Boston Japanese Trainers is dedicated to helping American companies, individuals, and families master the Japanese language and culture. Our expert native and bilingual English-Japanese instructors provide personalized services tailored to our client’s needs.
We offer cross-cultural training for corporate clients, equipping employees with Japanese language skills and an understanding of Japanese business culture. Our practical courses for professionals cover business conversation and presentation skills, while our tutoring services support children’s education.
For individuals and families, we provide fully customized private Japanese lessons, ensuring comprehensive support tailored to your needs.
We are committed to helping you succeed in your pursuits related to the Japanese language and culture.
Aya Rowe, a Japanese entrepreneur, excels in bridging cultural and language gaps between the U.S. and Japan. With experience living in both countries, she founded Boston Japanese Trainers, specializing in language and cultural training services for businesses. Alongside her successful career, Aya launched Aya’s Culture Kitchen, selling Japanese fermented foods, including natto. Her ventures showcase her commitment to fostering cultural understanding and helping businesses and individuals excel in the global marketplace.
Bryan Snow was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. After graduating in 2006 from Lubbock Christian University with a B.A. in Humanities, he first moved to Japan in January 2007. He later graduated with an M.A, in Applied Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts Boston. Having worked over a decade at a prestigious private high school in Tsukuba, Japan, Bryan has an ample knowledge of language pedagogy and international acumen that he is excited to apply to helping the BTJ community grow. He also has 10 experience working as a copyeditor for a publication company in Tokyo. Throughout his professional career he has strived to develop strong communication skills and enjoys working as a bridge between The U.S. and Japan. Bryan just recently relocated back to Texas and is excited to be involved with the growing Japanese communities in the Dallas area.
Kerianne Panos has spent her career navigating between multiple cultures and languages. As a speaker of three Asian languages (including Japanese) and three European languages, she has used her linguistic and cross-cultural skills to help professionals from different backgrounds understand how to communicate more effectively and interact better with each other. She developed these skills working around the world, first managing an international educational program, then as a technical expert and negotiator for the Japanese Government, working on issues related to global scientific collaboration. For the past decade, she has focused her efforts on providing international professionals with the communication skills they need to build effective teams. Kerianne has extensive experience advising in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as with Japanese corporations. In addition, she works with Japanese and Taiwanese players on the Boston Red Sox and with professors and research groups at the MIT Media Lab on team dynamics and communication. She is a graduate of Smith College and the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies.
Michele Plattenberger was born and raised near the heart of the automotive capital of the world; Detroit, Michigan. Anticipating a career in the automotive industry, she received her BS in Electrical and Systems Engineering and a BA in Japanese Studies from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. After receiving her Master’s in Engineering Management from the University of Detroit Mercy, Michele spent most of her technical career with Ford Motor Company working and living in Japan. Returning to Detroit in 2009, she began teaching Japanese for undergraduate language programs at her alma mater while continuing her technical career in the automotive industry. She continues teaching undergraduate and professional education programs and is currently a doctoral candidate of Adult Education focusing on foreign language studies with a concentration in Japanese. Michele brings practical experience to the classroom and knows the value of cultural awareness, especially in the business setting. She is passionate about helping you to achieve your goals. Her students affirm she is a teacher, mentor, inspiration, friend, and a standout instructor.
He studied International Relations and Communications at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and earned a master’s degree at the Middlebury Institute in Monterey, California. He further enriched his experience by learning a new language in Siena, Italy, serving in Ecuador with the Peace Corps, and teaching English for eight years in Kagoshima, Japan through the JET Program. He met his wife, a Kagoshima native, and together they have two daughters who have embraced diverse American cultures in various states.
Sasha Graffagna grew up in New York, NY and Tokyo, Japan. Since graduating from New York University with a B.A. in Journalism and Comparative Literature, she has spent nearly a decade refining people’s English communication skills as a writer, editor, and translator. While in Japan, she worked as a Japanese-English translator for a major cosmetics company and as a UX writer specializing in bilingual digital products. A half-Japanese, half-American woman, Sasha has spent about half her life in each country. As a result, Sasha is an expert at navigating the cultural differences between Japan and the United States.
BJT specializes in online cross-cultural communication training and support, specifically tailored to Japanese and American cultures.