn't hesitate to help at all and created a study plan with me on the first day to ensure that I'd be on pace to successfully retake the class. Her visual aid printouts is what helped me the most to retain the key parts of every lesson. She majored in linguistics when in school; while teaching you concepts in the lesson, she used her knowledge to explain the historical meaning of words and the logic behind creating grammatical patterns (helped even more to retain info). She's patient at teaching and a fun person to converse with. Thanks to her, I managed to get an A- after retaking the class. read more