Step 1 Japanese - Tuesdays 11am (UK) from 16th April 2024
£195.00

A Japanese course for beginner-level students with some basic knowledge.

Beginner-level students learn to understand menus, order in a restaurant, and talk simply about a place you’re staying. We focus on useful, practical language for making yourself understood in Japanese.

This 12-week term runs from April to July and is based on Irodori Starter (from Lesson 6), an online textbook for beginner students which is FREE to download.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

☆ Understand a simple food menu

☆ Order in a restaurant

☆ Pronounce all the sounds of Japanese

☆ Read hiragana with confidence (the first basic Japanese script)

☆ Read some simple kanji (Chinese characters used in Japanese)

STEP 1 is ideal for you if...

★ You’re a beginner-level student with some basic knowledge of Japanese including some hiragana. This course is aimed at students who have already taken Step 1 Term 1 and Term 2 with me, or are at equivalent level. It’s not suitable for absolute beginners.

★ You want to learn more basic Japanese in a fun, friendly environment.

For advice choosing the right level, pleasebook a free consultation call (available until 28th Mar) oremail me (anytime up until the course starts).

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STEP 2

Step 2 Japanese - Tuesdays 12pm (UK) from 16th April 2024
£195.00

A Japanese course for “upper beginners”. Step 2 students learn more useful vocabulary and sentence structures to express yourself about more topics.

This 12-week term runs from April to July and is based on Irodori Starter (from Lesson 11), an online textbook for beginner students which is FREE to download.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

☆ Talk about likes and dislikes and hobbies in more detail

☆ Invite someone to an event with you and discuss the details

☆ Read katakana more confidently

☆ Read some simple kanji (Chinese characters used in Japanese)

STEP 2 is ideal for you if...

★ You have some experience (around 40 hours+) of studying Japanese at the beginner level

★ You can read hiragana and katakana - you don’t have to be able to read them perfectly, but there are no romaji (English letters) used to write Japanese on this course

For advice choosing the right level, please  book a free consultation call (available until 28th Mar) or  email me (anytime up until the course starts).

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STEP 3

Step 3 Japanese - Wednesdays 1pm (UK) from 17th April 2024
£195.00

On Step 3, you build on what you’ve learned so far, learning more complex expressions and broadening your vocabulary.

This 12-week term runs from April to July and is based on Irodori Elementary 1 (from Lesson 9), an online textbook which is FREE to download.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

☆ Talk about the weather and seasons where you live

☆ Ask questions about places around town and understand simple answers

☆ Read about 25 kanji (Chinese characters used in Japanese) relating to the topics studied

STEP 3 is ideal for you if...

★ You have experience (around 60 hours+) of studying Japanese at the beginner / upper beginner level

★ You're comfortable with beginner material, and ready to take the next step!

★ You can read hiragana and katakana. Previous kanji knowledge will be helpful but is not essential.

For advice choosing the right level, please  book a free consultation call (available until 28th Mar) or  email me (anytime up until the course starts).

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STEP 4

Step 4 Japanese - Wednesdays 12pm (UK) from 17th April 2024
£195.00

On Step 4, you’ll develop your core skills in Japanese further by discussing a range of topics.

This 12-week term runs from April to July and is based on Irodori Elementary 1 (Lesson 12 and Lesson 15), an online textbook which is FREE to download.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

☆ Give your opinion about different foods

☆ Read and understand cooking instructions 

☆ Explain your symptoms at the doctor and understand the doctor’s advice

☆ Read about 25 more kanji (Chinese characters used in Japanese) relating to the topics studied

STEP 4 is ideal for you if...

★ You have experience (around 90 hours+) of studying Japanese at the elementary level

★ You can read hiragana and katakana. Previous kanji knowledge (about 50-100) will be helpful but is not essential.

For advice choosing the right level, please  book a free consultation call (available until 28th Mar) or  email me (anytime up until the course starts).

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Intermediate 1

Intermediate 1 Japanese - Tuesdays 1pm (UK) from 16th April 2024
£195.00

On Intermediate 1, you’ll take your Japanese skills further with intermediate grammar and vocabulary.

This 12-week term runs from April to July and is based on ‘Genki 2’ (3rd edition, from Lesson 17), which must be purchased separately.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

☆ Talk about what you hear from others (“grumbles and gossip”)

☆ Describe the states of things using transitive/intransitive verbs

☆ Express your feelings about successes and regrets

☆ Read about 25 more kanji (Chinese characters used in Japanese) relating to the topics studied

Intermediate 1 is ideal for you if…

★ You have completed an elementary textbook such as ‘Genki 1’, or are at equivalent level.

OR your Japanese is at around JLPT N5 level (i.e. you have passed N5 or are at around that level). If you haven’t used ‘Genki’ before, that’s ok. Note that ‘Genki 2’ starts from Lesson 13. Students in this class are about ⅓ of the way through the book.

★ You can read hiragana, katakana, and around 150 kanji.

For advice choosing the right level, please book a free consultation call (available until 28th Mar) or email me (anytime up until the course starts).

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Intermediate 3

Intermediate 3 Japanese - Thursdays 12pm (UK) from 18th April 2024
£195.00

On the Intermediate 3 course, you’ll learn more intermediate grammar and vocabulary for expressing your opinions.

This 12-week term runs from April to July and is based on some of the reading sections from the second half of Genki 2, plus a variety of online resources such as video and listening activities. All materials are provided. If you don’t already have Genki 2, you don’t need to buy it.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

☆ Read long-form articles about a range of topics (e.g. unlucky ages in Japan, diary entries)

☆ Discuss a range of topics (e.g. giving advice about travel, talking about hopes for the future)

☆ Read about 25 more kanji (Chinese characters used in Japanese) relating to the topics studied

Intermediate 3 is ideal for you if…

★ You are familiar with the grammar from an elementary textbook such as Genki 2, or are at equivalent level.
OR your Japanese is at around JLPT N4 level (i.e. you have passed N4 or are at around

that level)

★ You can read hiragana, katakana, and around 300 kanji.

For advice choosing the right level, please  book a free consultation call (available until 28th Mar) or  email me (anytime up until the course starts).

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Intermediate 4

Intermediate 4 Japanese - Thursdays 1pm (UK) from 18th April 2024
£195.00

On the Intermediate 4 course, you’ll learn more intermediate grammar and vocabulary, and discuss more complex topics.

This 12-week term runs from April to July and is based on Irodori Elementary 2 (from Lesson 11), an online textbook which is FREE to download.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

☆ Problem-solve while shopping in Japan

☆ Ask for advice and ask for a discount

☆ Pick out relevant info from shopping apps and price comparison sites

☆ Read more kanji (Chinese characters used in Japanese) relating to the topics studied

Intermediate 4 is ideal for you if…

★ You have completed an elementary textbook such as Genki 2, or are at equivalent level.

OR your Japanese is at around JLPT N4+ level (i.e. you have passed N4, or are at or above that level)

★ You can read hiragana, katakana, and about 300+ kanji

For advice choosing the right level, please  book a free consultation call (available until 28th Mar) or  email me (anytime up until the course starts).

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More Info

Information about Conversation Courses

Term dates Spring/Summer 2024

Each class meets at the same time each week (for example, STEP 1 will meet every Tuesday at 11am). The course is made up of two 12-week terms and runs from January to July, with breaks for easter and half term. Join us in April for the Summer term!

Spring term 2024: Tuesday 2nd January to Thursday 28th March (no classes 12th-16th Feb).
Summer term 2024: Tuesday April 16th to Thursday 11th July 2024 (no classes 27th-31st May).

Each lesson is 55 minutes. You can sign up for the whole 24 weeks, or pay termly.

Returning students

April 2024 courses follow on from the previous term. Returning students should join the course with the same name (i.e. if you’re finishing Step 2 Spring Term, join Step 2 Summer Term to continue the course).

For advice choosing the right level, please book a free consultation call or email me.

Online courses

We use Zoom, an easy-to-use video calling programme. To join the class, you’ll need a device you can join a video call on. I’ll share my screen and show slides during the class, so I recommend using a device with a larger screen such as a computer or tablet, not a smartphone.

In class you’ll learn to speak and understand Japanese, through fun and creative communicative activities. Lessons are interactive and designed to get you speaking Japanese as much as possible. Depending on the class size, students do group and pair work in breakout rooms (smaller virtual rooms in Zoom).

Lessons on Conversation Courses are recorded, and I’ll share the recordings with you, so you can review the lessons. Time in breakout rooms is not recorded.

I ask students to mute yourselves when not speaking, to help cut down on background noise. To aid communication, I’d prefer you to have your camera on if possible, especially during group and pair work.

Class times are in UK time. If you are joining internationally, please note that due to daylight savings, the UK time zone changes part way through this course. The UK time zone will be GMT up until 31st March, 2024. After that, the UK time zone will be BST (GMT+1) for the remainder of the course.

Step Up Japanese is a fully online school. If you are based in Sussex, UK, I sometimes run informal social events in Brighton for my students, so I hope to see you there too!

Textbooks

Most Conversation Courses use digital textbooks, which are free to download. Some courses use a textbook which much be purchased separately. Please check the description for your course.

Course fees Spring/Summer 2024

24 weeks (Spring & Summer terms) £295.

12 weeks (Summer term only) £195.

Enrolment deadline

Please enrol by Monday 15th April 5pm (GMT). Enrolment is possible after this date, but it will help me to plan if you can sign up by Monday 15th :) 

Consultation calls are available until 28th March. If you need advice after that date, please email me.

Class size

All courses run with a minimum of 4 students and a maximum of 12. In Spring 2024, the average class size was 5 students.

Cancellation policy

Course fees are fully refundable until 14 days before the start of your booked course. If you cancel your booking less than 14 days before the start of the course, fees are refundable minus a £10 admin fee. Once the course has begun, fees are non-refundable.

Who can join?

My courses are for adults. I don’t teach under-18s (no exceptions, sorry).

Self-study

To get the most out of your language course, I recommend you find ways to practise Japanese outside of class. This could be reviewing what we studied in class, reading books or news, listening to online practice, watching Japanese films or shows, talking in Japanese with a friend or study partner - whatever you enjoy!

I give weekly homework via email after each lesson - usually 1 or 2 exercises such as preparing for the next lesson, online quizzes or games, listening or writing practice. Some homework is for everybody to do, and some is optional extra!


For advice choosing the right level, please book a free consultation call or email me.

 

Teacher

Classes at Step Up Japanese are taught by me, Fran Wrigley. Konnichiwa!

I started Step Up Japanese in a little yellow classroom in Brighton in 2015, and in 2020 I moved all my teaching online.

I love the Japanese language, and sharing that with students is a privilege I don't take for granted. Learning a foreign language is hugely rewarding - and, if you get it right, it should be really fun.

I hope to see you soon at Step Up Japanese!

 

Got a question? I'm here to help.