Cotton Candy ESL

Hello! I am Nicole. I've been teaching EFL for nearly 20 years. I've been in Japan for 15 years. I have primarily been working with children from preschool to 3rd grade. I have experience with both international preschool children who speak English as well as children who are learning English for the first time at a private Japanese elementary school. I also have experience teaching business English and university classes. Prior to coming to Japan I taught at a summer camp in Italy. I also taught French and Spanish exchange students for a few summers in the United States.

I like to teach using different styles to help every child learn in the way that suits them best. I use pictures and games for visual learners, songs and chants for auditory learners, speaking and writing activities for verbal learners, hands-on projects for kinesthetic learners, and puzzles and patterns for logical learners. Learning should be fun and exciting for everyone!

I have a degree in International Studies with minors in Music and Italian. I completed a 60-hour TEFL program with honors. I also received an Excellence in Italian Award from Virginia Commonwealth University and worked for VIPKid, where I completed various training modules to enhance my teaching skills.

Not only am I passionate about teaching English to second language learners, but I also have extensive experience studying foreign languages myself, including French, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese. Through my own language learning journey, I deeply understand the challenges and rewards that come with acquiring a new language. In addition, I am raising my three bilingual children in Japan, which has given me firsthand experience in how much potential young learners have when it comes to language development. This experience allows me to better support and guide my students as they grow in their English skills.