More Than Words: Naoko Hidaka

For Naoko Hidaka, language is more than words. Language is the bridge between people, cultures, and identities. Born in Tokyo but raised in Europe, Hidaka grew up incredibly internationally oriented, which would later come to shape her life’s work—although she never imagined herself in front of a classroom before. Although she once described herself as a “not so academic person,” Hidaka is now a renowned teacher for foreign students in Tokyo, guiding students from all over the world in their Japanese language journeys.

Hidaka has an extensive multicultural background, spending her childhood in numerous different countries. Although originally born in Tokyo, her father’s job in an electrical manufacturing company required her family to be transferred internationally several times, especially across Europe. At just two years old, Hidaka moved to Germany from Japan, and then shortly afterwards relocated to Switzerland. At the age of eight, Hidaka’s father was transferred to London in the United Kingdom, where she spent much of the remainder of her childhood.

At the age of twelve, Hidaka returned to her motherland of Japan—to her parents’ dismay, forgetting much of her Japanese. Hidaka enjoyed her time in London so much that she requested to attend an English-speaking international school in Japan, hoping to emulate the memorable experience from her British school. Thus, she enrolled in the International School of the Sacred Heart, an all-girls multicultural Catholic school.

Following graduation from the International School of the Sacred Heart, Hidaka made the decision to reside in Japan long-term, also attending the University of Sacred Heart in Tokyo. Although currently, Hidaka is an esteemed Japanese teacher, beloved by her many foreign students, she had never imagined herself in the education profession. “I was never an academic person,” she explains, reflecting on her high school and university years. “I wasn’t really sure of my career plans.” For Hidaka, her aspirations were largely shaped by the cultural expectations of her time. “I was just thinking that I would be a housewife. Because my mother’s generation and all the people around me were leading lives like that,” she recalls.

Before finding a passion in education, Hidaka first embraced the path of being a homemaker, focusing on family life. It was only years later, as opportunities arose, that she discovered her love for teaching. “This is actually very recent,” she says with a laugh. She explains that after having her two children, she first took on a job as an interpreter, connecting Japanese and foreign businesspeople at several major business exhibitions. “When foreigners came to me, they would ask me questions about the Japanese language, or the Japanese culture, or the Japanese people, but I wasn’t really able to answer them properly,” she shares. Around the same time, Hidaka hosted exchange students from abroad who asked her questions about Japan, curious about life in the country and the language. Similarly, she felt like she was unable to provide adequate responses. “Even as a Japanese person, my Japanese wasn’t perfect,” she says. “So I thought if I studied Japanese, my Japanese would improve also.”

Coming face to face with her own culture and language, Hidaka recognized a gap in her own understanding. If she wanted to answer these questions with confidence, she realized that she would need to further her own knowledge of her language and culture. So, in 2018, she decided to leave her job in interpreting and enroll in a language training school.

After completing her training to become a certified Japanese language teacher, Hidaka searched extensively for the right school to teach at. Hidaka wanted her passion for Japanese language and culture to be reciprocated in the environment she taught in, which is why she opted to teach at a smaller Japanese language school. She explains that in Tokyo at many of the larger language schools, students are more interested in obtaining a national visa through the program rather than genuinely learning the language. Contrastingly, at a smaller language school like her own, she feels that she is able to connect more deeply with her students who dedicate their time to mastering the language. Hidaka teaches students in their 20s to students all the way in their 50s from countries all across the world. Yet, for her, what matters most is not their age or background, but the curiosity and drive they bring to her classroom.

Hidaka’s exceptional ability to not only teach, but deeply connect with her students is no coincidence. Having once been an international student herself, living in countries across Europe as a Japanese citizen, the cultural skills that she developed and learned from her time abroad are key strengths that help her guide her own international students. “I find that teaching a language, you have to know the rules and grammar and everything of course,” she says. “But most of all, you have to understand their mind, and situation, and culture, and not hesitate to whoever comes.” Hidaka explains that her situation attending school in London significantly broadened her horizon, opening her mind to cultural sensitivity and understanding. “I think I am open to anyone and to try to understand,” she elaborates. Although now the teacher herself, Hidaka, too, is no stranger to feeling lost in a new language. “I had difficulty in London as a Japanese because English wasn’t my mother tongue,” she admits. “So I think I can relate to how [students] are feeling or what kind of worries or hesitations they might have.”

This ability to put herself in her students’ shoes and this empathy also translates into her teaching style. Learning a language is a difficult feat—as Hidaka understands all too well—so she is always thinking about how best to keep her students motivated. In an effort to encourage her students, she centers her class around the emphasis on language as a tool to help make life more pleasant. “If they can speak more, I know that their life would be more enjoyable,” she says. “So I try to think about their background or what kind of words or phrases they would need, or would be happy if they could use.” Hidaka explains that her belief is that if students understand the benefit of language in their actual lives, they would be more motivated or driven to learn. “I just try to think about their life,” she smiles.

With Hidaka’s holistic approach to language-learning, it is no surprise that her students make steady progress. Throughout her time as a language teacher, she has seen many students grow tremendously throughout their journeys in her Japanese class. Hidaka’s dedicated efforts and continuous drive as a teacher is an essential part of her students’ education, but the most rewarding part for her is simply being able to contribute to their lives. “If I can help or be a part of their happy life or enjoyable moments, that’s rewarding,” she shares. “And if I can improve their life, I think in a big level, I can improve the world.” Hidaka’s classes may take place in central Tokyo, but the lessons she teaches extend to individuals, groups, and even countries across the world. Within language-learning are lessons of conflict-resolution, harmony, and diplomacy—all skills that Hidaka teaches, and skills that she believes must be echoed on a larger stage.

Speaking from the position of an internationally-oriented person since youth, a second language-learner, and now a Japanese teacher for foreigners, Hidaka emphasizes the importance of exploration in the journey of learning a new language. Her advice to language learners is simple: try out different teachers, schools, and learning styles. Each new and distinct perspective and approach may resonate with students differently, she explains. “It’s skill also, but it’s a personal relationship,” she says, describing the process of being taught a foreign language. “So don’t give up if you think, ‘Oh, it’s not working with one teacher,’ but try different teachers and see who works best or who you feel more happy or comfortable with.” As Hidaka’s own journey shows, the right path is rarely straightforward, and requires exploration until you stumble upon your perfect place.

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