Welcome to Start Here
Welcome to Start Here.
This course is for complete beginners and new students who want to start learning Japanese.
You do not need to know Japanese before starting this course.
This course will help you understand how to study Japanese, check your level, choose the right course, and start learning step by step.
What You Will Learn
In this lesson, you will learn how to use this learning course effectively.
How to Study
Understand how to study with this course.
Lesson Order
Know the best order to take the lessons.
Quizzes
Learn how to use quizzes without stress.
Practice
Learn how to practice Japanese out loud.
Confidence
Feel comfortable starting your Japanese journey.
Who This Course Is For
This course is good for you if…
You are completely new to Japanese, you do not know where to start, or you want to learn Japanese for daily life.
It is also useful if…
You studied Japanese before but want to review the basics, learn hiragana and katakana, or prepare for JLPT N5.
Your Learning Roadmap
Please study the lessons in order if you are a complete beginner.
Learn how this learning site works.
Understand the best way to study Japanese.
Check your current Japanese level.
Choose the right course for your purpose.
Start reading Japanese sounds.
Learn useful characters for foreign words.
Practice clear Japanese sounds.
Understand simple Japanese sentences.
Learn は, を, に, で, and か.
Review what you learned in this course.
Website Quick Guide
Here is how to navigate this learning website and track your lessons easily.
1. Completing a Lesson
When you finish studying a page, always scroll to the bottom and click the green “Complete Lesson” button. This unlocks the next unit and saves your record.
2. Checking Your Progress
Want to see your total study stats? Simply click “Dashboard” / “My Page” from the top navigation menu. It displays your completed lessons and quiz scores anytime.
How to Study Each Lesson
Each lesson is designed to be simple and easy to follow. Do not rush. Study slowly and clearly.
Read Slowly
Read the lesson carefully and check the important points.
Practice Out Loud
When you see Japanese phrases, say them with your voice.
Try Practice Questions
Use the practice questions to check your understanding.
Complete the Mission
Each lesson has a small mission to make learning practical.
Mark Complete
When you finish, click the “Complete Lesson” button on the webpage.
Move Forward
Continue to the next lesson step by step.
Use Your Voice
Japanese is a language for communication. Reading is important, but speaking is also very important.
When you see a Japanese phrase in later lessons, please say it out loud. Even if your pronunciation is not perfect, that is okay.
Good practice flow
Read it. Listen to yourself. Say it again. Practice slowly. Use it in real life.
Your goal
The goal is not perfect pronunciation. The goal is to communicate.
Study a Little Every Day
You do not need to study for many hours every day. For beginners, a short daily habit is very powerful.
10 minutes every day is better than 2 hours only once a week.
How to Use Quizzes
Some units have quizzes. Quizzes help you check your understanding. You do not need to be afraid of quizzes. A quiz is a tool to help you learn.
When you take a quiz
Read each question carefully. Choose the best answer. Check your mistakes. Review the lesson if needed.
Mistakes are useful
If you make a mistake, that means you found something useful to review.
Course Progress
Your learning site shows your course progress profile.
You can view your completed lessons, quiz results, and course completion percentage.
When you finish a lesson, mark it as complete. This will help you automatically continue from the right place next time.
Studying on a Phone or Computer
Computer
A computer is good when you want to read carefully and study for a longer time.
Smartphone
A smartphone is good when you want to study for a short time, such as on the train or during a break.
You can study before sleeping, before your Japanese lesson, or while waiting at a café. Short study time is okay. The important thing is to continue.
How to Practice Effectively
To learn Japanese well, use this simple method.
Read
Look at the phrase carefully.
Understand
Check the meaning.
Say It
Practice out loud.
Repeat
Say it again several times.
Use It
Try it in real life.
What to Do When You Do Not Understand
It is normal not to understand everything at first. Japanese may feel difficult in the beginning. That is okay.
Read Again
Go back and read the explanation one more time.
Check Examples
Examples often make the meaning easier to understand.
Ask Your Teacher
Questions help you learn faster. Do not give up.
Recommended Learning Path
Complete beginners
Start Here → Survival Japanese → Daily Life Japanese → JLPT N5 or Basic Grammar
People living in Japan
Start Here → Daily Life Japanese → Conversation Practice → Business Japanese or JLPT
People working in Japan
Start Here → Daily Life Japanese → Business Japanese → JLPT N4 or N3
JLPT learners
Start Here → Hiragana and Katakana → JLPT N5 → JLPT N4 → JLPT N3
Important Mindset
Many beginners stop studying because they think they must be perfect. But language learning does not work that way. You improve by trying, making mistakes, and trying again.
Good Study Habits
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Trying to memorize everything at once
You do not need to memorize everything immediately. Study little by little.
Only reading silently
If you only read silently, speaking may remain difficult. Practice out loud.
Skipping review
Review is very important. Even 3 minutes of review can help.
Waiting until you are perfect
You can use simple Japanese from the beginning. Start with short phrases.
Practice: Check Your Understanding
Q1. What is the best way to study Japanese as a beginner?
A. Study a little every day
B. Study only once a month
C. Wait until you understand everything
Answer:
Q2. What should you do when you see a useful Japanese phrase?
A. Only look at it
B. Say it out loud
C. Skip it
Answer:
Q3. What should you do if you make a mistake?
A. Stop studying
B. Review and try again
C. Feel bad and quit
Answer:
Practice: Your Study Plan
Complete your simple study plan.
My Japanese study goal is:
＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
I can study Japanese for:
＿＿＿＿ minutes a day.
I want to study Japanese because:
＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
Speaking Practice
Read these sentences out loud.
I will study Japanese little by little.
I will practice every day.
I will say Japanese phrases out loud.
I will review my lessons.
I will not be afraid of mistakes.
Now say your own study promise.
I will study Japanese for ＿＿＿＿ minutes every day.
I will practice out loud.
I will continue little by little.
Mini Mission
Today’s mission is simple. Write your Japanese learning goal.
I want to speak Japanese in daily life.
I want to understand Japanese at stores and restaurants.
I want to talk with my child’s teacher.
I want to pass JLPT N5.
My Japanese learning goal is:
＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
Review
In this lesson, you learned how to use this course.