Saturday Fast Track | Japanese Beginner 1

About this course

The course introduces spoken Japanese alongside hiragana, with lessons covering greetings, personal information, numbers, occupations, routines, time, shopping and everyday situations. Grammar includes questions, present and past forms, particles and demonstratives, while vocabulary and pronunciation are developed systematically. Teaching combines structured explanation with conversations, speaking tasks, pair and group work, and regular script practice. The teacher uses Japanese throughout, adapting the order and pace of topics to the group. Minna no Nihongo Beginners Book 1, Chapters 1–5, forms part of the teaching material.

What you'll learn

• Introduce yourself and others and exchange basic personal information in Japanese
• Use numbers from 0 to 10,000 in appropriate contexts
• Tell the time and describe daily routines and schedules
• Ask and answer basic questions using introductory Japanese grammar and particles
• Read and write some hiragana characters

Is this course right for you?

This course is designed for complete beginners with no previous Japanese experience. Its accelerated format suits learners willing to take part in regular conversations, speaking tasks and pair or group activities, while also practising hiragana and other exercises independently between sessions.

• The course moves faster than a standard, more gradual Japanese class
• Regular practice outside class is recommended, particularly for hiragana
• Suitable for learners who want spoken communication and script learning introduced together

Before you go

• Minna no Nihongo Beginners Book 1 and other teaching resources are used in class; learners do not need to buy books before the course.
• The teacher provides the materials needed in class and may share additional resources digitally.
• Two to three hours of self-study per week are recommended.