Nagai, Hiroko

Leans worth takingread from published reviews and public records · low confidence

One language-course writeup is strongly positive on ease and passing if Genki work and speaking are done. Official pages confirm an Assistant Professor in Japanese Studies with current registrar courses across language, food, music, gender, and graduate methods. There is no second independent student voice and no stored score, so this is lean_take rather than take.

Suits

students who will complete workbook-style Genki activities
students comfortable speaking in class
students looking for Japanese language or Japan culture electives

Look elsewhere if

students who need a large independent comment sample before choosing

Clarity2.4

Helpfulness3.7

Grading fairness3.0

Workload2.6

Would retake

Anonymous

Weekly boards and essays, fair if you put in effort

LeniencyYes
WorkloadHeavy

Hi! I took this class last year before I graduated, so I’m not sure if ma’am has made some changes. When I took the class, we had submissions every week (usually deadline is Friday). These are usually discussion boards or short essays, all of which you have to do research for. Ma’am grades fairly and when she sees that you didn’t put in effort, she’ll give you a low grade, so make sure that you have reliable sources. Discussion boards sometimes have long vids that you have to watch (tho you can watch with 1.5/2x speed HAHA). There are also group tasks and presentations and you’re grouped randomly. One task is fusion food, so your group has to make a dish that’s inspired by Japanese and another cuisine from another country. Overall, the class was alright. I joined the class because I love food and I thought it would be fun, but sessions were literally just ma’am discussing and not much areas for recitation. I found them chill but boring because she has a soft voice so you really have to pay attention and there are no class activities to make sessions more engaging and fun. Workload is not that heavy but it can be stressful because you do have a submission every week. Even tho most are just short essays and discussion boards (100-300 words iirc) thorough research will eat up some time. The readings are very long but you don’t have to read them at all (I never touched a single page of the readings HAHA). Definitely A-able if you put in the work. Again, take this review with a grain of salt. Good luck!more

Mellow Zebra

Soft voice, easy weekly boards, tiny slides

mixed

WorkloadLight

I agree with! I had ma’am as well for my Japanese Food Culture class. Her voice was probably the softest I have ever heard in my life HAHAHA and since she’s Japanese, she also has an accent when she speaks so you might have an added struggle when it comes to her lectures. Even though I sat in front, I could barely hear her talaga but maybe that’s just a me problem. We had 2 classes per week and she had weekly homework which were usually discussion boards in canvas. The workload was relatively easy and can be done within a reasonable amount of time. Though ma’am tends to be open to deadline extensions if the class asks her. Hopefully her powerpoints have improved because she tends to have such small font sizes to the point that she struggles to read it herself sometimes. Her canvas assessments also usually have vague instructions so it would be best to ask her for clarification beforehand. Overall, I would agree rin with that her class would be an A or B+ with average effort. Just make sure to get front row seats talaga to her class so you can actually hear her lectures.more

Anonymous

Accommodating and cozy; effort still needed

positive

Retake?Yes
WorkloadMedium

Super nice!! It’s the kind of class where you need to put in effort naman but she’s very accommodating and friendly towards inquiries and all that. I talked to her a few times to clarify stuff and she was happy to entertain questions and such. Assessments are weekly but they’re fun so I really did enjoy them ^^ Overall its a class that makes you actually wanna put in the effort and she really gives a cozy feel when teaching (had her as my last class for the day and it was such a relief every time). As others said, sit in front kasi soft spoken talaga, but if you can listen in class she’s worth the time! Would recommend sensei to anyone tbh. My fave prof from my first college sem.more

Gentle Tiger

Chill food lectures, easier A/B than expected

4.0 attainableYes

no we didn’t at all during classes (during my time). I’ve never heard of that rumor. I didn’t really find it fun since I was expecting more from the class (fun engagements, activities, etc.) You might enjoy it if you’re expecting something very chill with interesting lessons, but I will say don’t expect it to be a different kind of class since the topic is food. It’s just like any other class with a lot of lectures and reqs. I don’t want to say it’s easy A, but it’s definitely one of the easier classes to get an A in or at least a B. At the very least, it’s more difficult to fail or get a grade lower than a Bmore

Quiet Zebra

Kind, fun, A-able, super manageable workload

positive

4.0 attainableYes
WorkloadLight

Not the same subject but she was my prof for Gender in Japan. Mostly written essay outputs and one group oral presentation, so super manageable workload. Organized PPTs. Very kind, accommodating, and makes her lectures fun and relatable! (she talked about omegaverse in class once 😆) Grades pretty high as well, definitely A-able as long as your outputs are decent ofc. Tbh the only con is she's so soft-spoken, you might not be able to hear her if you're at the back 😭more

1 reply

Hidden Lynx
does she have exams or is it a mostly output-based class? 😅

Anonymous

Easy A, such a good caring prof

positive

4.0 attainableYes

EASY A SUCH A GOOD CARING PROF!

Vivid Tiger

Kind and enjoyable; sit in front

positive

Retake?Yes
4.0 attainableYes
WorkloadMedium

Get her!! Ma'am's so kind and sweet 😊 Classes are also enjoyable, and she likes interacting with everyone Her voice is just a tad bit soft, so I *highly* recommend sitting in the front In terms of workload, it's moderate, and you'd really have to put in the time to study (I guess as all languages do anyway). We had 2–3 online exercises due almost weekly, a few onsite quizzes (if you study & do the exercises, it shouldn't be too much of a worry), a group presentation, a few quick dyad role plays, and a final onsite exam. I think A or B+ with effort, B with average effortmore

Fancy Hare

try not to A challenge (impossible)

positive

try not to A challenge (impossible) Jinelle Judo Darren

Lucky Alpaca

you’ll be in good hands!

positive

you’ll be in good hands!

PhD · Assistant Professor

Japanese Studies (social and cultural anthropology, Japanese food culture, gender in Japan, Japanese music)

Career

Assistant Professor, Ateneo de Manila University · Japanese Studies Program · current

Recent courses

JPN 11
JPN 180.21I
JPN 180.22I
JPN 180.62
JPN 223

Selected work

An Intelligent Tutoring System for Japanese Language Particles with User Assessment and Feedback (2013, Proceedings of the Workshops at the 16th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED 2013), CEUR Workshop Proceedings 1009)
War Memories, Monuments and Media (2011, Japanese Studies Program, Ateneo de Manila University)
Transnationalizing Culture of Japan in Asia: Dramas, Musics Arts and Agencies (2009, Japanese Studies Program, Ateneo de Manila University)

Clarity2.4

Helpfulness3.7

Grading fairness3.0

Workload2.6

Would retake

Anonymous

Weekly boards and essays, fair if you put in effort

LeniencyYes
WorkloadHeavy

Mellow Zebra

Soft voice, easy weekly boards, tiny slides

mixed

WorkloadLight

Anonymous

Accommodating and cozy; effort still needed

positive

Retake?Yes
WorkloadMedium

Gentle Tiger

Chill food lectures, easier A/B than expected

4.0 attainableYes

Quiet Zebra

Kind, fun, A-able, super manageable workload

positive

4.0 attainableYes
WorkloadLight

1 reply

Hidden Lynx
does she have exams or is it a mostly output-based class? 😅

Anonymous

Easy A, such a good caring prof

positive

4.0 attainableYes

EASY A SUCH A GOOD CARING PROF!

Vivid Tiger

Kind and enjoyable; sit in front

positive

Retake?Yes
4.0 attainableYes
WorkloadMedium

Fancy Hare

try not to A challenge (impossible)

positive

try not to A challenge (impossible) Jinelle Judo Darren

Lucky Alpaca

you’ll be in good hands!

positive

you’ll be in good hands!

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Nagai, Hiroko

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