Learn Japanese: discover this fascinating language

Are you going to live, work or study in Japan? Or do you want to communicate better with your Japanese business partners? Then learning Japanese is essential for effective communication. Japan is the world’s third largest economy and its capital, Tokyo, is one of the largest metropolises in the world. Japan is also a member of important organisations such as the UN, the G7, the G8 and the G20. All the more reason to learn Japanese: even outside Japan, you will benefit greatly from a good command of the Japanese language. Would you prefer to take private Japanese lessons? Take a look at our range of private lessons.

Take a Japanese course

We offer Japanese language courses at various levels. Our courses are interactive and practical. See our course overview below:

Not sure what your language level is?

Take our online level test for free (and without obligation). After completing the test, you will receive personal advice about your language level from one of our experienced language teachers. Based on this advice, you can choose the course that suits your level.

Test your language level

Japanese course for beginners

Are you looking for a beginner’s course in Japanese? Then choose a Japanese level 1 course at Babel. In small groups, you will learn the basics of this beautiful language in a short period of time. Ideal for anyone who wants to master Japanese! The Japanese level 1 course covers all skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing), but the emphasis is on listening and speaking. You will start with the alphabet (Hiragana) and learn useful expressions for everyday life. There is also a strong focus on culture.

Did you know this about the Japanese language?

• Until about 2400 years ago, the Japanese language had no written characters.
• The first script used by the Japanese was Chinese script. This is often referred to as character script, although in fact every type of script is a character script.
• After the introduction of character writing, it became apparent that the Japanese language was much richer than the characters used. For this reason, two separate phonetic alphabets were developed. As a result, Japanese has no fewer than four types of writing. But don’t let this put you off: in a Japanese course at Babel, you will be introduced to the richness of the Japanese language and culture in an accessible and easy-to-understand way.
• Some Japanese words have English origins, thanks to the flourishing trade in the 16th and 17th centuries. Examples include cup (biikaa) and pistol (pisutoru).

Online or on location

Lessons on location Have you opted for lessons in person ? Then you will follow your Japanese course in small groups at our historic location in the center of Utrecht. Our building is very centrally located and easily accessible. Would you rather take the car? We offer ample parking at no cost.

Lessons in the virtual classroom Would you rather take lessons from home? Then choose the virtual classroom. Together with fellow students, you will take online lessons led by an experienced language teacher. In addition to all the possibilities of a real classroom, the virtual classroom also offers fun online tools, such as an interactive whiteboard and live quizzes.

Would you like to learn Japanese?

Have you decided to learn Japanese? Then you’ve come to the right place. Babel specialises in language and communication training for higher education graduates. We help individuals and professionals, companies, educational institutions and other non-profit organisations. We distinguish ourselves through the high quality of our teachers, a flexible and transparent way of working, and our competitive rates. Babel is the language partner of Utrecht University.