Today is not a normal lesson. We look at how the course works, and how to get the most out of it.
About you
Introducing yourself
Your level and the course
What happens in a lesson
Between lessons
Your materials
About you
Why Japanese?
Tap everything that applies. Your tutor shapes the examples around your answers.
How much do you know already?
Introduce yourself
Nice to meet you
はじめまして。Nice to meet you.
your nameです。I am (your name).
よろしくおねがいします。I look forward to learning with you.
Your tutor says it first. Then you say it with your own name.
Your level
N5, and the start of N4
This course takes you through N5 and into the start of N4.
N1
N2
N3
N4Start of N4
N5All of N5
N5Some basic Japanese
Reads set phrases and short sentences in hiragana, katakana and basic kanji. Follows short, slowly spoken conversations about daily life and the classroom.
N4Basic Japanese
Reads short passages on familiar everyday topics. Follows everyday conversations when they are spoken slowly.
Based on the JLPT's official level descriptions. The JLPT has not published official word, kanji or grammar lists since 2010, so matching a course to a level is always an approximation. This course is not exam preparation on its own.
The course map
35 Units in 9 chapters
In order. Each Unit uses only what came before it.
CH 1
CH 2
CH 3
CH 4
CH 5
CH 6
CH 7
CH 8
CH 9
UnitReviewN5Finishing N5, start of N4
1Saying what things are
2Adjectives
3Verbs
4Things, places and numbers
5Wanting, inviting, asking
6Joining actions, and what is going on
7The plain form
8Describing and comparing
9Plans, experience and reasons
What you will be able to do
By the end of the course
CHAPTERS 1–2
Say who you are and what you do, tell the time, and describe how things are.
CHAPTERS 3–4
Talk about your day and about yesterday, say where things are, and ask how many and how much.
CHAPTERS 5–6
Say what you want, invite someone, ask for things, and say what is going on.
CHAPTERS 7–8
Speak casually, say what you think, and compare things.
CHAPTER 9
Talk about plans, experiences and reasons, and give advice.
What happens in a lesson
The same five steps, every Unit
1CheckQuiz on the last Unit
→
2WordsEnglish to Japanese
→
3GrammarAn example, then your own sentences
→
4DrillsOut loud
→
5ReviewWhat you can say now
Why this order. You recognise a pattern before you produce it, and you say everything out loud.
Between lessons
Practice is what makes it stick
Lessons alone are not enough to start speaking.
Read the Japanese from each Unit aloud5 to 10 minutes, most days
Sound and kanaYour reading gets faster.
RhythmYour mouth gets used to Japanese.
AutomaticPatterns come out without thinking.
AnywhereOn your own, in a few minutes.
Your materials
What you get, and how to use it
SlidesIn the lesson
Open them again to review.
HomeworkBefore the next lesson
Try it first, then check the answers.
Vocabulary sheetBetween lessons
Cover the Japanese and test yourself.
QuizNext lesson
Shows what to go over again.
Kana chartAny time
For when a kana slips your mind.
RoadmapKeep it
Tick each Unit as you finish it.
PRINTABLES
Print RecommendedTabletTypingNotebook
Printables come a chapter at a time. Writing by hand helps many learners remember, and a sheet is easy to keep.