Print this page Beginner Japanese: Course 1

Start your beginner Japanese learning journey with our Beginner Japanese: A1.1 Course, suitable for complete beginners with no prior experience of Japanese. This introductory course builds the foundations needed to communicate in simple everyday situations while developing your understanding of essential Japanese grammar and vocabulary. It is ideal for learners interested in learning Japanese for cultural interest or personal enrichment in a supportive and interactive learning environment.

You will practise communication in situations such as greeting others, introducing yourself, talking about your family, and discussing simple daily routines and plans. Grammar is introduced naturally through these interactions, including basic sentence structures, question formation, essential particles, and common verb forms. Vocabulary and phonetics are integrated throughout, including everyday topics such as food, family, and leisure activities, as well as learning Hiragana and Katakana and key pronunciation features like vowel length and rhythm.

DELIVERY MODE

Delivery mode for individual classes will vary from term to term, but will be listed as the following:

• Face-to-Face: WEA Sydney
• Online: via Zoom / Microsoft Teams

TEXTBOOK

• Marugoto 1 / A1 Introduction Rikai Coursebook, (Sanshusha Publishing Co., Ltd., 2013), ISBN: 9784384057539

Supplier: Abbey's Language Book Centre
Please note that textbook cost is not included in the course fee. In the event of a course being cancelled, WEA Sydney cannot be held responsible for the purchase of any textbooks. Language courses will be confirmed or cancelled at least 7 days prior to their starting date.

COURSE OUTLINE

Communication

• Using common greetings for different times of day
• Introducing yourself and exchanging basic personal information
• Talking about your family
• Talking about food preferences and simple daily routines
• Asking and answering simple questions about plans

Grammar

• Sentence structure: basic patterns
• Questions: formation with ka
• Particles: wa, ga, no, o, ni, mo, to
• Verb forms: to be, to like, to eat, to drink
• Structures: expressing likes and dislikes
• Writing systems: Hiragana and Katakana

Phonetics

• Sounds: pronunciation of Hiragana and Katakana
• Sound system: vowels and consonants
• Sounds: long and short vowels (contrast)
• Rhythm: mora timing

Vocabulary

• Countries, languages, occupations
• Family and daily life
• Numbers (0–100)
• Food and drinks; eating out
• Leisure activities

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Communicate in Japanese in simple situations such as greetings, introductions, and basic daily interactions.
2. Use fundamental grammar structures including particles, basic verb forms, and simple question patterns.
3. Apply essential vocabulary and pronunciation features, including Hiragana and Katakana, to interact in basic contexts.