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Japanese for Teens
Beginners Classes for English Speakers

We offer young people a space to learn with others who share their interest in Japanese. Our small group classes are friendly and led by experienced teachers, with guidance and support provided by me as the course coordinator.

About this course

  • Japanese classes for secondary school students

  • Group lesson (up to 6 students)

  • Online

  • 1 hour on Saturday mornings

Goals and Approach

Most students do not aim to take exams at first. Their motivations often include travelling to Japan, understanding culture such as anime, applying for a Japanese course at university in the future, or simply a love of languages.

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The course uses a beginner-friendly textbook to support steady progress. We include audio and visual materials to keep learning accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

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Some students eventually become interested in taking the GCSE Japanese exam. If that happens, suitable lessons and guidance will be provided.

GCSE Japanese

There are two levels in the GCSE Japanese exam: Foundation Tier (grades 1–5) and Higher Tier (grades 1–9).

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  • Foundation Tier: A Reasonable option after 3 years of studying Japanese.

  • Higher Tier: Recommended for students who are dedicated and can commit more time to their studies, such as 3 hours a week for 3 to 4 years. Higher Tier requires three times more kanji than the Foundation Tier.

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If you are studying for GCSE Japanese, a typical weekly plan includes a 1-hour class, 30 minutes of homework, and some extra self-study. Early on, this might mean watching YouTube videos or anime. Later, extended reading practice and learning kanji would become important. We can recommend useful resources to support your learning.

Trial Lesson

We offer trial lessons! Please get in touch. If a student decides not to continue, we welcome a voluntary contribution of up to £22 to support the time and coordination involved. This is entirely optional.

Classes

Saturday mornings (1h)

£220 for 10 weeks

Our teachers are fluent Japanese speakers with international teaching backgrounds. DBS certified.

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Japanese Absolute Beginner
Starting in September 2025

Saturday 11:20 am-12:20 pm Online

  • Suitable for complete beginners​

  • No prior knowledge is required, but some familiarity with Hiragana can be helpful, as most students tend to do a bit of self-study in Hiragana and Katakana before joining the class, often using apps like Duolingo.

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  • Availability  - 2 spaces

Japanese for Beginner 1A

Saturday 10:10-11:10am Online

  • Started in January 2025

  • Textbook: Marugoto A1 completed up to Lesson 6.

  • Beginners who have self-taught some knowledge using tools like Duolingo and can read most hiragana and katakana.

  • Suitable for those who are considering GCSE Summer 2028.

  • Reading level samples: 

わたしはにほんごがすきです。イギリスにすんでいます。

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A：ひるごはんはなにをたべますか。

B：カレーをたべます。

A：どこでたべますか。

B：あのみせでたべましょう。

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Online Quiz: Food in my town

Online Quiz: Locations

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  • Availability  - Full

Japanese for Beginner 1B

Saturday 11:20-12:20am Online

  • ​Textbook: Review of Marugoto A1

  • Students in this group are beginners with some prior learning experience, such as having studied with a tutor for a year or having lived in Japan for a short period. They can read Hiragana and Katakana confidently.

  • Suitable for those who are considering GCSE in Summer 2028.

  • Reading level sample: 

わたしはにほんごがすきです。イギリスにすんでいます。

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A：ひるごはんはなにをたべますか。

B：カレーをたべます。

A：どこでたべますか。

B：あのみせでたべましょう。

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Online Quiz: Food in my town

Online Quiz: Locations

  • Availability  - 2 spaces

Japanese Beginner 2

Saturday 9-10am Online

  • Started in 2023/2024

  • Students can read Hiragana and Katakana comfortably and know some kanji

  • Textbook: Marugoto A1 Lesson finishing

  • Learning towards GCSE Summer 2027

  • Reading level sample:

私のかぞくは四人です。イギリスにすんでいます。私のまちに大きいびじゅつかんがあります。きょう、七時におきました。十時にこうえんに行きました。それからともだちとえいがを見ました。たのしかったです。こんしゅう、がっこうで日本語のテストがありますから、としょかんでべんきょうします。

  • Availability  - Full 

Japanese Beginner 3
GCSE Summer 2026

Saturday 9-10 am Online

  • Started in 2022/2023

  • Learning towards GCSE Summer 2026 

  • Reading level sample:

私は日本語を勉強しています。しゅみはまんがを読むことです。私の学校は大きくて、新しいです。きのう学校のともだちと会いました。映画を見たり、カフェに行ったりしました。楽しかったです。​

  • Availability  - Full​​

“I love Japanese lessons. Group lesson is stimulating and I can also relax because I have time to rest my head and listen to others. The teacher is kind and lets us take time to practise when it's challenging, and gives us good homework to review.”

— Ella, Y8

Pink Blossom

“My motivation for taking GCSE Janese was that I wanted to do well to make my grandmother proud, and so I can communicate better at my part-time work, Japanese restaurant. I find the writing practice helpful, especially the booklet with practice questions for writing and the Kanji booklet.”

— Bela, Y12

Students on Stairs

“Kazue and other teachers were always supportive. I have seen my classmates from that time on other occasions, which is nice. I'm at university now and looking forward to my Year in Japan programme.”

— Silas, 18

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