Hello! My name is Jarreal Rivers.

I’ve been studying Japanese for many years — starting in high school and continuing through adulthood. I’ve completed all five levels of Pimsleur Japanese three times, studied over 620 kanji up to the N3 level, and keep up with the language daily through flashcards, anime, music, TV, and YouTube.

I was fortunate to take part in a cultural exchange program in Japan, where I lived with a host family and practiced Japanese firsthand. Later, I lived in Okinawa for two years while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, which deepened both my Japanese and my understanding of the culture.
My passion for languages goes beyond Japanese. I’ve completed Pimsleur Italian Levels 1 and 2 three times and am currently reworking the updated lessons, while steadily building toward fluency. For German, I’ve worked through Level 1 up to Lesson 17, repeating each lesson three to four times with my wife as a study partner. I’m also studying Cherokee (ᏣᎳᎩ) inspired by my heritage, having learned the full syllabary and now focusing on vocabulary expansion. Altogether, I’ve logged over 600 hours of dedicated language study across these languages.

Language learning is more than a hobby for me — it’s a lifelong pursuit. My goal is to make it approachable, practical, and confidence-building, so you can use what you learn right away when traveling or exploring new cultures.

Outside of language study, I enjoy martial arts (Karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kobudō, Tai Chi, and MCMAP), traveling with my wife Maddie, and spending time with our Shih Tzu, Wemby.
I’m excited to share what I’ve learned and help you feel confident exploring new languages and cultures. Let’s grow together on this journey!