Tools I actually
recommend

Meg's note My own sister was actually dispatched to Taiwan through this same organization, teaching Japanese language and culture at a local high school there. Irodori comes from the same mission: connecting Japan and the world through real communication, not textbook drills. It's built around things you can actually do in daily life, and that focus on real usability is exactly why I recommend it.

Meg's note This is one of the textbooks I use in my own work. What makes it different is that it's not built around stacking grammar rules, it's built to satisfy your curiosity: you learn a phrase and immediately want to try using it. Swap out one noun and you can say ten new things. It's not designed to help you pass a test, it's designed to help you actually get through your day in Japanese.

Meg's note I got to know Hikari-sensei through work, and what I'd recommend her for first is who she is. Online she comes across as energetic, funny, and full of bright energy, and in person she's exactly that. But there's another side that matters just as much: she's a licensed, credentialed teacher with a solid academic background, and this course is built on real, academically grounded teaching methods. Both sides are genuinely there at once, the warmth and the substance. I've gotten a full look at the course through my work with her, and it's a thoughtful, complete path from zero. It's self-paced video, but never one-directional: you can comment anytime and she actually replies. There's also a money-back guarantee if you're unsure. There are plenty of wonderful Japanese teachers out there, but if Hikari-sensei's vibe resonates with you, I recommend her wholeheartedly.

Meg's note This isn't a Japanese-learning resource, it's just a tip: when you're chatting with Sumire or Kenji, try speaking instead of typing. Your phone or computer's built-in voice input works fine, but a dedicated app recognizes you noticeably better, and that's the difference Wispr Flow makes for me.