Complete Beginner Japanese - Online Class Wednesday 6:00pm - 7pm PST (May 7th to June 11th) The class size is 3-6 students per class. Instructor: Mari
Complete Beginner Japanese – Online Class
For learners in Berkeley, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Napa & throughout the Bay Area
Course Dates:
This live online Japanese course for complete beginners runs from May 7th to June 11th. Classes meet once per week in small groups of 3–6 students, offering a supportive and highly interactive learning environment.
If only two students enroll, the course will still run but will be shortened to five weeks instead of six.
Whether you're in Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, or Napa, you can join from home and build a solid foundation in Japanese with expert guidance.
About the Instructor
Mari, originally from Gunma Prefecture, Japan, is a certified Japanese language instructor with over six years of experience teaching both adults and children in classroom and online settings. After earning her degree in French Literature from Meiji Gakuin University in Tokyo and later studying International Economics in Toronto, Mari built a diverse international background with professional experience in Tokyo, Toronto, Singapore, and Boston before settling in the Bay Area in 2005.
Mari is known for her warm, adaptive teaching style, designing lessons that are both engaging and personalized. She creates a comfortable, encouraging space for students to begin learning Japanese with confidence, curiosity, and cultural context.
Who This Course Is For
This course is designed for absolute beginners—students with no prior knowledge or only minimal exposure to the Japanese language. It's ideal for adult learners in Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, Napa, and anywhere in the Bay Area who are ready to take their first step into the world of Japanese.
Whether you're learning for travel, cultural exploration, personal enrichment, or just for fun, this course offers a strong and enjoyable starting point.
👉 Curious if Japanese is right for you? Read our blog post: Why Learn Japanese
What You’ll Learn
This course introduces students to the essential building blocks of Japanese, with a balance of structure, communication, and cultural context. You'll learn:
Correct pronunciation and intonation from the beginning
Key vocabulary and basic grammar structures
How to introduce yourself and have simple conversations
The foundations of the Japanese writing system, with a focus on hiragana and katakana
Practical speaking and writing skills through real-life examples and interactive practice
Lessons are hands-on, engaging, and culturally relevant, helping you connect with both the language and the broader context of Japanese life.
By the End of the Course
You’ll be able to:
Read and write hiragana
Use essential vocabulary and sentence patterns
Communicate in basic everyday situations (introductions, shopping, ordering food, etc.)
Understand how Japanese grammar works at a beginner level
Continue confidently into more advanced beginner courses
This course lays the groundwork for a strong and confident start in Japanese.
Required Textbook
Genki: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese Vol. 1 (3rd Edition)
We recommend purchasing your copy in advance.
Offered by Polyglottist Language Academy, based in Berkeley and serving students across the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and Napa.
Complete Beginner Japanese – Online Class
For learners in Berkeley, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Napa & throughout the Bay Area
Course Dates:
This live online Japanese course for complete beginners runs from May 7th to June 11th. Classes meet once per week in small groups of 3–6 students, offering a supportive and highly interactive learning environment.
If only two students enroll, the course will still run but will be shortened to five weeks instead of six.
Whether you're in Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, or Napa, you can join from home and build a solid foundation in Japanese with expert guidance.
About the Instructor
Mari, originally from Gunma Prefecture, Japan, is a certified Japanese language instructor with over six years of experience teaching both adults and children in classroom and online settings. After earning her degree in French Literature from Meiji Gakuin University in Tokyo and later studying International Economics in Toronto, Mari built a diverse international background with professional experience in Tokyo, Toronto, Singapore, and Boston before settling in the Bay Area in 2005.
Mari is known for her warm, adaptive teaching style, designing lessons that are both engaging and personalized. She creates a comfortable, encouraging space for students to begin learning Japanese with confidence, curiosity, and cultural context.
Who This Course Is For
This course is designed for absolute beginners—students with no prior knowledge or only minimal exposure to the Japanese language. It's ideal for adult learners in Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, Napa, and anywhere in the Bay Area who are ready to take their first step into the world of Japanese.
Whether you're learning for travel, cultural exploration, personal enrichment, or just for fun, this course offers a strong and enjoyable starting point.
👉 Curious if Japanese is right for you? Read our blog post: Why Learn Japanese
What You’ll Learn
This course introduces students to the essential building blocks of Japanese, with a balance of structure, communication, and cultural context. You'll learn:
Correct pronunciation and intonation from the beginning
Key vocabulary and basic grammar structures
How to introduce yourself and have simple conversations
The foundations of the Japanese writing system, with a focus on hiragana and katakana
Practical speaking and writing skills through real-life examples and interactive practice
Lessons are hands-on, engaging, and culturally relevant, helping you connect with both the language and the broader context of Japanese life.
By the End of the Course
You’ll be able to:
Read and write hiragana
Use essential vocabulary and sentence patterns
Communicate in basic everyday situations (introductions, shopping, ordering food, etc.)
Understand how Japanese grammar works at a beginner level
Continue confidently into more advanced beginner courses
This course lays the groundwork for a strong and confident start in Japanese.
Required Textbook
Genki: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese Vol. 1 (3rd Edition)
We recommend purchasing your copy in advance.
Offered by Polyglottist Language Academy, based in Berkeley and serving students across the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and Napa.
Complete Beginner Japanese – Online Class
For learners in Berkeley, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Napa & throughout the Bay Area
Course Dates:
This live online Japanese course for complete beginners runs from May 7th to June 11th. Classes meet once per week in small groups of 3–6 students, offering a supportive and highly interactive learning environment.
If only two students enroll, the course will still run but will be shortened to five weeks instead of six.
Whether you're in Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, or Napa, you can join from home and build a solid foundation in Japanese with expert guidance.
About the Instructor
Mari, originally from Gunma Prefecture, Japan, is a certified Japanese language instructor with over six years of experience teaching both adults and children in classroom and online settings. After earning her degree in French Literature from Meiji Gakuin University in Tokyo and later studying International Economics in Toronto, Mari built a diverse international background with professional experience in Tokyo, Toronto, Singapore, and Boston before settling in the Bay Area in 2005.
Mari is known for her warm, adaptive teaching style, designing lessons that are both engaging and personalized. She creates a comfortable, encouraging space for students to begin learning Japanese with confidence, curiosity, and cultural context.
Who This Course Is For
This course is designed for absolute beginners—students with no prior knowledge or only minimal exposure to the Japanese language. It's ideal for adult learners in Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, Napa, and anywhere in the Bay Area who are ready to take their first step into the world of Japanese.
Whether you're learning for travel, cultural exploration, personal enrichment, or just for fun, this course offers a strong and enjoyable starting point.
👉 Curious if Japanese is right for you? Read our blog post: Why Learn Japanese
What You’ll Learn
This course introduces students to the essential building blocks of Japanese, with a balance of structure, communication, and cultural context. You'll learn:
Correct pronunciation and intonation from the beginning
Key vocabulary and basic grammar structures
How to introduce yourself and have simple conversations
The foundations of the Japanese writing system, with a focus on hiragana and katakana
Practical speaking and writing skills through real-life examples and interactive practice
Lessons are hands-on, engaging, and culturally relevant, helping you connect with both the language and the broader context of Japanese life.
By the End of the Course
You’ll be able to:
Read and write hiragana
Use essential vocabulary and sentence patterns
Communicate in basic everyday situations (introductions, shopping, ordering food, etc.)
Understand how Japanese grammar works at a beginner level
Continue confidently into more advanced beginner courses
This course lays the groundwork for a strong and confident start in Japanese.
Required Textbook
Genki: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese Vol. 1 (3rd Edition)
We recommend purchasing your copy in advance.
Offered by Polyglottist Language Academy, based in Berkeley and serving students across the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and Napa.