Japanese lessons: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What japanese lessons is

Japanese lessons cover speaking, listening, reading and writing, including hiragana, katakana and kanji, from the basics onward. Students use them for travel, work, anime or study, and parents book them for teens who want to build a strong base before a school course.

Signs you need it

  • You can say a few phrases but cannot follow a reply that uses the polite forms.
  • You can sound out hiragana and katakana slowly but get stuck on everyday signs.
  • You know some kanji but cannot tell how they combine into words.
  • You are going to Japan for work or study and need to handle daily tasks in Japanese.
  • You keep mixing up particles such as wa and ga, or the verb endings for past and polite speech.

What the pro does

  • Check your level in the kana, listening, speaking and any kanji you already know.
  • Teach hiragana and katakana in a fixed order, with reading practice on real words after each set.
  • Work through particles and verb endings with sentences you would actually use at a shop, a station or work.
  • Introduce kanji in small groups tied to words you will read, with stroke order and reading practice.
  • Assign short reading and writing tasks between lessons and check them at the next session.

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • One-on-one lessons compared with small group classes
  • How many lessons you book each week and how long each one runs
  • Whether the focus is speaking, reading and writing, or exam preparation
  • Whether the teacher is a native Japanese speaker or a trained second language teacher
  • Whether you need written corrections and extra practice between sessions
  • Whether lessons happen online or in person

What a written quote should spell out

  • The lesson count, length and schedule
  • The level check and the goals for the first set of lessons
  • Whether the lessons include the kana, kanji or both, and in what order
  • The materials used and whether you must buy a textbook or workbook
  • How progress is tracked, such as a short reading and speaking check

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Will you teach hiragana and katakana before kanji, and how long will the kana take?
  • How do you teach particles and verb endings so that they stick?
  • Do you focus on polite speech for work, casual speech for friends, or both?
  • How much of each lesson goes to speaking compared with reading and writing?
  • If you are booking for a teen, what is the teacher's policy on background checks, cancellations and parent attendance?

Red flags

  • A teacher who skips the kana and goes straight to kanji lists.
  • Lessons built only on phrases with no reading or grammar explanation.
  • A teacher who will not describe their training or Japanese background.
  • Pressure to commit to a long package before a trial lesson.

What you can do yourself

You can memorize the hiragana and katakana charts, listen to beginner recordings and practice simple phrases on your own. Hire a teacher when you need someone to correct your grammar and pronunciation, guide your kanji study and keep you on a path toward your goal.

Licenses and permits

Teaching Japanese privately usually does not require a license. Ask for proof of skill instead, such as a degree in Japanese, a teaching certificate or references from past students.

Japanese lessons questions

How long does it take to learn hiragana and katakana?

The time depends on how much you practice. A teacher can set a clear schedule and check your reading before you move on to kanji.

Can a parent book Japanese lessons for a teen?

Yes. Ask about background checks, lesson policies, whether a parent can attend and how cancellations work before you book.

How do I find a Japanese teacher here?

Describe your level and goal, then pick the teachers you want by name. Only the teachers you pick see your request, and it is free for you.

Pro reviewers

Pros who offer japanese lessons remotely can improve this guide, like Wikipedia. We check every edit before it goes live. Every approved edit is credited in the edit history and on the pro's profile.

Edit history

How guide reviews work

How it works

  1. 1. Describe the job

    Pick the service, add your ZIP and a sentence about what is going on.

  2. 2. Pick the pros you want

    See screened pros who serve your ZIP and choose who you want to hear from.

  3. 3. They reach out

    They contact you the way you chose: phone, email or in-app messages.

More language lessons guides

Find a pro near you

Find a pro

About this guide

Request japanese lessons