Pack your bags — and your Japanese! Japanese: Language for Travel is a practical course that helps you speak with confidence on holiday or work trips. Over two consecutive Saturdays via Zoom you’ll practice the phrases that matter through role-plays, guided conversations and real travel scenarios. 

You’ll leave with a “survival Japanese” toolkit: high-frequency vocabulary, clearer pronunciation, and easy strategies to keep talking even when you can’t remember the exact word.

Why study Japanese at IH London? 

Japanese is a fascinating language and a valuable skill for travel, culture and international communication. It can also feel very rewarding because you can start using practical phrases quickly.

At International House London, you’ll learn with expert teachers and dynamic, interactive lessons that help you build real communication skills naturally — with plenty of guided speaking practice from day one. 

What’s included in your course? 

• Lesson summaries, notes and learning resources 

• Additional self-study materials 

• Ongoing support from experienced teachers 

• Access to exclusive IH London student workshops and events 

This course is ideal for learners who want practical Japanese for travel, including: 

• students who have studied very little Japanese but want to use it more confidently 

• beginners who want a focused “holiday Japanese” boost 

• learners who can recognise a few basic words/phrases but hesitate when speaking 

• anyone travelling to Japan who wants useful language for real situations 

If you’re unsure about your level, we can help you choose the best option. 

By the end of this course, you will be able to: 

Communicate confidently in common travel situations 

You’ll practice Japanese for real-life travel scenarios, such as: 

• greetings, introductions and polite social language 

• checking in/out at hotels and handling common requests 

• ordering in cafés/restaurants (preferences, problems, paying) 

• asking for and understanding directions and transport information 

• shopping and making simple enquiries (prices, sizes, tickets, times) 

• dealing with unexpected situations (lost items, delays, health/pharmacy basics) 

Speak more clearly and naturally 

You’ll also build speaking confidence through: 

• key survival phrases and high-frequency vocabulary 

• pronunciation support for clearer, more intelligible Japanese 

• mini role-plays and speaking tasks to help you respond quickly and naturally 

Build cultural confidence in Japan 

Alongside the language, you’ll build confidence for real interactions through: 

• essential politeness and everyday etiquette 

• typical service interactions (shops, cafés, stations) and common set phrases 

• practical tips for travelling in Japan 

Course materials: All course materials are shared via SharePoint. You will receive the access link in your welcome email, which is sent 24 hours before the course starts. 

Do I need previous knowledge of Japanese? 
Some basic Japanese is helpful, but the course is designed to support learners who want practical travel language and lots of guided speaking practice. 

When is the course and how long is each class? 
The course runs on two consecutive Saturdays, 10:00–13:00 (UK time), via Zoom. 

Is this course face-to-face or online? 
This is a live online course taught on Zoom. 

What level is the course? 
This course is best for beginners and near-beginners who want practical Japanese for travel. If you’re unsure, we can advise you on the best option. 

Will there be lots of speaking practice? 
Yes. The course is highly practical and includes guided speaking tasks, role-plays and realistic travel scenarios to help you build confidence quickly. 

What writing system will we use (romaji, hiragana, katakana, kanji)? 
We’ll focus mainly on speaking and listening, using romaji (Latin script) to support communication. You’ll have a brief introduction to hiragana and katakana for recognition and travel purposes (for example, signs, menus and tickets). 

Do I need to install anything to join the course? 
You’ll need access to Zoom (app or browser). We’ll send joining details before the course starts. 

What do I need for the online lessons? 
A stable internet connection, and a device with a microphone and camera (headphones recommended). You may also want a notebook for quick notes. 

What if I miss a Saturday? 
Because this is a short course, it’s best to attend both sessions. If you miss a class, we’ll share key materials via SharePoint, but we can’t replicate the live speaking practice. 

Can I continue studying after this course? 
Yes! Your teacher can recommend the best next step, such as a general Japanese course or a level-based programme at IH London. 

How will I receive the course materials? 
All course materials are shared via SharePoint, with access provided in your welcome email 24 hours before the course starts. 

Is there a coursebook? 
No fixed coursebook is required — your teacher will provide targeted materials and resources for the course. 

Course Overview 

Online Japanese Level 1 is a Beginners Japanese course for students who have never studied the Japanese language before. 

Our Japanese language classes take place at our school in Covent Garden with a qualified, experienced teacher and fellow students. Evening language classes at IH London are dynamic and interactive as the emphasis is on spoken communication, which is achieved through lots of group work and role-plays. At the same time, there is systematic work on grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation, so that you can improve on all aspects of the language. Your teacher speaks in the target language throughout, so that you can refine your comprehension and listening skills. 

Course Content

Communicative aims

– Greeting people

– Introducing yourself and someone else

– Asking and giving personal details

– Shopping

– Locations

Linguistic aims

– Forming affirmative & negative sentences in present tense.

– Forming questions.

– Particles “wa”, “mo”, “ka” and “no”

– The Ko, So, A, Do system of demonstrative words.

Examples

(1) Watashi wa Tanaka Yoshio desu. – I am Yoshio Tanaka.

(2) Suzuki san wa isha ja arimasen. – Ms Suzuki is not a doctor.

(3) Yamada san wa gakusei desuka. – Is Mr Yamada a student?

(4) Sasaki san mo gakusei desu. – Ms Sasaki is a student too.

(5) Kore wa hon desu. – This is a book.

(7) Kore wa kuruma no hon desu. – This is a book on cars.

(8) Sore wa watashi no pen desu. -That is my pen.

(9) Kono kaban wa watashi no desu. – This bag is mine.

(10) Koko wa ima desu. – This is a living room.

(11) Tokei wa asoko desu. – The clock is over there.

Vocabulary

– Leisure activities

– Numbers 0 – 10.000

– Professions

– Hiragana Alphabet

– Country and Nationality

– Family names

– Items in a department stores and office buildings

Based on the course book – Minna no Nihon-go Beginners Book 1*

Chapters 1 to 3

*Materials may be based on the coursebook but it is not required as teachers may use different resources.

What do you need for an online class?

To get the most from this course you will need:

• A reliable internet connection
• A desktop computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone
• A web camera on or attached to the device you are using
• An integrated microphone in the device you are using or an attached headset
• The day before your course, you will be sent via email all the details you need to connect to the IH London Zoom classroom

This language course includes: 

• Access to our online platform to download lesson summaries, notes and resources 
• Support and advice from Japanese language teachers 
• Japanese language study tips 

Online Japanese Level 1 Saturdays is a Beginners Japanese course for students who have never studied the Japanese language before. 

Our Japanese language classes take place at our school in Covent Garden with a qualified, experienced teacher and fellow students. Evening language classes at IH London are dynamic and interactive as the emphasis is on spoken communication, which is achieved through lots of group work and role-plays. At the same time, there is systematic work on grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation, so that you can improve on all aspects of the language. Your teacher speaks in the target language throughout, so that you can refine your comprehension and listening skills. 

Course Content

Communicative aims

– Greeting people

– Introducing yourself and someone else

– Asking and giving personal details

– Shopping

– Locations

Linguistic aims

– Forming affirmative & negative sentences in present tense.

– Forming questions.

– Particles “wa”, “mo”, “ka” and “no”

– The Ko, So, A, Do system of demonstrative words.

Examples

(1) Watashi wa Tanaka Yoshio desu. – I am Yoshio Tanaka.

(2) Suzuki san wa isha ja arimasen. – Ms Suzuki is not a doctor.

(3) Yamada san wa gakusei desuka. – Is Mr Yamada a student?

(4) Sasaki san mo gakusei desu. – Ms Sasaki is a student too.

(5) Kore wa hon desu. – This is a book.

(7) Kore wa kuruma no hon desu. – This is a book on cars.

(8) Sore wa watashi no pen desu. -That is my pen.

(9) Kono kaban wa watashi no desu. – This bag is mine.

(10) Koko wa ima desu. – This is a living room.

(11) Tokei wa asoko desu. – The clock is over there.

Vocabulary

– Leisure activities

– Numbers 0 – 10.000

– Professions

– Hiragana Alphabet

– Country and Nationality

– Family names

– Items in a department stores and office buildings

Course Book – Minna no Nihon-go Beginners Book 1*

Chapters 1 to 3

*Materials may be based on the coursebook but it is not required as teachers may use different resources.

What do you need for an online class?

To get the most from this course you will need:

• A reliable internet connection
• A desktop computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone
• A web camera on or attached to the device you are using
• An integrated microphone in the device you are using or an attached headset
• The day before your course, you will be sent via email all the details you need to connect to the IH London Zoom classroom

This language course includes: 

• Access to our online platform to download lesson summaries, notes and resources 
• Support and advice from Japanese language teachers 
• Japanese language study tips 

Why not try out a sample beginners Japanese lesson before signing up to a full course? These one-off sessions are aimed at students who have never studied the Japanese language before. 

Our Japanese language classes take place at our school in Covent Garden with a qualified, experienced teacher and fellow students. Evening language classes at IH London are dynamic and interactive as the emphasis is on spoken communication, which is achieved through lots of group work and role-plays. At the same time, there is systematic work on grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation, so that you can improve on all aspects of the language. Your teacher speaks in the target language throughout, so that you can refine your comprehension and listening skills. 

Sample Lesson Plan

• Greeting people
• Introducing yourself and someone else
• Asking and giving personal details (name, nationalities, profession, age, phone number, date of birth)

This language course includes: 

• Access to our online platform to download lesson summaries, notes and resources 
• Support and advice from Japanese language teachers 
• Japanese language study tips