About
About Me — Inês Sensei
こんにちは！Konnichiwa! I’m Inês — Inês-sensei — and I’m the teacher and founder behind Cursos de Japonês no Porto.
My journey with Japanese began in 1996, and what started as a fascination with the language gradually became a lifelong passion for Japan, its culture, and the many ways language can bring people closer together.
Since 2003, I have been teaching Japanese in language schools, training centres, workshops, and cultural events. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to share Japanese with students of many different ages and backgrounds, helping them not only learn the language but also understand the culture and everyday life behind it.
My connection with Japan also grew through two intensive periods of study there. In 2004, I spent four months in Tokyo living with a Japanese host family, while studying the language and experiencing traditional aspects of Japanese life—from tea ceremony and kimono to festivals and playing the koto. These experiences continue to influence the way I teach today.
I hold a degree in Translation and Interpreting and a postgraduate qualification in Specialised Translation, with a focus on Japanese and French, from the University of Porto. Alongside teaching, I have worked as a translator, including translating manga and works by renowned Japanese author Haruki Murakami.
Over the years, I have also collaborated with Japanese cultural events, organised workshops, participated in Japanese speech contests, and shared my own photographs and experiences of Japan.
For me, learning Japanese is about much more than memorising vocabulary and grammar. It’s about discovering another way of seeing the world. That’s why my classes combine language learning with cultural insights, practical conversation, writing, and little details from everyday Japanese life.
Whether you are discovering Japanese for the first time, preparing for the JLPT, interested in Japanese culture, or simply fascinated by Japan, I hope to make your journey both enjoyable and meaningful.
よかったら、一緒に日本語を勉強しましょう！
Yokattara, issho ni nihongo o benkyō shimashō!
If you’d like, let’s learn Japanese together!
uk english 
pt portuguese
