Beginner Japanese Club: All Japanese Hiragana + Katakana
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.
Mr. Payne | ペイン先生 | 華流清先生
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(376)
Star Educator
What's included
24 pre-recorded lessons
6 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
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 - 12
Beginner Level
This engaging self-paced 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 live, 12-week version of this same course is available here on Outschool as well at the following link: https://outschool.com/classes/beginner-japanese-club-full-course-hiragana-katakana-5oZnq9HO ************* 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 approximately two hours of self-paced prerecorded video instruction. These lessons give 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 can also interact with me as frequently as they like through direct messaging for personalized guidance on handwriting and pronunciation at any point. 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 6 WeeksUnit 1: IJC 101-RW: Hiragana
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. 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. 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. 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. Other Details
Parental Guidance
Nearpod will be an integral part of the live lessons, particularly for lessons and handwriting practice. Students will use interactive features such as drawing tools to practice writing hiragana and katakana along with the videos.
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/
Joined February, 2019
4.9
376reviews
Star Educator
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
Self-Paced Class
$23
weekly24 pre-recorded lessons
6 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content
Completed by 83 learners
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Ages: 10-18
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