VJLS-JH
VJLS-JH
Vancouver Japanese Language School & Japanese Hall

Learn Practical Japanese in 10 Weeks – Live Evening Classes for Adults

Small-group Zoom classes designed for beginners to build real conversation skills for travel, work, and personal learning.

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. Several classes are offered every 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.

Register for Summer Term

location_onLocationLive Zoom (online) classes
bookmarkTimeTuesdays @ 6:30 to 8:30 pm (Pacific Time)
calendar_monthDatesJun 23 – Aug 25, 2026 (10 weeks)
WE 230 only: Jun 30 – Sep 1, 2026 (10 weeks)
scheduleClasses

WE 100, 110, 130 & 230  Info  Register

Other classes  Info  Waitlist

sentiment_satisfiedClass Size~6-12
credit_cardTuition*$305

Why Choose This Program

  • Live instructor-led classes (not self-paced)
  • Small groups (~10 students)
  • Structured Genki-based curriculum
  •  Real conversation practice
  • Trusted school (since 1906)

Open for Registration

Not sure which class to take? Contact the Coordinator.

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 June 23, 2026 start

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 June 23, 2026 start

Beginner Basics 3 (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

Prerequisite: 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

Register for June 23, 2026 start

Elementary Development 3 (WE230)

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

. Say what you want or don’t want to do
. Talk about your experiences
. Talk about your dream
. Describe your hometown in detail
. Write social media post
. Complain about something being too much
. Talk about what you have to do this week
. Describe common symptons of illness
. Give advice to someone who has problems

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 1-10 preferred)
Materials Covered: Genki 1, Lessons 11-12

Register for June 30, 2026 start

Other Classes

Please note that class waitlists do not necessarily mean the class is full: registration for classes often opens once we know there are enough interested students. 

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 Your Interest

Elementary Development 1 (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

Register Your Interest

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 Your Interest

Course Materials

The following books are used in our online classes, starting with level WE110.
See course details above for the sections used in each course.

Textbook and Workbook:

Genki 1, 3rd edition

(Sorry, 2nd edition will not work.)

You can visit the Genki website to get a glimpse of what is included.
Audio files can also be accessed on the website or through the “OTO Navi” app.

Both the Textbook and Workbook are required for WE110 to WE230 classes. Students can purchase the textbook ($60) and workbook ($34) from the VJLS-JH admin office or bring their own copies. 

Vancouver Japanese Language School & Japanese Hall
Vancouver Japanese Language School & Japanese Hall

Questions?

Contact the Coordinator
Kiyoko Fujii, kfujii@vjls-jh.com
Or use our Contact Form.

1Registration
2Review
3Payment

Weeknight Online Course Information

  • $305 CAD (no tax)
  • Each class is delivered via live Zoom sessions held every Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 PM pacific time, from June 23rd to August 25, 2026.
  • Please note that your device’s camera and microphone are required to be turned on to participate in these classes.
Please select your class:

Student Information

Name
Email
Address

Please help us better understand our students

Your feedback is very important to us. Thank you!

1. VJLS offers online and in-person (Saturday 10-month) courses. Could you tell us the reasons why you chose our Weekday Online Course?
2. Could you share why you want to study Japanese?
3. How did you hear about this class?

Photo & Video Consent

Photos and videos of VJLS students are a very helpful tool for sharing the story of the organization and promoting our programs.

There are two ways we share photos and videos:

1. Within the class only:  sharing class progress and special moments with classmates and students/families. Photos and videos will not be shared outside the class.

2. Posting online & in publications: digital media may be shared on our website and social media (Instagram, Facebook, etc.), or in publications such as the Bulletin. We will exclude personal information when posting online unless we have clear consent.

Do you grant permission to VJLS-JH to share photos and videos within your class?
Do you grant permission to VJLS-JH to use photos and/or videos of the student in publications and social media?

Terms and Conditions

Please review the Terms and Conditions:
1. Administration Fee
Administration and building improvement fees are not required for courses running for a duration of 10 weeks or less.

2. Payment of Fees
Course fees may be paid by VISA, Mastercard, or Amex through Stripe (stripe.com). For questions about payment, please contact accounting@vjls-jh.com.

3. Class Cancellations, Refunds, and Withdrawals
Prior to the first day, VJLS-JH reserves the right to cancel any class that does not have the minimum number of registrants. If a class is cancelled, students will be issued a full refund.

For courses that run for 10 weeks or less, no refunds will be issued after the commencement of the first class.

The instructor or program coordinator may recommend a class change to better match a student’s language skills to the class learning level. However, the availability of all class levels is not guaranteed each term.

Program fees will not be refunded for lessons missed due to illness or other personal circumstances. Exceptions may be granted for valid medical reasons including, but not limited to: long-term illness, loss of a loved-one or close relative or medical emergencies and related recoveries. If a student must discontinue class for valid medical reasons, a pro-rated refund will be issued based on the amount of time the student is not attending classes.

Classes may be cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, pandemics, or other conditions beyond the control of VJLS-JH. Refunds will not be issued for classes cancelled as a result of these conditions.

WE310

WE310で使う教科書とワークブック: Genki I 3rd edition, lessons 13–14

WE310を取るには次のことが条件になります。
• Genki I L1-L12または同等のレベルの日本語を習得していること
• 動詞、形容詞、名詞の活用（現在形・過去形）ができる
• 動詞のて形が作れる
• 漢字の音読み・訓読みの概念を知っている

WE310のゴール
• 仕事の面接の予約ができるようになる
• 自分の過去の仕事や仕事に関係する自分のスキルについて話せるようになる
• 友達にプレゼントをあげるための相談や提案ができる
• プレゼントをもらったときのお礼の表現や自分の気持ちを伝える表現を言えるようになる
• ３２個の新しい漢字を覚える（書く、読む）

WE320 – Online

Textbook and Workbook: Genki 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