Ayana Yanai

Biography

As a teenager, listening to teachers’ lectures in school was never my strength. By the end of class, I was often one of the students daydreaming or doodling in my notebook. But this didn’t mean I didn’t enjoy learning. In fact, I loved learning autonomously, at my own pace. I taught myself to speak and write in multiple languages—including Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Mandarin, and Arabic, researched historical events like war crimes during World War II, studied nutrition to support my athletic goals, and enjoyed reading about philosophy.

Rooted in such experiences as a student, I became deeply interested in learner autonomy and internal motivation during my time earning a Master’s degree and teaching license at Teachers College, Columbia University. I was honored with the Fanselow Award for my lesson plans that centered around student choice and authenticity. As a tutor, I believe teaching is not about what teachers teach, but entirely about what students want to learn; therefore, my mission is to support students wholeheartedly in their learning journeys, especially when those journeys can feel confusing, lonely, or discouraging.

My strength lies in my flexibility in teaching a wide range of subjects, from Math to Social Studies, as well as successfully preparing students for standardized tests, including the SAT, ACT, TOEFL, and IELTS.

Outside of AJ, I also teach English and Japanese at the college and preschool levels, and enjoy dancing street styles, hiking, and jogging around the neighborhood.