Ikuya is rare among teachers. He’s totally committed to his craft, and he puts high demands on himself as a professional. Before every class, he makes extensive preparations, researching background information, checking vocabulary, and anticipating questions so that he can give his students complete support. On his own time, he’s invested in teacher training, earning numerous qualifications and accumulating experience so that he can cater to his students’ needs.

As much as he demands from himself, he demands the same from his students. When I observed Ikuya’s classes, I was surprised at how the room seemed to crackle with energy. Ikuya was firing off questions between excited bursts of explanation, and all of the students were on the edge of their seats. He was so passionate that it was impossible to sit there without feeling excited about the subject myself. That’s the type of teacher I want to learn from – someone who can light a fire under my curiosity. If I were to study English again, I’d like nothing more than to study with Ikuya.