Japanese is spoken by about 128 million people worldwide. The Japanese language, unlike English, relies on three alphabets instead of one. These alphabets include hiragana, katakana, and kanji, which each have different appearances and different uses. Hiragana and katakana are both alphabets with 47 syllables and characters each, with each of those characters representing a sound. Kanji is the alphabet that consists of more than 8,000 characters, and is the major Japanese alphabet. Each kanji character can have multiple meanings, which is part of what makes the language so difficult to learn.
Many people find themselves learning languages online, and Japanese is no exception, even though it is commonly considered one of the more difficult languages to learn. There are many free online courses that can help you become proficient in Japanese, whether you want to learn it to travel, for business, or just general interestl. If you have ever been curious about learning Japanese for free online, keep reading to see some of the best courses to do so.
1. Japanese for Beginners 1
Hosted by Coursera, offered by Saint Petersburg State University
⅕ of the students who completed this course from Coursera got some kind of tangible career benefit from it, and ⅓ of the students who completed it got some form of pay increase or promotion. Coursera is often considered one of the premier MOOC (massive open online course) platforms because they partner with preeminent institutions and universities to connect courses with students. Coursera is completely free to join and many of the courses, outside of the major degree programs, are free to enroll in. This introductory Japanese course takes approximately 20 hours to complete and is offered by Saint Petersburg State University.
This course implores students to explore Japanese language as well as East Asian culture, and it helps students to understand the Japanese way of thinking about language. Course materials are provided by Saint Petersburg’s Department of Japan Studies, and each of the five weeks in the course cover a different area of grammatical and language rules. The course has received a 95-percent positive rating from more than three and a half thousand users, so it’s certainly not one to be missed.
Cost: Free
Certificate: Yes
Time to Complete: Approximately 20 hours
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Partnered with Saint Petersburg State University
- Earn a free shareable certificate upon completion
Cons:
- Some users reported small inefficacies with the instructor
2. Steps in Japanese for Beginners Part One
Hosted by edX, offered by Waseda University
Waseda University is a preeminent university in Japan that focuses on academic independence and shaping their students with an open mind. It only makes sense that Waseda would partner with edX, a MOOC platform that is often known for working with prestigious universities like Harvard. This beginner Japanese course takes about five weeks to complete on the edX site if you work at a pace of about 3 to 5 hours a week, and you can add a verified certificate from the university for a $49 fee. Professor Naoko Kinoshita, an associate professor at Waseda, teaches the course, and she is more than qualified to teach you beginner Japanese.
This course mostly follows the kind of vocabulary you’ll need to greet people, introduce and talk about yourself, ask about food, and order food. This course is great for those who are planning on travelling to Japan for leisure and want to know some general phrases and the kind of etiquette you should practice while in the country. Students will learn about Japanese from the perspective of Andy, an exchange student.
Cost: Free
Certificate: Yes (With $49 fee)
Time to Complete: Approximately 5 weeks
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Partnered with Waseda University, a preeminent Japanese University
- Teaches about Japanese from the perspective of an exchange student
Cons:
- Certificate of achievement costs $49
3. Japanese Course for Absolute Beginners (Letters, Alphabet)
Hosted by Skillshare, offered by Allison Williams
This course from Skillshare has had more than 4,600 students and is rated very highly among its users. Allison Williams, the instructor for the course, has had many years of experience teaching Japanese and is more than qualified to teach this introductory course. Skillshare is a subscription-based site where instructors can share their skills, both professional and creative. Usually, taking a course on Skillshare would require you to pay a flat monthly fee to have access to all of the site’s content. Luckily for you, however, Skillshare is offering a 14-day free trial for new users, which is plenty of time to complete this 6.5-hour class.
The class focuses on hiragana and katakana, which are commonly known as the Japanese letters in the alphabet. The instructor aims to provide students with a strong foundation of this alphabet before they can move onto higher level Japanese reading, writing, and speaking. The class also teaches students about the proper ways to practice outside of class, offers downloadable PDF practice materials, culture notes, and daily phrases that you’ll be able to use everyday in your Japanese speaking.
Cost: Free (With Skillshare 14-day free trial)
Certificate: No
Time to Complete: Approximately 6.5 hours
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Taught by an experienced Japanese instructor
- Offers cultural notes, offline practice, and downloadable materials
Cons:
- Content is locked behind paywall after trial
- No certificate of achievement
4. Learn Japanese in 4 Hours – ALL the Japanese Basics You Need
Hosted by YouTube, offered by Japanesepod101.com
YouTube is a great place to look for free online courses, because any video available on YouTube can be rewatched or repeated at any time, and many instructors who offer free lessons post a variety of them on YouTube. JapanesePod101 is a language learning podcast that provides students with thousands of introductory Japanese lessons for free, encouraging users to start speaking, reading, and writing a new language within minutes. No payment is needed to join the site, and the episodes are offered on other podcast streaming platforms, like Spotify, for free.
In this four-hour course, you will be encouraged to start speaking Japanese from your very first lesson. JapanesePod101 implores students to learn Japanese the easy and fun way, and this class will take you through some of the basic Japanese vocabulary needed to start conversations with native speakers. The host expresses herself using basic Japanese vocabulary, and English and Japanese subtitles are available for true beginners. The video will also challenge your comprehension skills, helping you move forward in your Japanese studies.
Cost: Free
Certificate: No
Time to Complete: Approximately 4 hours
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Taught by an experienced Japanese instructor
- Podcast is available on other platforms for easy access
Cons:
- No certificate of achievement
5. Japanese HIRAGANA(Japanese character) 1hour in English
Hosted by Udemy, offered by Yukino I
This course from Udemy is focused on one of the Japanese alphabets, 46 characters of hiragana. Udemy, similar to Skillshare, allows instructors and professionals to upload and price their own course material according to the length and skill level of their course. Udemy is completely free for users to join, and classes vary in price from free to very expensive. Luckily for you, however, users have the option of choosing only free courses so they never have to open their pockets to take classes. This course takes only 1 hour to complete, so it’s great if you want a brief overview of Hiragana.
By the end of this quick course, you will be proficient in the 46 characters of hiragana. The course has been rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on Udemy by more than 200 students, and over 7,000 students have taken the course overall. Yukino I, the instructor for this course, has been teaching Japanese for over 4 years and has taught more than 500 students in 15 different countries. She also has a master’s degree in Japanese language education.
Cost: Free
Certificate: No
Time to Complete: Approximately 1 hour
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Taught by an experienced Japanese instructor who has a master’s in Japanese
- Learn the basic characters of hiragana
Cons:
- No certificate of achievement
6. Diploma in Japanese Language
Hosted by Alison, offered by Advance Learning
Alison is an online educational platform that mainly aims to connect students with professional skills that will boost their careers forward. Some of Alison’s course categories include IT, management, health, and business. Alison is free to join, and most of the courses are free to enroll in and complete. Many courses even come with legitimate certifications, including this course offered by Advance Learning. This introductory diploma takes anywhere from 10 to 15 hours to complete and can be converted to your mobile device so you can work on your language skills anywhere.
This course, which nearly 60,000 students have enrolled in, teaches students about some of the most fundamental aspects of Japanese language and culture. Advance Learning is hoping to get you up and running with this course, meaning that you’ll begin to understand some basic conversational skills after completing this course. By the end of the class, you’ll understand how to communicate with some basic Japanese phrases, pronounce all of the Japanese syllables, and relate the meaning of vocabulary. The certification does cost a fee to fully complete, but the course can be completed without earning the certificate.
Cost: Free
Certificate: Yes (With fee)
Time to Complete: Approximately 10-15 hours
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Learn the three Japanese alphabets and how to differentiate them
- Relate Japanese vocabulary and introduce yourself
Cons:
- Certification costs a fee
7. Japanese for English Speakers
Offered by Duolingo
Duolingo, unlike some of the other methods for learning Japanese on this list, is a language-learning mobile app designed to connect users with a fun and easy way to learn a new language. The app also offers a digital proficiency language exam, allowing users to understand the level they are at when learning their desired language. The app is free to download and use for as long as you’d like, but they do offer a subscription-based premium membership if you’d like to access some of the app’s more expansive benefits.
Duolingo allows you to begin to understand the three writing systems of Japanese and gain some insight on Japanese culture and etiquette. If you never want to read strangely-translated manga or watch a dubbed anime again, this course is the one for you. Duolingo only requires users to work for a few minutes every day to eventually become proficient, so you’ll never feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you have. There are also no major projects or deadlines with Duolingo, so it’s the perfect app for the more casual learner. Nearly 10 million people are actively learning Japanese on Duolingo, so there’s no better time to start!
Cost: Free
Certificate: No
Time to Complete: Approximately 10-15 minutes a day
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Work on the app for only a few minutes a day
- No strict schedule, syllabus, or deadlines
Cons:
- No certificate of achievement
8. Beginners Japanese for 48 hours in Tokyo
Hosted by Udemy, offered by Mami Chan
This course from Udemy is specifically focused on Japanese use for travel. If you have to travel to Japan for work or you’re planning on traveling for leisure, there are a few types of vocabulary you should know. As mentioned above, Udemy is an open-source course network that allows instructors to upload and price their own course materials. This is another one of Udemy’s free courses, and more than 9,000 students have taken it so far, giving it a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars. The course only takes about an hour and 45 minutes to complete, so it’s great if you’re about to leave for a trip and you’re in a hurry to learn.
During this class, you will learn about some of the basic phrases in Japanese that you’ll need to know if you want to travel safely and have fun during your trip. By the end of the course, you’ll know how to introduce yourself in Japanese and discuss others, name a few Japanese souvenirs and gifts, learn how to say the days of the week in Japanese, tell the date and time, talk about your family, and describe family events.
Cost: Free
Certificate: No
Time to Complete: Approximately 1.5 hours
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Perfect for a quick crash course before a trip
- Teaches you the basic phrases you need to know to travel
Cons:
- No certificate of achievement
- Doesn’t go in-depth on Japanese language, only essentials
9. Beginner’s Japanese: Daily Phrases to Travel and Communicate
Hosted by Skillshare, offered by Mikiko Koike
Similar to the course listed above, this course from Skillshare is designed to prepare you to travel and casually communicate with people in Japan and beyond. Skillshare describes itself more as a community than a selection of classes, because they offer the opportunity for students to interact with one another within forums and discussions as you might in a real university course. Skillshare also offers open communication with instructors, who are always available to answer questions for you or help you solve problems.
During this course, you’ll cover important topics like basic kanji signs, absolutely essential vocabulary, and commonly used phrases. Instructor Mikiko Koike has been teaching both English and Japanese since 2017, so she is well-versed in the kind of challenges English and Japanese speakers face when attempting to learn a new language. Mikiko has had nearly 3,000 students on Skillshare thus far, and her course has been reviewed very highly among Skillshare users. Her course teaches users who are true beginners, meaning you can start her course knowing nothing about Japanese and still get quite a bit out of it.
Cost: Free (With Skillshare premium free trial)
Certificate: No
Time to Complete: Approximately 1 hour
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Perfect for a quick crash course before a trip
- Teaches you the basic phrases you need to know to travel
Cons:
- No certificate of achievement
- Doesn’t go in-depth on Japanese language, only essentials
10. Easy Japanese – Basic Phrases
Hosted by YouTube, offered by Easy Languages
Easy Languages is a media project that was created by a conglomerate of individuals who wanted to connect users to basic linguistic phrases that are actually used by people on the street. As mentioned above, using YouTube as a resource to find open-source online courses can actually be incredibly useful, as every video published on YouTube is free to rewatch and review whenever you please. Since many of the videos from Easy Languages are short and sweet, you can easily binge many of their episodes to learn a lot of quick slang phrases used by actual people in Japan.
This video is only about two minutes long, but you can find hundreds of other videos like it on Easy Languages’ profile. Their media project is based on taking real-life interviews from people on the street and asking them simple questions that non-native speakers will easily understand. In exchange, language learners will also hear some of the actual words used by native speakers in real time, rather than the textbook language you might be given in a typical classroom setting.
Cost: Free
Certificate: No
Time to Complete: Approximately 2 minutes, but hundreds of interviews are available
Curriculum: Beginner
User Experience: Excellent
Quality of Instruction: Excellent
Pros:
- Start anytime and go at your own pace
- Learn words and phrases from real people who speak the language
- Go beyond a textbook understanding of the language
Cons:
- No certificate of achievement
- Doesn’t go in-depth on Japanese language, only short interviews
Frequently Asked Questions About Free Online Courses for Learning Japanese
If you’ve read this far, we’re sure you have some questions about taking free online courses for learning Japanese. Learning a new language, especially as an adult, can be an incredibly intimidating and daunting task. Many people might tell you that it’s near-impossible to learn Japanese as a non-native speaker, but this is not true at all! In fact, there are a lot of websites, like the ones mentioned on the list above, that make this learning process a lot easier.
Still, however, there are a lot of questions you might have about taking one of these courses. This is why we’ve outlined the following section, which should help you feel much more relaxed and confident about taking one of these classes. Over the next few paragraphs, we will detail the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about free online courses for learning Japanese. By the end of the section, you might want to sign up for one of the courses on this list right away!
What Will I Gain From a Free Online Japanese Course?
Learning a new language, especially an East Asian language like Japanese, can open up a lot of doors for you. Not only will you literally be able to speak a new language at the end of one of these courses, but you will also have your mind opened to Japanese culture and etiquette. East Asian cultures are very different than Western cultures, and this is something you’ll need to learn before entering the culture or visiting a Japanese-speaking country.
There are also a multitude of career benefits to learning a new language including opportunities in travel, banking, business, investment, transportation, and more.
Are Free Online Courses for Japanese Difficult?
Learning a language is certainly not one of the easier things one can do, especially as an adult. Especially as a first-time learner, taking a language course for Japanese might seem difficult and daunting. A free online Japanese course definitely isn’t easy, but there are a lot of things you can do to make the language-learning process easier on yourself.
For example, you can download a supplementary learning app like Duolingo so that learning a language feels more like a game than school. Additionally, since many of these courses have live instructors helping you along the syllabus, they are always available to answer your questions if you feel like you’re struggling.
How Long Do Free Online Japanese Courses Take?
The length of free online courses varies greatly. While most of them hover around the 10 to 20 hour range, some of them are designed to be full college-level courses. If you pursue one of these courses, the workload will likely take you a few months or the equivalent of one semester to complete.
Other courses, however, might only take an hour or less to complete if they are covering less dense areas of vocabulary or phrases. For example, short videos from Easy Languages might only take you five minutes to complete, because they’re comprised of interviews from people on the street.
Are Free Online Courses for Japanese Worth It?
If there’s anything that’s worth taking a free online course for, it’s a language. People can pay thousands of dollars trying to become fluent in a language, but you can get ahead of the game by first trying a free online course for your introductory levels.
By the time you’ve finished a free online course, you will be ready to move onto more advanced language learning, or prepare for a trip or business venture in a Japanese-speaking country. Even if you aren’t planning on traveling to Japan anytime soon, learning the basics of a new language can help open your mind and make learning other languages easier.
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