Short course
Japanese: Beginners – Part 1
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates and time:
01/10/2026 - 03/12/202619:00 - 21:00
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£315.00
Join this interactive course to learn Japanese language and explore its culture. For complete beginners as well as those who have learnt some Japanese expressions and phrases through travel or socialising.
To support the development of communicative skills, the course offers a balanced progression in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Each session features practical, meaningful activities – from practice exercises, interactive tasks, and guided listening to problem‑solving scenarios. Learners engage with authentic language, collaborate with classmates, and build confidence through varied, hands‑on activities that mirror real‑world communication.
The course is pitched at level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and completion of the course will help you meet some of the level requirements.
Is this the right level course for you?
This course is for complete beginners as well as those who have learnt some expressions and phrases through travel or socialising.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Course starts 1 October 2026
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Thursdays, 7.00-9.00pm.
The weekly schedule below is intended to give an indication of the main topic(s) likely to be covered in each session. Please note that these may sometimes change according to the tutor’s discretion to reflect the interests of course participants.
Week 1: Introduction to the course; greetings; introductions
Week 2: Writing systems (hiragana, katakana and kanji); numbers; countries
Week 3: Personal belongings; expressing gratitude
Week 4: Asking for/giving telephone numbers
Week 5: Telling the time; the concept of uchi vs soto; the Japanese family
Week 6: Shopping 1: manners – dos and don’ts in daily life
Week 7: Shopping 2: traditional and modern culture
Week 8: Placing an order at a restaurant: food and drink
Week 9: Asking for the location of a facility; geography
Week 10: Class choice: revision, film, anime, song, language game, etc.
Key grammar points
* The basic sentence structure
* Basic word order
* Interrogatives
* Pronouns
Key functions
* Introducing oneself and others
* Describing the family
* Asking for and providing basic information
* Using numbers to give the time, exchange telephone numbers and shopping
* Asking for and giving simple directions
Course aims
To enable participants to communicate at a very basic level with speakers of the target language in a limited range of practical, real-life settings.
Course objectives
- Develop the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing for very basic routine communication in the target language.
- Familiarise learners with a range of high-frequency vocabulary and grammar structures for basic routine interaction in the target language.
- Develop an initial appreciation of the culture and civilisation of the country (or countries) in which the target language is spoken.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, participants will be better prepared to:
- use very simple phrases and utterances to provide basic personal information, such as name, address, family members and nationality;
- interact in a very simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly;
- understand the gist of very short, simple written texts and audio/video excerpts containing the highest frequency vocabulary items and basic grammar structures;
- produce simple phrases and very short texts using basic structures and vocabulary items.
Level and demands
Pitched at level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Find out more about our language levels.
Teaching methods
You will learn through practical activities that encourage the use of the target language. Sessions typically integrate meaningful scenarios, pair and small‑group work, and collaborative problem‑solving in a supportive and friendly environment. The activities bring together speaking, listening, reading, and writing, enabling you to apply the language purposefully in real‑world situations.
The course is designed to build your spoken and listening abilities while deepening your understanding of cultural nuances, etiquette, and everyday usage. We will work with new grammatical structures through meaningful, communicative tasks, and you will continue developing your reading and writing skills both in class and independently through self‑study.
Assessment methods
You will be set short, optional assignments to consolidate your learning and to allow you to progress at your own pace.
Mai Oyama
Digital badge
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.
After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add this badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee | £315.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Textbooks
To participate in the course fully, you will need access to the following textbook:
- Japanese for Busy People 1 Revised 4th Edition (Romanised version)/ AJALT
Recommended reading
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Library facilities
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries, for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are also welcome to use the Library for reference.
- More information about the Library can be found on the Bodleian Libraries website.
- This guide for Weekly Class students also provides further information.
Preparatory reading
- Japanese for Busy People 1 Revised 4th Edition / AJALT
Module code: O26P580XJW
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page.