When I tell people that I speak Japanese, I always get the same questions: “How did you learn?” and “How long did it take?” I reply with “Slowly and painfully with a lot of mistakes” and “about two years” for the speaking and listening while living full time in Japan. When I moved to Japan back in 2004, I didn’t have the option to learn Japanese online. Google itself had literally just been invented. There were no apps. There wasn’t even Google Maps to help you find a local Japanese school. The only way to learn was the good old-fashioned way: books and paper flashcards. At least that’s how I did it back in Ohio a few months before moving to Japan and becoming an English teacher at Nova.
Fortunately, there is now a much better way to learn Japanese: through Japanese online learning. By taking a Japanese online course, you can learn directly from a Japanese teacher and get immediate correction on any mistakes you make. If you have any questions about the language, the culture, or even a phrase you heard in an anime, you can ask your teacher directly. This was something I really wish I had back in 2004 when I was just starting to adapt to life in Tokyo.
Why You Should Learn Japanese Online
After trying many different ways to learn Japanese, I have finally concluded that the best way, in our busy modern society, is to learn Japanese online learn Japanese online. You can try to sit down by yourself and learn from books, but this has become very hard to do now in our distracted society. You could also meet with a private teacher or go to a language school in person, but it’s hard to justify the commuting time and transportation expenses that you are wasting to learn in person. Why add an extra 1-2 hours of travel time when you can just open your laptop or grab your phone and learn Japanese?
Live Classes vs. Recorded Video Learning
There are so many video resources out there that can help you learn Japanese on your own, but, as a former English teacher myself, I can tell you: there is nothing more powerful than learning Japanese online in a live class. Watching videos will expose you to new vocabulary and provide interesting content, but it will not force you to engage with a native speaker in real time. Showing up in your class online will instill more discipline in your study and give you immediate feedback on your mistakes. If you choose to take a group online class, you will also join a community of fellow learners from around the world. You get to make new friends while also learning Japanese.
Your teacher will also give you homework and continue to push towards greater fluency. Just like hiring a personal trainer to push you towards your fitness goals, your online Japanese teacher will ensure that you improve and hold you accountable.
Japademy: The Perfect Place to Learn Japanese Online
OK, so you’ve decided to learn Japanese online. But where can you find a Japanese online course for a good price? I would give Japademy a try. They offer 10-week online courses at seven different levels: Beginner 1, 2, and 3, Per-Intermediate 1, 2, and 3, and Conversational classes. Each class has a maximum of eight students, with the current average being five.
Most of Japademy online classes are offered from 6:30 pm to 8:15 pm EST, with a few other timeslots offered from 8:30 pm to 10:15 pm EST. Group online classes have a maximum of six students and all teachers are native Japanese speakers.
Early bird pricing starts at $229 and the regular price is $249. This will give you 17.5 hours of online Japanese instruction for only $13 per hour (Early Bird) and $14.22 per hour (Regular).
Many online language websites that offer 1-1 instruction charge double this rate and only offer a 50-minute class. As a language learner myself, I have found 1 hour and 45 minutes to be an ideal amount of time to learn compared to classes that end in one hour or less. This is because you don’t get enough time to get deep into a topic before your teacher needs to wrap up for the day. Japademy’s 1 hour and 45 minute classes give you enough time to practice but still fit your learning into your busy schedule.
Japanese Online Learning Resources from Japademy
When you sign up for a Japademy course, you will receive free access to Japademy’s online video courses which you can use to study before or after your online lessons. Japademy also has a Japanese practice app to help you expand your vocabulary, learn Hiragana and Katakana, and even converse with an AI tutor.
As someone who taught English for 6.5 years and has a Master’s degree in English as a Second Language, I can tell that it is the outside study (for example, watching anime, listening to Japanese podcasts, and reading Japanese texts) that will truly help you to level up your Japanese alongside the accountability that you get from showing up to your Japanese online course.
Start Connecting with Japan Today
Japan has so many amazing places to explore like Naoshima, the Kumano Kodo trail, and Mt. Koya. But to truly go off the beaten path and enjoy these places to the fullest, it will be much better if you can speak Japanese. Learning Japanese online will not only introduce you to the rich and complex Japanese culture, but it will also help you connect with the Japanese people on your first or next visit to Japan. Start learning Japanese today and take that first step toward your journey to Japan.
AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER: Some affiliate links are used in this blog. If you make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love. I appreciate your support.
