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Language foundation

Japanese Foundation — N5 Level

This course is built for absolute beginners in Japanese, starting with the two phonetic scripts — hiragana and katakana — before any grammar, because reading fluency in these scripts is what makes everything after them possible. Over ten weeks the course moves through the です/ます polite base form, the core particles (は, が, を, に) that do most of the grammatical work in beginner Japanese, and everyday vocabulary including numbers, time, and Japan's counter-word system. A dedicated module introduces the first forty practical kanji seen constantly in daily life. Listening and speaking practice is built around real first-conversation situations: introducing yourself, greetings, shopping and simple requests. This course is general-purpose foundation Japanese, useful on its own and also a strong base before JFT-Basic exam-specific preparation for candidates pursuing Japan's Specified Skilled Worker pathway.

Course learning contract

Who this course is for
Learners building Japanese from N5 toward N5, with the diagnostic checkpoint confirming starting readiness.
What you need before starting
Working knowledge at or near N5. The diagnostic checkpoint confirms whether the course is a suitable starting point.
What you will work on

The published modules define the course scope. You will work on:

  • Hiragana & Katakana
  • Basic sentence patterns
  • Everyday vocabulary & kanji
  • Listening & speaking practice
Pace and effort
Self-paced over an estimated 10 weeks. No fixed weekly study hours or live-teaching commitment is stated.
How completion works
Complete every lesson and pass every required checkpoint. Course completion does not issue a certificate or credential.

Course modules

Hiragana & Katakana
  • Reading and writing hiragana
  • Reading and writing katakana
Basic sentence patterns
  • です/ます form basics
  • Particles: は, が, を, に
Everyday vocabulary & kanji
  • Numbers, time and dates
  • First 40 practical kanji
Listening & speaking practice
  • Self-introduction and greetings
  • Shopping and simple requests

Assessment checkpoints

  • Diagnostic check — confirm entry-level readiness before starting
  • Mid-course checkpoint — skills covered so far, identify weak areas
  • Readiness milestone — mock assessment against the target level/format

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to know any Japanese to start?

No — this course starts from the two phonetic scripts, hiragana and katakana, assuming zero prior knowledge.

Should I take this before JFT-Basic preparation?

If you are a genuine beginner, yes — this course builds the foundation JFT-Basic preparation assumes.

Price

Contact us

Estimated duration: 10 weeks