Japanese Language School Interview Questions: 30 Common Examples for Beginners

2026/07/29

Studying in Japan usually involves an interview with your language school, and it is one step you can prepare for well in advance. 

Schools ask a narrow set of questions that only require a basic level of Japanese, so beginners can handle it with a bit of practice. 

This guide covers the format in brief, then lists 30 common Japanese language school interview questions with sample answers, so you can walk into yours with confidence. 

Do All Schools Have an Admission Interview?

Not every Japanese language school includes an interview in its admission process:

• Short programs of three months or less, with no student visa, usually skip it and ask at most for a quick placement test
• Long-term courses that sponsor your student visa screen applicants more carefully, so an interview is normal.

Interviews have also become more common since 2026, as immigration authorities reinforced the way applicants prove their Japanese level. A school interview now counts as one accepted way to confirm it, alongside other pathways into a language school without the JLPT.

What Assessment Format Can You Expect?

The Japanese level assessment format you can expect is fairly consistent from one school to the next. Most interviews happen online over a video call, and length varies a lot, from about five minutes to an hour. 

The meeting usually moves through five parts : 

Part	What it involves
Self-introduction	About one minute on your name, age, country, and hobbies
Reading	A short passage at your level. Beginners see little or no kanji, and any kanji carries furigana
Writing	A short typed response to a prompt, sometimes tied to the reading passage
Listening	A short audio clip, often two people making plans, played only once
Speaking and roleplay	A scenario where the teacher plays the other speaker, so it feels like a real conversation

At a true beginner level the speaking part can be simpler, such as describing a picture or writing hiragana and katakana on camera. 

The Most Common Japanese Language School Interview Questions and Answers

Below are 30 Japanese language school interview questions and answers, roughly in the order a real interview follows. 

Each one gives the question, a sample answer with translation, and a short note on what the interviewer is checking. 

1. Please introduce yourself

The interview almost always opens here, and the interviewer wants to see you hold several sentences of Japanese on your own. Cover your name, country, age, what you do, a hobby, and your study, then close with よろしくお願いします.

Interview Question	自己紹介をしてください。
Interview Answer	はじめまして。マリア・サントスと申します。フィリピンのマニラから来ました。二十歳です。今、大学で経営を勉強しています。趣味は音楽を聞くことです。半年ぐらい日本語を勉強しています。どうぞよろしくお願いします。
Translation	Nice to meet you. My name is Maria Santos. I’m from Manila in the Philippines. I’m twenty. I study business management at university. My hobby is listening to music. I’ve been studying Japanese for about six months. Thank you very much.

2. What is your name? What should I call you?

This is a warm-up, but it also confirms your name matches your application. If your name is long, decide on a short version in advance, because the teacher will often ask what to call you. Keep it light and do not overthink it.

Interview Question	お名前は何ですか。何とお呼びしたらいいですか。
Interview Answer	「マリア・サントスです。名前が長いので、マリアと呼んでください。よろしくお願いします。」
Translation	I’m Maria Santos. My name is long, so please call me Maria. Nice to meet you.

3. How old are you?

A basic counter check, and a test of whether you catch the question at all. Be ready for おいくつですか too, which means exactly the same thing and surprises many beginners. Drill the age counters until the number comes out without hesitation.

Interview Question	何歳ですか。
Interview Answer	「二十歳です。誕生日は六月なので、今年の六月に二十一歳になります。」
Translation	I’m twenty. My birthday is in June, so I’ll turn twenty-one this June.

4. When is your birthday?

This goes one step beyond your age, testing months and day readings together. Practise months and dates before anything else, since they trip up more beginners than any other counter. Say your own birthday out loud a few times so it becomes automatic.

Interview Question	誕生日はいつですか。
Interview Answer	「私の誕生日は六月二十一日です。夏なので、いつも家族と一緒に過ごします。」
Translation	My birthday is June twenty-first. It’s in summer, so I always spend it with my family.

5. Where are you from?

The interviewer wants a clear answer and a chance to hear you say a place name. Giving your country, your city, or both is fine, and adding one detail turns a one-word reply into a natural sentence.

Interview Question	出身はどこですか。
Interview Answer	「フィリピンのマニラから来ました。マニラはフィリピンの首都で、とても大きい町です。」
Translation	I’m from Manila in the Philippines. Manila is the capital and a very big city.

6. What is your hometown like?

A common follow-up that checks whether you can describe something rather than stop at one word. Two or three simple features are plenty, so keep the adjectives basic and let them stack up.

Interview Question	出身はどんなところですか。
Interview Answer	「私の町は海が近くて、とてもきれいなところです。魚料理が有名で、食べ物もおいしいです。人も親切です。」
Translation	My town is near the sea and very beautiful. It’s famous for fish dishes, and the food is delicious. The people are kind too.

7. How many people are in your family?

This tests the counter for people and nearly always leads to follow-ups about each of them. Learn the people counter and be ready to name them, because “who are the four?” is the usual next question.

Interview Question	家族は何人ですか。
Interview Answer	「私の家族は四人です。父と母と兄と私です。今はみんな一緒に住んでいます。」
Translation	There are four of us. My father, mother, older brother, and me. We all live together now.

8. What does your father do?

The interviewer is checking a simple occupation word, and the answer also connects later to who funds your studies. One clear job word would do, but adding a detail sounds natural and shows more vocabulary.

Interview Question	お父さんの仕事は何ですか。
Interview Answer	「父は農業をしています。野菜と果物を作っていて、市場で売っています。仕事はとても忙しいです。」
Translation	My father is a farmer. He grows vegetables and fruit and sells them at the market. His work is very busy.

9. What does your mother do?

The same idea as the previous question, testing whether you can talk simply about your family. Answer honestly, since no job counts as better or worse and only your vocabulary and grammar are being tested.

Interview Question	お母さんの仕事は何ですか。
Interview Answer	「母は主婦です。家で家族の世話をしています。料理がとても上手です。」
Translation	My mother is a homemaker. She looks after the family at home. She’s very good at cooking.

10. Do you have any siblings?

This checks sibling vocabulary and a yes-or-no structure, and the teacher may then ask which one you are. Know the separate words for older and younger brother and sister, since mixing them up is a classic beginner slip.

Interview Question	兄弟はいますか。
Interview Answer	「はい、兄が一人います。兄は私より三歳年上で、会社員です。とても仲がいいです。」
Translation	Yes, I have one older brother. He’s three years older than me and a company employee. We get along very well.

11. How long have you been studying Japanese?

Now the study questions begin, and your answer lets the interviewer weigh your level against the time you’ve put in. Give a clear duration in months or years, since stating it cleanly signals your study has been consistent.

Interview Question	いつから日本語を勉強していますか。
Interview Answer	「六ヶ月前から日本語を勉強しています。毎日少しずつ勉強しています。まだ難しいですが、頑張っています。」
Translation	I’ve been studying for six months. I study a little every day. It’s still difficult, but I’m working hard.

12. How many hours a day do you study?

This checks how serious and regular your study is, and an honest routine beats a big number you can’t back up. Using ぐらい to soften the number is exactly how a natural speaker would answer.

Interview Question	一日何時間ぐらい勉強していますか。
Interview Answer	「一日に四時間ぐらい勉強しています。午前中に二時間、そして夜に二時間勉強します。」
Translation	About four hours a day. Two in the morning and two at night.

13. From what time to what time do you study?

A follow-up that puts the time counters into a real sentence and tests the から and まで pattern. Practise them with times together, and mark morning or evening so the hours are never ambiguous.

Interview Question	何時から何時まで勉強していますか。
Interview Answer	「夜七時から十一時まで勉強しています。仕事の後で、毎日勉強しています。少し疲れますが、大丈夫です。」
Translation	I study from seven to eleven at night, every day after work. It’s a little tiring, but I’m fine.

14. Have you taken the JLPT? Which level?

The interviewer looks for any official proof of your level, and even a low level reassures them your self-assessment is realistic. If you haven’t taken any test, it’s completely fine to say so and add that you’re preparing for it.

Interview Question	日本語の試験を受けましたか。何級を受けましたか。
Interview Answer	「はい、先週N5の試験を受けました。結果はまだですが、たぶん大丈夫だと思います。」
Translation	Yes, I took the N5 last week. I don’t have the results yet, but I think it’s probably fine.

15. How is studying Japanese? What is the hardest part?

This invites a real opinion, which is just what the interviewer wants to hear you build. Naming a specific difficulty sounds far more honest than saying everything is easy, and the 「難しいですが、面白いです」 pattern is a safe way to frame it.

Interview Question	日本語の勉強はどうですか。何が一番難しいですか。
Interview Answer	「日本語の勉強は少し難しいですが、とても面白いです。漢字が一番難しいです。でも、毎日練習しているので、少しずつ覚えています。」
Translation	Studying Japanese is a little difficult but very interesting. Kanji is the hardest, but I practise every day, so I’m slowly learning it.

16. Which is harder, hiragana or katakana?

A gentle question that checks you can compare two things and read both scripts, with no correct choice, only the structure. Pick one and use the 「〜のほうが難しいです」 pattern, committing to an answer rather than hesitating.

Interview Question	ひらがなとカタカナ、どちらが難しいですか。
Interview Answer	「カタカナのほうが難しいです。ひらがなは毎日使いますが、カタカナはあまり使わないので、時々忘れます。」
Translation	Katakana is harder. I use hiragana every day, but not katakana much, so I sometimes forget it.

17. What are your hobbies?

An easy, friendly topic that shows your everyday vocabulary. Choose a hobby you can add a second sentence about, since something like anime can lead naturally into why you want to study the language.

Interview Question	趣味は何ですか。
Interview Answer	「私の趣味はサッカーをすることです。週末によく友達と公園でサッカーをします。それから、日本のアニメを見るのも好きです。」
Translation	My hobby is football. On weekends I often play with friends at the park. I also like watching Japanese anime.

18. What time is it now?

This looks trivial but is a level check in disguise, testing whether you can read the time on the spot. Don’t be thrown by how basic it is, since questions about the time, the day, and the weather all quietly confirm you can handle numbers in real time.

Interview Question	今、何時ですか。
Interview Answer	「今、午後三時半です。学校が終わって、家に帰りました。」
Translation	It’s three thirty in the afternoon. School has finished and I’ve come home.

19. What day is it today?

Another quiet level check, this time on the days of the week, and it may extend to yesterday or tomorrow. Learn the seven days cold, along with 昨日 and 明日, so a follow-up doesn’t catch you out.

Interview Question	今日は何曜日ですか。
Interview Answer	「今日は金曜日です。明日は土曜日なので、学校は休みです。」
Translation	Today is Friday. Tomorrow is Saturday, so there’s no school.

20. What is the weather like in your country?

This checks weather vocabulary and, being about your own country, confirms you understood the question. A few basic weather words cover almost any answer, and adding the season or temperature makes it fuller.

Interview Question	あなたの国の天気はどうですか。
Interview Answer	「今日は晴れです。私の国は今、夏なので、とても暑いです。三十五度ぐらいあります。」
Translation	It’s sunny today. It’s summer in my country now, so it’s very hot, around thirty-five degrees.

21. Why do you want to study in Japan?

This is the heart of the interview, and the school wants a genuine reason to study, especially given the current scrutiny around student visas.

Our best advice for answering the “why study in Japan” interview question is to give a concrete goal rather than a vague “I like Japanese culture,” and to think the why do you want to study in Japan interview question through in advance.

Interview Question	どうして日本に行きたいですか。
Interview Answer	「日本の技術は世界で有名なので、日本で勉強したいです。将来、日本の会社で働きたいです。それから、国に帰って、自分の会社を作りたいと思っています。」
Translation	Japanese technology is famous worldwide, so I want to study in Japan. In the future I want to work for a Japanese company, and later return home to start my own.

22. Why did you choose this school?

The interviewer is checking that you actually looked into the school instead of picking one at random. Reasons like “it’s cheap” or “it’s near my house” sound weak alone, so mention something specific, even a detail an agent or friend told you.

Interview Question	どうしてこの学校を選びましたか。
Interview Answer	「先生が親切で、進学のサポートがいいと友達に聞きました。それに、学校のホームページを見て、いい学校だと思いました。だから、この学校を選びました。」
Translation	A friend told me the teachers are kind and the support for further study is good. I also looked at the website and thought it was a good school, so I chose it.

23. How did you find out about this school?

A natural follow-up that checks your story holds together. Link it back to why you applied, since “I just found it somewhere” sounds careless.

Interview Question	この学校をどうやって知りましたか。
Interview Answer	「インターネットで日本語学校を探していて、この学校を見つけました。学校のホームページを読んで、とても興味を持ちました。」
Translation	I was searching for a Japanese language school online and found this one. I read the website and became very interested.

24. Who will support you financially?

Because schools are legally responsible for the students they sponsor, they check you can afford your stay. Name your sponsor plainly and make sure it matches your application, since any gap is what raises questions.

Interview Question	経費支弁者は誰ですか。
Interview Answer	「父です。父が学費と生活費を払ってくれます。両親は私の留学に賛成しています。」
Translation	My father. He’ll pay my tuition and living costs, and my parents support my studying abroad.

25. What does your sponsor do, and what is their income?

This can feel personal, and some schools even ask about savings, but the aim is only to confirm the funding is real. Agree the figures with your sponsor beforehand, and don’t understate the income to sound modest, since it needs to look like enough to cover your stay.

Interview Question	経費支弁者の仕事は何ですか。年収はいくらですか。
Interview Answer	「父は自分でビジネスをしています。年収は三百万円ぐらいです。留学のために、お金を準備してくれました。」
Translation	My father runs his own business. His annual income is about three million yen, and he has set money aside for my studies.

26. Do you have any family in Japan?

The school is building a full picture of your situation. Be honest either way, since there’s nothing wrong with having relatives there, and a calm answer beats sounding evasive.

Interview Question	日本に家族や親戚はいますか。
Interview Answer	「いいえ、日本に家族や親戚はいません。でも、日本語学校で新しい友達を作りたいです。」
Translation	No, I don’t have family or relatives in Japan, but I want to make new friends at the language school.

27. What do you want to do after language school?

This checks whether you have a plan beyond the course, which reassures the school your motivation is long-term. A specific next step lands far better than “I’m not sure yet,” and it ties back to why you came.

Interview Question	日本語学校の後、何をしたいですか。
Interview Answer	「日本語学校の後、日本の大学に入りたいです。大学で経営を勉強したいです。それから、日本で就職したいと思っています。」
Translation	After language school I want to enter a Japanese university and study business management, then find a job in Japan.

28. Do you want to work part-time in Japan?

This lets the school gauge whether your focus stays on study. It’s fine to say yes, as long as you make clear that study comes first, since student visas cap part-time work at a set number of hours a week.

Interview Question	日本でアルバイトをしたいですか。
Interview Answer	「はい、アルバイトをしたいです。レストランかコンビニで働きたいです。でも、勉強が一番大切なので、無理はしません。」
Translation	Yes, I’d like to work part-time, at a restaurant or convenience store, but studying comes first, so I won’t overdo it.

29. Have you watched any Japanese films or anime?

This tests the slightly more advanced “have you ever” form and is an easy topic to relax on. A short answer with the 「〜たことがあります」 form is all you need, but don’t let anime become your only reason for studying.

Interview Question	日本の映画やアニメを見たことがありますか。
Interview Answer	「はい、日本のアニメをよく見ます。ナルトが一番好きです。アニメを見て、日本の文化に興味を持ちました。」
Translation	Yes, I often watch anime. I like Naruto best, and watching it got me interested in Japanese culture.

30. Do you have any questions for us?

Interviews almost always close here, and most beginners answer “no,” which is a missed chance to show interest. Prepare one or two simple questions in advance, avoiding anything already on the school’s website, since that suggests you didn’t read it.

Interview Question	何か質問はありますか。
Interview Answer	「はい、一つあります。学校に外国人の学生は何人ぐらいいますか。それから、一つのクラスは何人ぐらいですか。」
Translation	Yes, one. About how many international students are at the school, and how many people are in a class?

How to Prepare for Your Japanese Language School Interview

Knowing how to prepare for a Japanese language school interview comes down to a few habits.

Keep Your Answers Short and Clear

Aim to answer in about 15 to 20 seconds, and never much more than 30. 

The person interviewing you is not always a teacher used to beginner speech, and a long, hesitant answer quickly becomes hard to follow. 

Prepare the key point of each answer and stop there. Speaking slowly is fine, but keep it brief.

Prepare One or Two Questions to Ask Them

Since the interview often ends by asking whether you have questions, decide on yours in advance.

 Good options are the number of students from your country, class sizes, or what daily life at the school looks like. 

Avoid asking about anything already on the school’s website. One thoughtful question is enough to close on a strong note.

Practise Your Japanese School Interview with Nihongo Online School

Preparing your questions and answers is a great start, but sounding natural takes more than that. You need to practise out loud with a Japanese speaker, because that is what builds confidence before the interview.

At Nihongo Online School, our 150-hour Foundation Program helps future applicants reach N5 level and get ready for their school admission. 

Across 50 hours of one-to-one lessons and 100 hours of homework with a native teacher, students cover the essentials for JLPT N5 and practise the questions a Japanese language school interview usually involves. With honest feedback after each attempt, they improve their answers on the spot, until even the “why study in Japan” interview question feels totally easy.