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Japanese Language Schools

Wanting to learn a new language like Japanese is a big step in the right direction. But, trying to teach yourself could be daunting. Using language instruction apps like Babel or Duolingo can be challenging when it comes to retaining a basic understanding of the language and it never seems to give you the ability to hold a proper conversation. 

Once you know that you want to learn to speak and read Japanese. You might want to tour through Japan without the need of a translator and be able to talk with a local and hold a conversation.  Regardless of the reason once you know that you want to learn to speak and read Japanese you should keep that goal alive.

Researching language schools in your hometown is a great way to find which one works best for you. You need to consider how quickly you want to learn and what level of proficiency do you want to achieve. Do you only want to be able to speak or would you like to read and write? How much can you budget for lessons? 

If you are in Los Angeles, you could check out the Fuji School by the Japanese Gardens in LA’s Little Tokyo, which has various programs meeting once or twice per week. These lessons can be in person, online, in a group setting, or private. 

In San Francisco, the Soko Gakuen by Lafayette Park in Japantown should be your first choice.  This is a nonprofit Japanese language school for adults and children. They focus on small class sizes, guided by dedicated bilingual professors. Anywhere from beginners to nearly fluent speakers, Soko Gakuen has a class and study group at every level. 

In New York, you could head over to the Tenri Cultural Institute on W 13th Street in Greenwich Village. Currently focusing on remote learning, they are renowned for their assortment of Japanese language classes, modest prices, and a variety of active learning classes. 

Japanese Alphabet

Learning a new alphabet can be challenging. Not to mention choosing between three different alphabets is at another level of comprehension. In the Japanese language, there are three alphabets the Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. 

Hiragana encompasses nearly all the words in the Japanese language. With 46 characters, this will likely be your first step as a beginner. Making your way through workbooks as you did in kindergarten, most learn this alphabet within the first week. 

The second alphabet, Katakana, adds some complexity because it is more or less the same as Hiragana. Yet, the alphabet is often used to write foreign words that are adopted into Japanese. The characters are a variant of Hiragana but still fairly similar. 

Kanji is a completely different character set totaling 200 individual units. But using Kanji is more efficient to read and write so to be considered truly fluent, this will also be necessary. 

Your teaching or tutor will likely start you off with some assortment of these three alphabets to help in your Japanese literacy. Learning a new language is no simple undertaking, but it is well worth the effort. It will open up a whole new group of people you can meet and learn from.

Japanese Language Clubs

Chicago speaks Japanese! If you are in Chicago, this aptly named group of over 100 members regularly plan meetups all over the city. Nearly every day they have some kind of Game Night or Happy Hour where everyone gets together to practice speaking Japanese. 

The DC Japanese Nomikai Group calls Washington D.C. their home. A collection of nearly 3,000 members coming from different backgrounds. They consider themselves a casual after-work and weekend group that likes to drink and talk. 

Even Miami has a Japanese Language meetup. Going by the beach or into town, you’ll be soaking up the sun talking about your favorite Manga. 

All across the United States, you can find like-minded people with a common interest in improving their Japanese understanding. You can even hop across the country checking out all the different clubs. These clubs will have you meeting people who are anywhere between beginner and those who were born and raised in Japan. You’re all there for the same reason. Strike up a conversation and find out what you have in common.

Jobs available for Japanese Speakers

Your resume is begging you to add Japanese as a language skill. Whether you want to be a product specialist for Nintendo America, or you are already a Certified Nursing Assistant in a city with a melting pot of cultures. There are job openings across the country looking for someone that is proficient in Japanese and open to using it in their career. 

In Seattle, Washington you could be a Technical Translator or a Police Dispatcher. These are real opportunities that are actively looking for someone in your shoes. You could be an analyst for a Japanese company that has a delta office in Austin, Texas. The Japanese language adds a whole new dimension and opens countless doors to your career. Employers all around the country are looking for individuals and having this new skill set will be a great leg up against the competition. 

Personalized Japanese Lessons

You have been planning a trip to Japan for years now. You want to walk across the Seto Ohashi Bridge in the Okayama Prefecture. You want to eat at the famous Sukiyabashi Jiro which is owned and run by the same Chef from the documentary ‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’. What is holding you back? 

If you have been waiting to improve your understanding of Japanese before going getting a final push is what you need. Looking for private Japanese lessons can help you be able to sit at Jiro’s bar and understand which sushi roll he has prepared for you. 

Superprof has thousands of Japanese Language teachers all across the United States that are eager and available to prepare you for your journey east. They can give you feedback on your grammar and help you grow your vocabulary all at your own pace. Some will have visited, and they can advise on the best places to a night out or for a warm bowl of ramen. These instructors have been where you are now, and they want to be there for you as you progress towards fluency.