Online Japanese Classes for Adults (10-Week Evening Course)

Build core Japanese language skills in a structured and interactive online Japanese course for adults. Our 10-week live Zoom classes are taught by experienced Vancouver Japanese Language School (VJLS-JH) instructors and cater to adult learners (18+) with limited or no Japanese experience. These classes offer versatile foundational language knowledge for travel, work, friendship, or personal enrichment.

Based in Vancouver, B.C., our online Japanese classes welcome students from Canada and around the world. You’ll join a small group of fellow beginners and participate in immersive conversations and real-life scenarios. Four different classes are offered during our Spring 2026 semester, with levels suitable for true beginners all the way to students with elementary hiragana, katakana, and Japanese grammar proficiency.

Not sure which class to take? Our Course Coordinator, Kiyoko Fujii will be happy to guide you in the right direction.

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Spring 2026 Courses Now Open for Registration

Absolute Beginner (WE100)

New to Japanese? This class is for you! In WE100, first-timers will learn the basics:

• Read and write Hiragana
• Simple greetings and phrases
• Spelling and counting

Prerequisite: None

Register for WE100

Beginner Basics 1 (WE110)

Learners with a grasp of Hiragana and basic greetings, as well as WE100 graduates, should look here! In WE110, you’ll pick up how to:

• Read and write Katakana
• How to communicate when shopping or dining
• Tell and discuss time

Prerequisite: ability to read and write Hiragana
Materials Covered: Genki 1, Lessons 1-2

Register for WE110

Beginner Basics 2 (WE120)

The ideal online class for those who can engage in basic conversations and are confident reading and writing hiragana and katakana. WE120 is the next step for graduates of the WE110 class, or anyone learning to:

• Express daily routines and hobbies
• Use present and past tense to discuss activities
• Politely respond to offers and invitations
• Read and write 29 fundamental Kanji, such as those for numbers and days

Prerequisite: able to read and write hiragana and katakana (completion of Genki lessons 1 & 2 preferred)
Materials Covered: Genki 1, Lessons 3-4

Register for WE120

Elementary Development 2 (WE220)

Learn critical grammar, vocab, and kanji to prepare for Intermediate levels of Japanese. WE210 graduates, or those with equivalent experience, will learn how to:

• Express simple reasoning
• Compare multiple items
• Share your intentions and plans
• Read and write 29 kanji, such as 名前(name), 町(town), and 自分(oneself)

Prerequisite: expanded verb usage (e.g., progressive tenses), experience with short forms (e.g., informal speech), can write approximately 75 fundamental kanji (completion of Genki lessons 1-8 preferred)
Materials Covered: Genki 1, Lessons 9-10

Register for WE220

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WE130

Our last step in the Beginner pathway, WE130 is designed to ensure that learners have a firm grasp on basic conversation and grammar structures. Graduates of the WE130 are eligible to join the Adult B in-person class, or continue to level 210. Students will learn how to:

• Develop a foundation for more complex conversations
• Discuss preferences and describe surroundings
• Politely extend, accept, or decline offers, instructions, and requests
• Read and write 29 new Kanji

Pre-requisites: comfortable with hiragana and katakana, can communicate basic needs supported by common vocabulary and past and present tense forms.

Materials Covered: Genki 1, Lessons 5-6

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WE210

The ideal online class for those who have a strong foundation of hiragana, katakana, and the conversational language skills covered in the beginner-level classes (i.e. Genki Lessons 1-6). WE210 is the next step for graduates of the VJLS-JH WE130, Adult A, or Beginner Japanese programs. In this class, you’ll learn how to:

• Explain traits about yourself and others
• Conduct conversations in casual settings
• Discuss your job and workplace
• Read and write new 28 Kanji

Materials Covered: Genki 1, Lessons 7-8

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact Kiyoko Fujii or use the Class Contact Form.

10-week Term Schedule

WE210 – Online

Textbook: Genki I 3^rd edition , lessons 7–8

Goals:

• Talking about your job, telling what you are good at and poor at
• Describing traits of people/things etc.
• Understanding conversation in casual speech style
• Reading and writing 28 kanjis

WE220 – Online

Textbook: Genki I 3^rd edition , lessons 9–10

Goals:

• Talking about your vacation/travel plan
• Comparing locations, things
• Reading and writing additional 29 kanjis

WE230 – Online

Textbook: Genki I 3^rd edition, lessons 11–12

Goals:

• Telling what you want to do
• Talking about your past experience
• Describing your condition, and getting advice when you are ill　　　
• Read and write an additional 30 kanjis

WE310 – Online

Textbook and Workbook: Genki I 3rd edition, lesson 13-14

Prerequisite:

• Completed Genki L1-L12 or equivalent
• Can conjugate verbs, adjective, nouns: present/past tenses
• Can create verb te-form
• Know concept of on/kun reading of Kanji

Goals:

• Making appointments for job interviews
• Talking about one’s past work experience and job-related skills　　　　
• Discussing gifts for your friends
• Learning expressions you can use when you receive a gift
• Reading and writing thirty-two new kanjis

WE320 – Online

Textbook and Workbook: Genki II 3rd edition, lesson 15-16

Prerequisite:

• Completed Genki 1 and Genki 2 (L13-14) or equivalent.
• Must be able to create te-form, verb/adjective stems, present and past tenses in both affirmative negative forms.
• Can create verb te-form
• Know concept of on/kun reading of Kanji

Goals:

• Make a travel plan
• Get information at a travel information center
• Politely ask for a favour
• Apolgize with some explanation
• Read and write additional thirty-two kanjis