Classes and Textbooks

We start from the basics: hiragana and katakana alphabets, Japanese phonetics, and basic vocabulary. You'll learn greetings and other basic sentence patterns as well. Improve your pronunciation, practice listening, and extend your vocabulary live online.

FlexLessons classes are 50 minutes in length, and work on a module system—as much as possible, later lessons don't depend on earlier lessons—so you can join any of our online Japanese classes at any time.

Keep sailing! Building on your skills from Beginner 1, you'll strengthen your daily conversation skills. The 200 additional kanji studied in Beginner 2 classes bring your total to 400 characters.

For the most comprehensive Japanese lessons at this level, we recommend you take this course and the grammar-focused Beginner 2 Grammar (incl. JLPT 3) course at the same time. Both courses are FlexLessons classes, so you can freely mix and match individual sessions as your schedule allows.

FlexLessons classes are 50 minutes in length, and work on a module system—as much as possible, later lessons don't depend on earlier lessons—so you can join any of our online Japanese classes at any time.

Intended for Beginner 2 students who have completed half or more of the Beginner 2 curriciulum and for intermediate students, this class is a Japanese-language discussion forum. Just like a martial arts dojo, our discussion dojo is the place to polish your conversation skills in Japanese. We focus on how to express our thoughts and opinions, how to conduct a friendly debate, and so on—all in Japanese, of course! All Discussion Dojo classes are 50 minutes in length.

No textbook is used—this is purely a conversation class. Just bring your own point of view to the discussion!

This course focuses on Japanese grammar at the beginner 2 level, including the grammar forms covered on the JLPT N4 (formerly level 3) test. You'll also improve your Kanji and vocabulary skills through this course. As a comprehensive beginner 2 grammar course, it is recommended for all beginner 2 students, even if you do not plan to take the JLPT.

For the most comprehensive Japanese lessons at this level, we recommend you take this course and the conversation-focused Beginner 2 course at the same time. Both courses are FlexLessons classes, so you can freely mix and match individual sessions as your schedule allows.

A solid understanding of grammar is essential to understanding and being understood in Japanese. The grammar forms are not studied in isolation, however. You will learn practical, ready-to-use grammar that you can apply to everyday situations in Japanese speaking and writing.

The Kanzen Master Level 3 textbook is used primarily. This text is intended for JLPT N4 preparation, but it is an excellent study guide for all beginner 2 grammar learners. For your own review, we recommend you purchase a copy from one of the sources listed below.

If you're planning to take the Japanese Language Proficency Test (JLPT) N2 or N3 (formerly level 2)—or if you want to master intermediate level grammar and vocabulary—this is the Japanese class for you. You'll study the essential skills for passing the test—grammar, vocabulary, Kanji, and reading comprehension—using textbooks and other materials specifically designed for the JLPT.

Like other FlexLessons classes, this class is 50 minutes in length and is as modular as possible—meaning later classes don't depend on earlier sessions so you have the flexibility to take classes whenever you like. However, some sessions will include a review of earlier classwork or a quiz involving topics from earlier sessions. To make the most of your test preparation time, it is recommended that you take JLPT 2 classes as regularly as possible. The teacher can provide more information in class.

For grammar study, the Kanzen Master Level 2 text shown below is used primarily, but various additional instructional materials are used in this class, so no immediate textbook purchase is required. The teacher will give you more information in class.

Here's your fastest way to improving your Japanese ability: one-on-one classes with a professional JOI instructor. You choose a JOI teacher, who then builds a customized curriculum for your private Japanese lessons. All private lessons are 50 minutes in length.

Need extra flexibility in scheduling private lessons? JOI offers a first among online Japanese schools: coordinated private lessons from more than one teacher!

	Consider our PrivateSilver and PrivateGold plans. Both plans come with a personalized curriculum taught by a professional Japanese language instructor. With PrivateGold, you also receive a follow-up email after every class, a monthly progress report, and priority reservations.
	Choose a JOI teacher. Look over the teachers' schedules and instruction levels. All of your private sessions will be conducted by the teacher you select. Coordinated instruction from two or more teachers is also available. Please note: If you have a particular time period in mind, but it is not on your selected teacher's schedule, some teachers may be willing to accommodate your request. Please contact us with details.
	Once you've decided on a teacher, contact us, and we'll get you and your teacher in touch. (If you're having trouble selecting a teacher on your own, please contact us.) The teacher will prepare a personalized curriculum for you, based on your needs and goals.
	Purchase a private-lesson package, and reserve classes using our reservation system.

In consultation, you and your instructor will decide which textbook (if any) is appropriate for your private lessons. Many Japanese language texts are available from TheJapanShop.com (our recommended bookseller, ships from US) and amazon.co.jp (ships from Japan, much of the site is available in English).