After we receive your completed enrollment form and after you have purchased a lesson package, we'll send you a confirmation email message. This email, which is your official enrollment notification, usually takes no more than 24 hours from the time your payment clears.

This modular approach means you can take lessons at your own pace, on your own schedule. Even if you choose not to take a class every day, you can be confident of keeping up when you rejoin the class.

FlexLessons are available at all learning levels, from Introductory to Advanced, and include JLPT classes and discussion classes. Learn more about FlexLessons.

The best way is to try our 3-lesson trial package, and check out the different course levels.

Once you feel confident at your current level, step up to the next level. Our philosophy is to create a learning space where you can learn at your own pace.

With our FlexLessons, you're always free to choose the teacher, level, and times for your online Japanese lessons (subject to scheduling availability; please see lesson schedule for class availability).

With private lessons, you choose one teacher, who prepares a customized, individualized curriculum for your online lessons. That teacher will instruct all of your private lessons.

If you need more flexibility in scheduling private lessons, you can take advantage of our Team-Up Private Lessons. Two or more teachers will prepare coordinated, customized lesson plans to meet your Japanese learning needs.

Online Japanese classes at JOI are conducted fully in Japanese, and our teachers are experienced in teaching all levels. At the Introductory level, teachers use some English for explanations.

Yes. FlexLessons and private lessons are purchased separately, but if you purchase both packages, you're free to take lessons of both types.

For your first lessons, don't worry about textbooks. Try a lesson package of a few lessons to gauge which level suits you best. Then, when you've decided on your level, please contact us. We'll order the textbook on your behalf and mail it to you. Payment for this service must be made by direct bank transfer or through PayPal.

JOI accepts PayPal payments and direct bank transfers.
We recommend PayPal, where you can use 3 methods
■ Credit card payments (no Paypal account necessary)
■ A direct transfer from your bank account (a verified PayPal account is required)
■ An e-check ( a verified PayPal account is required and e-checks take up to 5 business days to clear)

In the case of direct bank transfers outside of PayPal, transaction fees and charges are incurred by the applicant. If the net amount received differs from the lesson package cost, we will adjust the number of tickets accordingly.

No, there are no extra costs other than your lesson package. For some classes, you may wish to purchase a textbook.

The JOI Student Advantages 24-hour chat rooms, Japanese language quizzes, weekly lesson blog, message board, and more are all included in your lesson package price.

You need to adjust your computer to display Japanese text. The methods differ depending on your operating system. 

For tips on displaying and typing Japanese text in Windows, please see this page

For tips on displaying and typing Japanese text in Mac,  please see this page

For tips on writing and typing Japanese text, please see this page

The classroom system is really simple we're confident you'll find it easy to understand. JOI's unique system lets you reserve online Japanese classes in your local time zone, so you don't have to keep track of Japan time. When class time approaches, simply log in, click your classroom link, and you're learning Japanese live, online!

We want your JOI experience to be a success, so please test the classroom software on your computer before buying lessons.

No, dial-up connections are too usually too slow for our classroom, but almost any broadband connection (cable or DSL) will work. Satellite connections are not recommended, because of their high latencies.

Please do the quick connection test here
( http://japonin.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm )

No, while all teachers use a web cam (which means you can see your teacher during class), web cams are optional for students.

Any computer or electronics store sells headsets, generally for US $10 to $30 (prices vary).

A quality headset is essential. Low-quality headsets bleed sound from the earphones into the microphone, causing echoes when you talk. (Often, you cannot hear your own echoes, but the rest of the class can.)

The best headset is one with noise-reducing or noise-cancelling circuitry (search Google). These headsets cost a little more (US $20 to $40), but they produce clear sound without echoes or background noise.

A headset has two cords that plug into your computer: one cord plugs into your microphone jack, the other cord plugs into your headphones jack.

An ordinary microphone and audio headphones will also work, but you'll get better sound and a more comfortable experience with a headset.

Please contact support@japonin.com for a new password and username reminder.

If using a credit card or a PayPal transfer, simply complete a purchase from the Buy Lessons page. We'll credit your account with the new lessons within 24 hours. (For direct bank transfer procedures, please contact us.)

If you purchase a new package of tickets BEFORE your current package expires, the new ticket packages expiration date applies to all tickets.

On October 9th 2011, (BEFORE THE PACKAGE EXPIRES) you buy 5 tickets ( 5 FlexLessons = 1 month validity. Expiration = November 9th 2011)

13 tickets + 5 tickets = 18 tickets . All 18 tickets expire on November 9th 2011.

On October 11th 2011, (AFTER THE PACKAGE EXPIRES) you buy 5 tickets ( 5 FlexLessons = 1 month validity. Expiration = November 9th 2011)

Login to your account after you have purchased lesson tickets, visit your Current Reservations page, and click the "Make a Reservation" link.

The reservation deadline is 17 hours before class. (This JOI feature is the best service among all online
                                                                         Japanese schools !)

To cancel a reservation, visit your Current Reservations page, and click the "Cancel" button next to the reservation you wish to cancel. When you cancel a reservation, the lesson ticket is added back to your account balance.

The cancellation deadline is 17 hours before class.

Unfortunately, no. Although we understand the frustration of this situation, we cannot re-award a lesson ticket after the cancellation deadline, even if you couldn't take the lesson for reasons beyond your control.

The reservation deadline is 17 hours before class.

Classes are available for reservation 7 days in advance.
Private Gold lessons can be reserved 30 days in advance.

Unfortunately, the class cannot be cancelled after the cancellation deadline.
The cancellation deadline is 17 hours before class.

Please try to find another class within our schedule. The lesson schedule lists all available FlexLessons and private lessons in Japan time or your local time. The reservation system lists available classes and your reserved classes in your local time.

When logging in to the Reservations System, make sure you are entering your username and password correctly

Have you completed the Adobe set up test ?
http://japonin.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

This setup must be completed before entering the classroom.

Have you updated flash recently ?
The classroom software works best with the latest updates from Flash.

1) Make sure any other windows or applications that use the Internet are closed.

2) Switch off your web cam.

1) Make sure any other windows or applications that use the Internet are closed.

2) Please clear your browser cache.(See how here)

Do you hear echoes when you alone are talking?

YES:Mute your microphone (Windows only)

The problem is probably with your microphone. Try these steps to eliminate the echoes or noise:

If your headset uses batteries, make sure they aren’t dead.

Turn off sound mixers

Do the echoes or clicking sounds occur with all other users, not just a specific user?

YES: Your microphone needs adjustment. Try these steps:

Turn off sound mixers If another user hears a loud echo when you talk, you may have a "stereo mixer," or other sound device, turned on. These devices interfere with your voice. To turn off stereo mixers or other sound devices, please follow these steps: 1. Open the Recording Control window (Windows only) 1. Open the “Sound and Audio Devices” control panel. 2. Click the Audio tab. 3. In the “Sound recording” section, click the Volume button. This opens the Recording Control window. 2. From the Options menu, click Properties. The Properties window shown below will pop up. 3. Make sure Recording is checked (not Playback). 4. In the list at the bottom, make sure all items are checked. The items in this list vary from computer to computer?just make sure all items are checked. 5. Click OK. This closes the Properties window. 6. Now back on the Recording Control window, it should appear as shown below. 7. Make sure (1) "Mute all" is not checked, and (2) "Select" is checked only under the Microphone column. Step 2 in the picture is critical: Remove checks from everything except the Microphone. (Note: Depending on your computer, "Mute all" may not appear; if so, ignore step 1.) 8. Close the Recording Control window. If someone else hears a loud echo when you talk, please check this step carefully. Turn off extra microphones Multiple microphones picking up your voice cause serious sound problems, including echoes, clicks, and humming noises. If another user tells you he/she is hearing these kinds of noises when you talk, please check your microphone setup. 1. Many webcams have a built-in microphone. When the webcam is installed, the installation software often sets the webcam’s microphone as the system default microphone. Then, when you plug in your headset, you have another microphone?bad news! 2. Some notebook computers have a built-in, or internal, microphone. If you plug in a headset microphone, many?but not all?computers disable the computer’s internal mic automatically. If the internal microphone is not disabled automatically, it counts as an active microphone, and it interferes with your headset mic. 3. In most cases, your headset mic will give the best sound quality, so try to disable all other microphones, as follows (Windows only): 1. Open the Sound and Audio Devices Properties control panel. 2. Click the Audio tab. 3. In the “Sound recording” section, find the “Default device” list. Choose the item that corresponds to your computer’s sound card. It will usually be named something like Realtek, SoundMax, SigmaTel, and so on. The key is to choose the item that is not your webcam. 4. Click the Voice tab. 5. In the “Voice recording” section, repeat the “Default device” selection you made above. 6. Click OK to close the control panel. Adjust the microphone volume settings 1.  Lower the microphone volume percent in the classroom to less than 50%. 2.  In the classroom, right click your mouse, and then click the microphone icon. Lower the Flash Player microphone volume to less than about halfway. 3. The "Reduce Echo" setting in the Flash Player window tends to have very little effect, but you can experiment with it on and off. Turning it on will lower your speaking volume slightly. 4. At this point, your voice will probably be too quiet. To increase volume, Open the Advanced Controls for Microphone window (Windows only) 1. Open the Recording Control window, Open the Recording Control window (Windows only) 1. Open the “Sound and Audio Devices” control panel. 2. Click the Audio tab. 3. In the “Sound recording” section, click the Volume button. This opens the Recording Control window. 2. Look for the Microphone column. At the bottom of this column, there may be a button labeled “Advanced”. 3. If the Advanced button is not present, click the Options menu and choose “Advanced Controls”. The Advanced button should appear. 4. Click the Advanced button. This will open the Advanced Controls for Microphone window. and check "Mic Boost" or "20 dB Boost" (the name varies from computer to computer?some computers do not have this setting). 5. Make minor adjustments in the classroom microphone volume percent as needed, but try not to exceed 50%.

Do the echoes or clicking sounds occur only when a specific user talks?

YES: The problem is probably with the other user’s microphone or sound settings. Please ask the other user to review this FAQ.

Try these simple steps first:

Try these 3 simple steps first:

If those steps fail, here are some more things to keep in mind: