FAQ
Nihongo Online School > FAQ
Course/Plan
What is Nihongo Kick off course? What's the difference with the usual 50-hour course?
It is 150 hours (50 lessons & 100 hours of homework) of Japanese online lessons 1:1. 150 hours is a prerequisite to study in Japan, so we’ve started providing the course. It’s also just nice for beginners to learn Japanese.
It’s the same as the usual 50-hour course, but we think this is the best hour to study Japanese, so we specifically named it so.
What is the process on taking the Nihongo Kick off course?
The process to complete the 150-hour course after payment is:
1. Choose your schedule
2. Complete your first class, including an introduction, level check, and explanation of the course
3. Nihongo Online sends you a study plan, which includes feedback from the teacher and the course outline
4. Complete your second class - there will be two hours of homework per class from here on
5. You complete the online classes and homework up to 150 hours
6. You get a certificate that proves you completed 150 hours of studying Japanese
Total cost is 225,000 JPY
Plesse tell me about Class packages
Online Japanese lessons can be taken as much or as little as you need and focus on your learning requirements, from Conversation practice to JLPT prep.
Each Japanese online lesson costs 4,500 JPY and is sold in packages for the time frame you would like to learn for. In addition, there is an additional one-off registration fee of 25,000 JPY.
You can also select your own course plan with frequencies available for 1, 2, and 3 lessons/week and terms of 3, 6, and 12 months.
1. Most Popular: 6 months with 50 online lessons (+homework)
2. Second Favorite: 3 months with 25 online lessons (+homework)
PACKAGES AVAILABLE:
3 month course
・15, 25, 35 hour packages
6 month course
・25, 50, 70 hour packages
12 month course
・50, 100, 150 hour packages
I am interested in applying to a free trial lesson and to discuss with you what program would best suit my profile. Can I take a free trial lesson before enrollment?
Yes, students can take a free trial lesson, which allows Nihongo Online to assess your Japanese level and put together an appropriate curriculum for you.
Please fill out the contact form and tell us the trial lesson schedule you would like to take.
https://nihongo-career.com/#contact
Can anyone take these classes? Do I need to have some Japanese beforehand?
Anyone who would like to learn how to speak in Japanese is welcome. Whether you are a beginner or are trying to achieve your next JLPT level, we can support you with the right learning materials and classes to achieve your goals.
You can start the Japanese online lessons from 0 and learn Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. We also support those who’ve already studied some Japanese (already have N5~N3 level) you can still study with us and we can help you reach the next step.
What tool I need to prepare for class?
We use Skype to do our Japanese lessons. As we use Skype for the course, you need to make sure you have a good internet connection and a Skype account. Each Japanese lesson is a private 1-on-1 lesson between the teacher and the student.
Would it be possible to "pause" the course? I sometimes go on vacation for a few weeks. If pausing is possible, how many months will I have before the remaining sessions expire?
Yes, we can pause the course. Actually, there is no particular rule, but if possible, please use up the within 6 months pause period. We have some students who need to pause the course due to some personal issues. Please let us know your situation so that we can arrange as much as we can.
Lesson
How are my Japanese online classes scheduled?
All lessons are private 1:1 lessons with a qualified instructor via Microsoft Teams. Nihongo Online works with each student’s schedule to provide lessons at times that work best for you.
We work with you to find the best time and date for the online Japanese language class after payment has been confirmed. We send you a spreadsheet for you to put your basic information together along with your available times. Based on that, we arrange a teacher who fits your preferred schedule.
How long each online Japanese classes take?
It's about 60 min each lesson.
Can I have a homework?
Yes, homework study helps you to prepare for the next Japanese language lessons, and review previous lessons, so it's important to improve your Japanese language skills. The teacher gives you 2 hours of homework for each lesson.
Teacher sends you PDF data, students send it to the teacher by Microsoft Teams message, and the teacher gives feedback on the next Japanese lessons.
I would like to take a placement test to figure out exactly what classes will be best for me
For the placement, at the first lesson, the teacher checks your Japanese level and proceed based on the level.
How can I check my progress JLPT Level?
The Online Half Mock Test is a mock test (Moc exam) with half the time and half the number of questions of the real JLPT.
You can take the test online at any time from the comfort of your own home and check the results immediately.
You can also take an explanation lesson of the mock exam online. Please use it for your review.
What is the teaching method?
We use our original textbooks to help you improve your Japanese. We learn key Japanese grammar in order to be able to create sentences with it. We also use pictures to be able to recreate situations in which you would need to express yourself. As we do our online lessons 1-on-1, there is also a focus on improving your Japanese conversational ability.
We give you homework so you can continue practicing what you’ve learned and get prepared for the next class.
・We use an original text with a focus on learning conversation.
・Learn key grammar, create simple sentences with grammar.
・practice to tell something with pictures, and explanations of situations is good practice to be able to speak up
・Homework study (prepare for coming lessons, and review previous lessons)
Are your teachers qualified?
Yes, all of our teachers qualified professionals with experience in teaching Japanese in language schools. They also speak English as well, so depending on your Japanese level you can also get support in English.
Would it be possible to change teachers in the middle of the course?
Our teachers are very knowledgeable and engaging, however, if it don't get along, it would be possible to change teachers later.
Would it be possible to change textbooks in the middle of the course?
After first level check and tria lesson, we select suitable text for you, in the case of the textbook too easy or too difficult, can it be switched to a different one.
Do I have to purchase the textbook?
For most courses, our school will send you the textbook as a PDF,so you don't need to purchase it.
However, some students choose to buy a commonly available published textbook on their own if they would like an additional book to use alongside the lessons.
how many hours per week of classes is needed if we were to learn basic Japanese?
The time and number of lessons needed to learn basic Japanese are different for each person.
As a guide, if you take lessons twice a week for six months (about 50 hours in total), you can aim to understand basic everyday Japanese conversation, even if you are starting from zero.
Does the class have other students in the same call?
All classes at our school are one-on-one online lessons, so you can learn at your own pace and ask questions freely whenever you need.
Fee/Payment
I was wondering if I could pay in four installments instead of all at once? Dividing by two or three is possible but ideally I’d want to divide by 4.
We can accept Installments. If you tell us the Japanese course you are interested in, we make installments schedule for you.
How do we pay our fees?
Payment is accepted via credit card or bank transfer.You can pay your fees via Flywire directly to our school.
Can the 3 month plan be extended to 6 or 9 month plan without repaying a registration fee? I'd like to try the program and see how it works for me before making a long term commitment
Yes, without repaying a registration fee. There is a one-time registration fee of 25,000 JPY. If would like to extend the online Japanese course, an additional registration fee is not needed.
Others: learning environment and progress
My plan is staying in Japan while I am taking Japanese lessons. I am still struggling between online classes and real classes in school . Can you let me know the differences?
We are a 100% online based school, so I'm afraid we don't have real class school.
So I can't compare those exactly, but students who joined our online school always said
prioritized "flexibility" of the location, schedule, and study curriculum.
(On the other hand, real classes don't meet those factors, because all fixed. Also some students told us the fee of real class is more expensive. )
How many hours does it take to improve Japanese conversation skills?
Understanding your Japanese level and what you can do in daily life will help you set and achieve your goals.
How Long Does It Take to Improve Your Japanese Conversation Skills?
The chart below illustrates the average progression from Japanese Conversation Level 3 to Level 6, based on learning data from over 1,000 Japanese language learners. With our one-on-one online Japanese lessons, learners typically improve by one conversation level approximately every six months.
▶ View the conversation growth timeline
Please note: Individual progress may vary depending on lesson frequency, self-study and review time, and how often Japanese is used in daily work or life.
What This Graph Shows
This graph represents an average learning trajectory for learners aiming to progress from Conversation Level 3 to Level 6.
In reality, the most effective learning plan depends on several factors:
・Your current Japanese level
・Your specific goals (what you want to be able to do in Japanese)
・Your work environment and communication needs
There is no one-size-fits-all solution.
If you have questions about your current level, lesson content, or pricing, please feel free to contact us through our Free Trial Lesson form. A level check is included, and we’ll propose a learning plan that fits your needs.
You can find a detailed breakdown with real examples and timelines in this article:
How many hours does it take to improve Japanese conversation skills?
How many hours does it take to reach each JLPT level?
Based on our students’ learning data, most learners move up one JLPT level in about 6 months with consistent study, including regular lessons and self-study.
Each 60-minute lesson typically includes about 2 hours of homework for review and practice.
▶ View the JLPT growth timeline (average progress per level)
The chart below illustrates how long it typically takes learners to progress across multiple JLPT levels, based on our students’ average learning pace.
Example: As an example, students starting from N5 can typically reach N3 in about 12 months with regular lessons and consistent review.
▶ View the Typical JLPT learning timeline (duration × level)
Progress depends on lesson frequency and self-study time, but our structured approach helps you reach your goals faster.
You can find a detailed breakdown with real examples and timelines in this article:
How many hours does it take to reach each JLPT level?
If your goal is to improve your JLPT level with a clear and realistic study plan, you may also want to explore our JLPT-focused course.
▶ View our JLPT Preparation Course
My company plans to cover the cost of Japanese training. Is a corporate contract available?
Yes. We offer corporate Japanese language training programs for companies in Japan, and corporate contracts are available.
If your company plans to cover the cost of Japanese training, the program is typically arranged as a corporate contract rather than an individual lesson plan. Corporate training programs are designed to meet company requirements and usually include:
・Japanese level assessment
・customized training plan aligned with job roles
・progress tracking and reports
・official documents such as estimates and invoices
At Nihongo Online School, we welcome inquiries not only from companies, but also from individual employees who are preparing to discuss company-sponsored Japanese training with their employer.
We recommend contacting us in advance so we can suggest an appropriate training plan and provide materials suitable for internal approval.
Individuals are also welcome to contact us regarding our corporate Japanese language training programs.
https://nihongo-jinzai.com
Can I get a receipt for reimbursement from my company?
Yes. Even for individual contracts, we can issue a receipt that you can submit to your company for reimbursement purposes.
Many foreign professionals enroll in Japanese lessons individually and later request reimbursement from their employer. In such cases, we can provide the necessary receipt or payment documentation.
If your company requires specific information for reimbursement, please let us know in advance so we can confirm the details.
