Description
Beginner Japanese courses are for—you guessed it!—beginner learners who want to speak or read Japanese with confidence. You’ll be surrounded with Japanese from the very beginning so you can see everything in context (and it’s all about context when using Japanese).
Each course has a goal you can reach in 5 days: Beginner Japanese I teaches you to say and write a basic self-introduction.
We’re gonna cover Japanese pronunciation, the simplest Japanese sentence possible and tell others some basic things about ourselves.
Having both run a Japanese language exchange group and overseen volunteer Japanese interpreters in the Anime Central’s Guest Assistants Department for 7 years, I came to really understand what and where people were getting tripped up. And, it all came down to speaking Japanese. (This is true even if you don’t plan on speaking Japanese. Want to watch anime? The characters speak. Want to read manga? Your brain ‘speaks’ the words to you as you skim.)
This is because we want to connect with people, whether that’s through the things that our favorite artists make or by becoming friends with people that like the things we like. So, I put these courses together with that in mind.
You’ll build the cornerstones to keep your sentence structure in tact.
You’ll do interesting cultural activities that help you think like a Japanese person.
You’ll start to pick out Japanese when you see or hear it.
Frequently asked questions
Please see the Additional Information tab for pricing and location.
What if I’m a total beginner? I’ve never studied a language before.
Take the Kana Course first so you can read and write a little.
What if I’ve been studying on my own and/or have taken Japanese classes?
It’s awesome that you’re really into learning Japanese! How well do you know hiragana and katakana? If you can’t recognize at least half of the 92 characters, then you should take the Kana Course first.
If you’re good on the characters, which course would be next for you based on what you’ve already learned? Skim the course topics and take the placement test at your level.
Are the classes live?
Beginner Japanese courses are online video courses. They aren’t taught live but you can interact and get help in our Discord community. We also have a monthly Study Session video call so you can ask questions in person.
How do I know if this class is right for me?
You have a 24-hour money-back guarantee so you can try it out and see if you like it. And, I mean, try it out: watch the video, send me the completed left side or right side of page 2 from the worksheets and I’ll give you feedback. You normally wouldn’t be able to get a refund with digital courses this short but I really want you to love learning Japanese, even if that’s not with me.
I think it’s going to dawn on you what you’ve got on your hands though. Because I don’t just teach you Japanese, I show you how to learn Japanese grammar better and faster with my immersion, repetition, and other methods. I talk about why I use these methods in my free masterclass actually.
When can I start?
As soon as you buy the course!
Do I have to start it right away? Is there a deadline for using it?
No deadline! You get lifetime access for the lifetime of the course. All updates are also free.
Study Sessions are free for the first year and then you’ll probably want to tap into my Grammar Library and more Study Sessions as a Behind the Bookcase Member.
What if I can’t make it to the Study Session?
You can always post your question in any of the chat channels and I’ll get to it as soon as I can.
Is there a textbook? Is there homework?
There isn’t a textbook but there is the workbook I designed specifically for this course. The workbook pages are linked through the Course Curriculum you get access to when you sign up.
You also earn Points for getting everything right on your worksheets!
How can I get the most out of the lessons?
- repeat what you hear me say.
- read the words out loud as you practice your writing.
- practice what you’ve learned in the video lessons by finishing the worksheets and sending them to me for feedback.
I’ve seen a huge difference between how well and how fast students pick up the Japanese when you do the worksheets and ask me to look at them versus when you don’t. If you’re asking questions, figuring out the things that confuse you, then it gets easier and easier because Japanese has a lot of rules and patterns that repeat across the different grammar.
How do I practice if I’m really shy?
Whether you’re following along with the video lessons or joining us in the Discord community for events,
- repeat the Japanese you hear on your side of the screen.
- copy what I’m writing.
- answer questions I pose to see if you know it.
When you’re at any events, you can be muted. What’s important is being active and involved on your side of the screen.
Is there an age limit?
Anyone 11 or older, including adults of any age, can take the course.
10-year-olds might be okay in the course; I’ve had mixed results when I let 10-year-olds take the live version of this course.
If this course is for your child and you know your child doesn’t have the study habits needed to practice or review outside of class, try the こどものにほんご Japanese for Kids classes. These take all the work out of learning Japanese by merging it with everyday life.
