Outschool
Search

$40

weekly
or $478 for 24 classes
Class
Play

Beginner Japanese Club: All Japanese Hiragana + Katakana in Just 12 Weeks

New class
Ages 10-15
Live Group Course
Unlock the building blocks of Japanese! In this beginner-friendly course, students master hiragana, katakana, and essential compound characters while developing reading, writing, and pronunciation skills.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(376 reviews)
Star Educator
Popular

Live video meetings
2x per week, 12 weeks
5-10 learners per class
40 min

What's included

24 live meetings
16 in-class hours
Homework
2-4 hours per week. Students will complete several short pre-recorded instructional video each week, which include handwriting drills, pronunciation practice, and reading activities. This video reinforces live-session content and introduces new material. Furthermore, students will be expected to complete biweekly Google Form quizzes (15 minutes) to gauge progress through quizzes on kana recognition, pronunciation, and usage. Immediate feedback ensures students stay on track and understand their own process.
Assessment
Students will complete two review assessments—a mid-course assessment at the end of the hiragana unit (Lesson 12) and a final assessment at the end of the katakana unit (Lesson 24)—to evaluate their overall progress. Additionally, weekly Google Form assessments (15 minutes) will gauge ongoing understanding through quizzes on kana recognition, pronunciation, and usage. Immediate feedback ensures students stay on track and confident in their learning journey.
Letter Grade
Provided upon request, based on homework completion, assessments, and participation.
Certificate of Completion
A Certificate of Completion will be awarded to students who complete 80% of all the lessons and assignments and make at least 80% on one or both of the two review assessments (and at least 60% on the other). A Certificate of Excellence will be awarded to students who complete 100% of all the lessons and assignments and achieve a 90% or higher average on both assessments.

Class Experience

US Grade 6 - 9
Beginner Level
This engaging 12-week course focuses on teaching the foundational elements of the Japanese writing system: hiragana, katakana, and compound kana. Designed for beginners, it provides a structured, interactive, and supportive learning environment where students can master kana reading, writing, and pronunciation.

*************
NOTE: A completely self-paced version of this same course is available here on Outschool as well at the following link: (Pending)
*************

Students will learn:

+ All 46 characters of hiragana and katakana, along with compound kana.
+ Proper stroke order and pronunciation for each character.
+ Rules and exceptions in kana usage, including cultural and historical insights.
+ Foundational reading and writing skills, which will be applied to simple vocabulary and phrases.

The syllabus is divided into 24 lessons, each covering a specific set of characters and their compounds, beginning with hiragana and progressing to katakana. Special review lessons ensure mastery, while supplementary content offers cultural context and practical applications.

Each week consists of two live 30-minute sessions and approximately two hours of self-paced prerecorded video instruction. Live sessions illicit direct interaction and focus on active learning, including pronunciation practice, handwriting drills, vocabulary integration, and teacher-led discussions. These sessions also provide real-time feedback and clarification of questions. The pre-recorded video lessons are intended to deliver further detailed instruction on kana characters, their use cases, history, and associated practice activities. Students can pause and revisit these as needed.

Homework assignments and Google Form assessments reinforce concepts taught in class, while games, challenges, and quizzes in live sessions make learning fun. A blend of interactive teaching methods ensures students remain engaged and motivated.

The class follows an immersive, student-centered teaching approach. While Japanese is used extensively to build familiarity, clear and concise explanations in English ensure no one feels left behind. My teaching style emphasizes encouragement, humor, and a positive learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and exploring the material at their own pace.

Students interact with me frequently through:

+ Live Q&A: Opportunities to ask questions during and after lessons.

+ One-on-One Feedback: Personalized guidance on handwriting and pronunciation during small class sessions.

+ Interactive Exercises: Participation in games, discussions, and drills during live classes.

By the end of the course, students will have developed a strong foundation in Japanese kana and the confidence to continue their language-learning journey.

Learning Goals

Master the correct pronunciation, writing, and recognition of all hiragana, katakana, and compound kana characters, including proper stroke order and handwriting techniques.
Build fluency in identifying and using kana in both written and spoken contexts, applying them to simple vocabulary and phrases.

Syllabus

2 Units
24 Lessons
over 12 Weeks
Unit 1: A Helping Hand with Hiragana - ひらがな
Lesson 1:
Pronunciation and the Basics
 A quick message of welcome. Learn more about the teacher and his background in Japanese. A brief preview of all "10 rows" of hiragana and their history. Basic pronunciation practice. 
40 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Hiragana Row 1: The あ-row
 Introduction to the characters of the あ-row (あ い う え お), including pronunciation, handwriting practice, and rules and exceptions to their usage. 
40 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Hiragana Row 2: The か-row
 Introduction to the characters of the か-row (か き く け こ), including pronunciation, handwriting practice, and rules and exceptions to their usage. 
40 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Hiragana Row 3: The さ-row
 Introduction to the characters of the さ-row (さ し す せ そ), including pronunciation, handwriting practice, and rules and exceptions to their usage. 
40 mins online live lesson

Other Details

Parental Guidance
Nearpod will be an integral part of the live lessons, particularly for handwriting practice. Students will use interactive features such as drawing tools to practice writing hiragana and katakana in real time. This allows the instructor to provide personalized, immediate feedback on stroke order and accuracy during class.
Pre-Requisites
No prior experience needed! However, students are encouraged to complete the Level 1 Beginner Japanese Club: Full Conversational Course (here on Outschool) for additional confidence, context, and application.
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
For supplementary study materials, see the Courses & Resources page of the IJC main website here: https://immersionlanguageclub.com/shopping/

Meet the teacher

4.9
376reviews
Star Educator
Popular
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Colorado Teaching Certificate in Mathematics
Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy from Gustavus Adolphus College
At a Glance:

 + JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) older N2 Level certification-holder 
 + Member of the 2007 International Scholar Laureate Program Delegation on Diplomacy & International Relations in the People's Republic of China 
 + Teacher and tutor to over 1000 foreign language students on Outschool and elsewhere
 + Magna cum laude graduate in philosophy with honors and concentrations in Japanese studies and religion

Details:

Kelsey studied Japanese language, culture, history, and economics both at home (Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota) and a year abroad (Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan). He returned to Japan after graduating to live for another three years in Kagawa prefecture, Shikoku, where he worked in language instruction and Japanese-English translation. He attained certification in the 2nd highest level of the internationally recognized Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) less than three years into his Japanese studies. 

Kelsey's teaching experience in language instruction (where he often implements the Natural Approach and TPR) continues to this day in private lessons for both children and adults in various subjects including Japanese language learning and JLPT test prep. For Japanese, this includes literacy in kanji and the language's other character sets, as well as comprehension and production in both informal and business-level conversation. 

Regarding the JLPT specifically, Kelsey's tutoring methods involve a top-down approach to deconstructing, studying for, and tackling the JLPT for those students looking to take their Japanese to the next level and even get this important certification that can land them a job abroad. Feel free to contact him for more information about the JLPT and suggestions on whether or not it may be right for your learner's language goals.

Reviews

Mr. Payne | ペイン先生 | 華流清先生 suggests this class next...
Beginner Japanese: Full Conversational Course
Mr. Payne | ペイン先生 | 華流清先生
4.9
(376)
$17 per class
Group Class
20 wks, 2/wk, 55 min
10-15

Parents also liked
Learn Japanese With Pokemon Group
Teacher Lynn (リン 先生; 린 선생님)
4.8
(41)
$10 per month
Chat Group
Unlimited Access
8-13
1 on 1 / Private Tutoring for Japanese 1- AP Japanese (25 Min)
Sachiko
4.9
(402)
$40 per class
Next session at 11:30 PM on Sunday
Group Class
1/wk, 25 min
9-14
Yururito Japanese
Sachiko
4.9
(402)
$5 per month
Chat Group
Unlimited Access
13-18
First Time Japanese
Jay Kim, MA, MSc
4.9
(242)
$18 per class
Next session at 1 AM on Wed 2/19
Group Class
4 wks, 1/wk, 45 min
10-15
Private Japanese Class
Maya
5.0
(44)
$66 per session
1-on-1 Lessons
On Demand
13-18
Session 5c - Japanese for Kidz
Jasmine Burnett
5.0
(382)
$21 per class
Group Class
12 wks, 1/wk, 50 min
9-14
Learn Japanese for Kids!
Teacher Shea
5.0
(148)
$13 per class
Group Class
8 wks, 1/wk, 25 min
6-10
Beginner Japanese 1
Teacher Retz
5.0
(400)
$20 per class
Group Class
10 wks, 1/wk, 45 min
12-17
Introduction to Japanese Language & Culture
Victoria Kraus
$60 per session
1-on-1 Lessons
On Demand
10-18
Fun Japanese Lessons for Kids. たのしい Beginner Japanese: Course 2
Amy Nishikata
5.0
(300)
$15 per class
Next session at 10 PM on Thu 3/6
Group Class
6 wks, 1/wk, 30 min
6-11
Fun Japanese Lessons for Kids. たのしい Beginner Japanese: Course 1
Amy Nishikata
5.0
(300)
$15 per class
Group Class
6 wks, 1/wk, 30 min
6-11
Let's Speak Japanese - Ongoing Japanese Class for High Beginners
Akiko Graves
5.0
(338)
$12 per class
Next session at 1 AM on Saturday
Group Class
1/wk, 30 min
13-18
Japanese Beginners for Kids! Weekly Classes
Megumi Ohara
4.9
(137)
$25 per class
Next session at 12 AM on Friday
Group Class
1/wk, 1 hr
5-10
1 on 1 Tutoring for Japanese 1- AP Japanese (45 Min)
Sachiko
4.9
(402)
$80 per session
1-on-1 Lessons
On Demand
13-18
Beginner Japanese With Anime
Ms. Michelle, MAT
4.9
(1,954)
$15 per class
Group Class
37 wks, 1/wk, 45 min
9-14
Beginners Japanese Class (25min)
Miss Haley
5.0
(45)
$35 per session
1-on-1 Lessons
On Demand
8-18
See More Classes
Home
Search
Give a Gift Card
Open currency, time zone, and language settings
Language & Region
Log In