Dr Penny Bailey is an exceptionally patient and kind teacher. She never makes you feel "less-than" in a classroom even if you are struggling to grasp some concepts, she patiently re-explains and helps you to understand. She has a very friendly and casual teaching style which makes everyone in her classroom feel comfortable and relaxed rather than stressed about learning. She welcomes questions and always makes a point to not only teach Japanese language, but also engage us with information about various aspects of Japanese culture and stories making the actual course content feel more relevant and alive. She responds to emails with questions about coursework promptly (even on weekends!). Penny explains the content very clearly and at a pace that is within the grasp of everyone in her classroom and she always does it with a smile. She has a good sense of humour and is very encouraging. She is highly knowledgeable in her field but not even slightly arrogant.
I'm currently taking JAPN1013 with Penny Sensei (Week 9), and have been having a wonderful time. She has a relaxed teaching style, which was highly compatible with my style of learning. She welcomes questions, and teaches with clarity and eloquence. She has in-depth knowledge in Japanese and the surrounding cultures, which is very useful for students who enjoy context/trivia, but doesn't allow it to overwhelm the course content.