Japanese for the
life you lead
Where would you like your Japanese to take you?
A learning plan built around you
Private coaching
Develop your Japanese through one-to-one lessons tailored to your goals and current ability. Build conversational confidence, strengthen your listening and pronunciation, or develop the language you need for everyday life, travel, work or study.
Prepare for a real situation
Practical Japanese
Prepare for study, relocation or a longer stay in Japan with Japanese for everyday arrangements and conversations. Choose a structured practical programme, or discuss coaching for a particular task. This route focuses on the situations you need to handle, rather than a general proficiency or exam goal.
Learn and practise with others
Small-group classes
Build your Japanese alongside other learners through structured online group classes. Practise speaking, listening, reading and writing, with guided activities that develop communication for everyday situations.
Focus on your target JLPT level
JLPT preparation
Prepare for JLPT N3, N2 or N1 with targeted practice in vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening. Identify gaps in your knowledge, become familiar with exam-style questions and work on the skills needed for your chosen level.
Bring your Japanese into everyday life
Learning Japanese can help you move beyond familiar phrases and take a more active part in conversations. For learners in Singapore, that might mean preparing for a trip to Japan, communicating at work or building the language skills needed for a longer stay.
Learning Japanese can help you:
handle everyday interactions while travelling in Japan
communicate with Japanese-speaking colleagues, friends and partners
prepare for study, relocation and daily life in Japan
develop your understanding of Japanese-language media and work towards a JLPT goal
Our Japanese courses support adults in Singapore at different stages of learning, including:
beginners building a foundation for conversation and everyday use
learners developing Japanese for work, relationships or personal interests
adults preparing to study, relocate or spend extended time in Japan
learners preparing for JLPT N3, N2 or N1
Japanese uses different ways of speaking according to the relationship and setting. Polite forms such as desu and masu are useful in many introductions and everyday encounters; familiar conversations and formal professional situations can involve other choices.
Joining friends for a meal, asking staff for assistance and writing to a university office each have their own expectations. Learning suitable greetings, requests and responses helps you prepare for those interactions.
Tell us who you expect to speak with and the situations ahead of you, including any messages or documents you need to handle.
Teaching that
adapts to you
A teacher matched to you
Practice for real situations
A course plan that adapts
Japanese course levels
Our courses use the internationally recognised Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) to describe language proficiency. Explore the levels below through examples of everyday, social, study and workplace communication relevant to learners in Singapore.
These are broad guides to learning at each stage. Your starting level and goals help determine the appropriate course and focus.
Beginner A1
Japanese for First Meetings and Familiar Situations
Start using Japanese with people you meet in Singapore and during visits to Japan. Build short, supported exchanges alongside familiarity with pronunciation and basic written language.
Practise how to:
- introduce yourself and say where you live and work in Singapore
- greet a Japanese-speaking friend or colleague politely
- talk simply about favourite foods, hobbies and places
- order a basic meal or ask the price of an item in Japan
- recognise familiar words on menus, signs and simple messages
Elementary A2
Japanese for Everyday Plans and Social Connections
Move beyond individual phrases to make arrangements and share simple experiences. Develop language for meeting Japanese-speaking friends in Singapore and handling routine situations in Japan.
Practise how to:
- invite a friend to lunch and agree on a time and place
- recommend a place to eat or visit in Singapore using simple descriptions
- explain basic food preferences and ask what someone would like
- describe a recent outing, event or trip
- ask for help with transport, shopping or a straightforward booking in Japan
Lower Intermediate B1
Sharing Your Life and Interests in Japanese
Sustain more connected conversations with Japanese-speaking friends, classmates and colleagues. Explain your experiences, ask follow-up questions and help others understand your life in Singapore.
Practise how to:
- describe a Singapore neighbourhood or a local custom to a Japanese friend
- explain why you enjoy a particular hobby, film or cultural activity
- share an experience and respond to questions about it
- discuss a familiar task or practical problem with a colleague
- explain your plans for travel, work or study and give reasons for your choices
Upper Intermediate B2
Japanese for Detailed Discussion and Collaboration
Develop the language to explore ideas in greater depth and respond more spontaneously. Participate more fully in social conversations, Japan-facing work and discussions about culture or everyday life.
Practise how to:
- compare working habits or everyday experiences in Singapore and Japan
- explain a recommendation and discuss its advantages and drawbacks
- contribute to a project discussion with Japanese-speaking colleagues
- discuss a Japanese article, programme or film and support your interpretation
- clarify a disagreement and summarise the next steps in a discussion
Advanced C1–C2
Japanese for Nuance, Relationships and Demanding Situations
Refine your expression when meaning depends on tone, context and what is left unsaid. Develop greater flexibility across close relationships, professional exchanges and complex cultural discussions.
Practise how to:
- recognise indirect concerns and respond sensitively in a professional conversation
- present a complex proposal to Japanese contacts and handle challenging questions
- discuss social or cultural issues from Singaporean and Japanese perspectives
- adapt your register when speaking with friends, senior colleagues or clients
- express subtle opinions and interpret implied meanings in extended discussions
What would you like to do with Japanese?
Ask about your course
Your questions, answered
Which Japanese course should I choose?
Choose private coaching if you want to develop your Japanese through personalised teaching and continued practice. Practical courses suit a specific task, role or situation, with either tailored coaching or a structured programme. Group courses offer structured learning with other learners. JLPT preparation focuses on the knowledge and tasks assessed by the test.
If you’re unsure, tell us what you want to achieve and we can recommend a suitable option.
Can beginners join, and how do I find my starting level?
Beginners can join any of our private Japanese packages. Choose the length according to how much teaching and practice you want: Builder provides 6 hours, Development 12 hours and Core 18 hours. Core offers the most time to practise, apply feedback and consolidate what you learn. Group courses have specified starting levels, and practical courses or JLPT preparation may require an existing foundation; check the course details.
You don’t need to know your CEFR level before contacting us. For Builder, Development and Core, the first lesson includes spoken placement alongside teaching. Group courses also include spoken placement assessments. A standalone assessment is available if you need a separate assessment of your Japanese.
How are practical courses different from private coaching?
Private coaching supports your ongoing language development, with lessons shaped around your goals and starting level.
Practical courses address a particular purpose. You can prepare for your own communication task or follow a structured programme built around a role or situation.
Both routes offer one-to-one teaching. The difference is the scope and purpose of the learning.
Do I need to learn hiragana, katakana and kanji to speak Japanese?
You can begin practising spoken Japanese before you know all three writing systems. Hiragana and katakana provide useful foundations, while kanji knowledge develops over time.
Reading becomes particularly useful for signs, messages, work, study and exams. Tell us how you want to use Japanese so we can discuss the balance between speaking, listening, reading and writing.
What is the difference between JLPT preparation and conversational Japanese lessons?
JLPT preparation focuses on the language knowledge, reading and listening assessed by the test. The JLPT does not directly test speaking. Conversational lessons develop your ability to use Japanese in interaction, including forming responses and choosing suitable expressions.
Tell us if you have both exam and communication goals. We can help you choose an approach that addresses each.
What Japanese do I need to communicate with Japanese colleagues?
That depends on your role and the situations involved. Informal exchanges may need everyday Japanese, while meetings, presentations and client communication require more precise language and attention to politeness.
Personalised coaching can develop your skills over time. If you have a particular meeting or presentation to prepare for, practical lessons can focus on that task.