4 stages of a general Japanese course
A general Japanese course teaches everyday Japanese without a fixed exam or job goal. Most syllabuses follow the levels of the JLPT, the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, which runs from N5, the easiest level, to N1. Since December 2025 the score reports of candidates who pass also show a level of the CEFR, the European scale from A1 to C2, depending on the score.
| Course stage | Main content | JLPT | CEFR reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | hiragana, katakana, the polite -masu form | before N5 | none |
| Elementary | everyday dialogues, first kanji | N5 to N4 | A1 to A2 |
| Lower intermediate | longer texts, casual forms | N3 | A2 or B1 |
| Upper levels | news and meetings at natural speed | N2 to N1 | B1 to C1 |
According to the official level summary, N5 means that you read typical expressions and sentences written in hiragana, katakana and basic kanji. Many general courses end around N3 or B1. The Japan Foundation's coursebook series Marugoto also runs from Starter (A1) to Intermediate (B1). Courses for work or university build on that level.
The JLPT tests vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening, but neither speaking nor writing. A general course therefore has to train speaking and writing itself, because the exam does not reward them.
3 hurdles that general Japanese courses must solve
Japanese pronunciation is accessible, with only five vowels. Three other features decide how a general course has to work.
1 Three scripts
Hiragana and katakana are syllabic scripts with 46 basic signs each, and you learn both in a few weeks. Kanji are characters adopted from China, and the official list for daily use has 2,136 of them. Many kanji have several readings: the character for person is read hito, jin or nin depending on the word. A good course introduces kanji inside words and sentences.
2 Politeness levels
Japanese changes verb forms and words depending on whom you speak to. General courses start with the polite -masu form, which suits contact with strangers, and add the casual form later. Respectful and humble forms, called keigo, follow at higher levels and matter mainly at work.
3 Listening
Speakers often drop the subject when the context makes it clear, and fast speech blurs short and long vowels. Obasan means aunt, obāsan grandmother, so length changes meaning.
A course that stays with rōmaji, the transcription in Latin letters, for months feels easy at first. You then have to learn every word a second time in kana. Ask when the course switches to kana only.
General course or conversation course for Japanese
A general course follows a syllabus with grammar, vocabulary, the scripts, listening, reading, writing and speaking. A conversation course concentrates on free speaking and usually expects that you read kana and use the -masu form with confidence.
For Japanese a conversation course pays off early, because the small set of sounds makes speaking easier than reading. Many learners hold simple conversations after a few months, long before they can read a newspaper.
- ✓A conversation course gives you much more speaking time than a group class.
- ✓The teacher shows which politeness level fits which situation.
- ✓You practise long vowels and pitch in real dialogues.
- ✗Conversation courses often work with rōmaji, so your reading falls behind.
- ✗Without a syllabus, grammar and kanji progress by chance.
- ✗Learners who know Japanese mainly from anime may keep casual forms that sound rude to strangers.
Many learners combine a general course with one conversation lesson a week from the elementary stage on.
Course formats and Japan Foundation materials
Online formats differ in who corrects you and how much you speak. The Japan Foundation, Japan's public institution for cultural exchange, provides free or low-cost material that many courses use.
| Format | Suits Japanese for | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| One-to-one video lesson | speaking, politeness, pitch | higher price per hour |
| Group class with a coursebook | steady progress, fixed times | little speaking time |
| Self-study platform | scripts, vocabulary, own pace | hardly any feedback |
| App with spaced repetition | daily kana and kanji review | almost no free speech |
Spaced repetition means that the app shows a kanji again just before you are likely to forget it. Marugoto, the Japan Foundation's coursebook series, comes with online courses, and the foundation's platform JF Japanese e-Learning Minato offers self-study courses.
Japan is UTC+9 all year, which is 13 to 17 hours ahead of most of North America and 7 to 8 hours ahead of central Europe. Teachers in your own time zone are easier to book for evening lessons.
Japanese courses for children and teenagers
Children learn Japanese online in shorter lessons than adults, often with songs and games for hiragana. Kana suit young learners well, because each sign stands for one syllable and children see progress within weeks.
Teenagers often come to Japanese through anime, manga and games. That motivation carries them through kana and the first kanji. A course for teenagers should still teach the polite -masu form first, because many expressions from anime are casual or rough.
Children of Japanese-speaking families often understand and speak Japanese at home but read few kanji. One-to-one lessons with a focus on reading and writing suit them better than a beginner group.
Very casual speech copied from anime sounds rude to teachers, host families and strangers. A course for young learners should show which form fits which situation from the start.
About 130 course hours in a first year with 3 lessons a week
With three hours of class a week you collect about 130 classroom hours a year. That is usually enough for simple everyday conversation and for reading kana after one year. For newspapers and meetings in Japanese, plan for several years. Intensive phases, such as a two-week online intensive course or a stay at a language school in Japan, add hours quickly.
| Activity | Format | Time per week |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking and politeness | live lesson, one-to-one or group | 2 to 3 x 60 minutes |
| Kana, kanji and words | app with spaced repetition | 5 x 15 minutes |
| Listening | podcasts or coursebook audio | 3 x 20 minutes |
Decide on a goal for the next one to two years before you book, such as JLPT N4 or conversation for a trip to Japan. The goal shapes the coursebook, the share of kanji and the teacher you need.
Frequently asked questions about general online Japanese courses
What can I do in Japanese after one year of a general online course?
After one year of a general online Japanese course with three hours of class a week, you can usually hold simple everyday conversations and read kana. That pace adds up to about 130 classroom hours a year. Reading newspapers or taking part in meetings in Japanese takes several years.
Should a general Japanese course teach rōmaji?
A general Japanese course should use rōmaji, the transcription in Latin letters, only in the first days. Hiragana and katakana have 46 basic signs each and take a few weeks to learn. Learners who stay with rōmaji for months have to learn every word a second time in kana.
Is a Japanese conversation course suitable for complete beginners?
A Japanese conversation course suits complete beginners only after a short start, because it usually expects that you read kana and use the polite -masu form. Japanese is easy to pronounce, so many learners join a conversation course after a few months.
Which coursebook does the Japan Foundation publish for general Japanese courses?
The Japan Foundation publishes Marugoto: Japanese Language and Culture, a coursebook series for general Japanese courses. It runs from Starter at CEFR level A1 to Intermediate at B1 and comes with online courses. The foundation also runs the self-study platform JF Japanese e-Learning Minato.
Which politeness form does a general Japanese course teach first?
A general Japanese course teaches the polite -masu form first, because it suits everyday contact with strangers. The casual form among friends follows later. Respectful and humble forms, called keigo, belong mainly to business Japanese courses.
Sources
The information is based on these sources. Check fees and dates with the provider before you register.