Dr Yuki Tokumaru

Japanese Language Coordinator, Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication

"I have always wanted to become a teacher since I was a child. I love teaching because I am the person who learns the most when I teach.

"I am interested in Japanese language linguistically and the second language acquisition. My profession as a Japanese lecturer and coordinator enables me to learn and discover a lot of things about these fields of study in different ways from conventional academic research.

"I am happy to be able to work in Imperial College where I am lucky to meet highly motivated, diligent and hard-working students. These students are the best teachers for me. Their determination to achieve their goals is inspirational, which I always feel when I coach them for the Japanese Speech Contests for University Students.

"My advice to students is if you love something, do not give it up easily. Life is a repetition of good and bad things happening and when things do not go as you hoped or expected, hang on in there and don’t forget that this could be the start of better things to come. I believe that patience, flexibility and a positive attitude are some of the greatest attributes for successful and enjoyable learning."