Gentle Japanese Level 1 | Afternoons

About this course

The course introduces Japanese through greetings, introductions, personal details, numbers, shopping language and ways to identify locations and objects. Learners also study basic sentence patterns, questions, demonstratives and key particles, while gradually developing reading and writing skills in hiragana. Lessons combine teacher explanation with speaking practice, review and opportunities to ask questions. The teacher adapts the material and pace to the group, with romaji used alongside Japanese while learners become familiar with the writing system.

What you'll learn

• Exchange basic greetings and introductions in Japanese
• Ask for and provide personal information such as nationality and occupation
• Form simple positive and negative statements and questions
• Use numbers up to 10,000 in contexts including shopping
• Read and write introductory hiragana characters

Is this course right for you?

Designed for complete beginners, including learners who may know a few words but have not studied Japanese in a structured way. Participation includes speaking practice within a group, with time for repetition and questions. The course may also suit learners who prefer a measured pace before progressing to the next level.

• No previous Japanese study is required
• Speaking practice forms part of every session
• The course introduces hiragana gradually rather than assuming prior knowledge

Before you go

• No textbook purchase is required; teaching materials are provided in class, with some resources potentially shared digitally.
• Around one hour of self-study each week is recommended, mainly through short, regular hiragana practice.