I started learning Japanese with NihongoDekita about 7 months ago, with the 101 course. It’s hard to believe how much progress I’ve made since then, and how much I’ve been able to learn with the help of Sayaka-sensei and all of the TAs. My ability to read and write has become so much faster, and even speaking has felt more natural (which I’ve always considered to be the most difficult hurdle!). I’ve switched my iPhone’s Siri to Japanese and my friends are surprised by how naturally I am able to talk to Siri in Japanese, haha..

I started learning Japanese in January 2025, mainly because I have a few Japanese friends — and also because I wanted to challenge myself by learning a new language. I figured, why not go for the hardest one for English or Romance language speakers? To my surprise, Sayaka and all the teachers at NihongoDekita made the process much easier and more enjoyable than I ever imagined. The lessons are interactive and focused on real-life conversation, which gave me the confidence to start speaking and understanding Japanese very quickly. After just a few months, I can already have basic conversations — and I even started writing a journal in Japanese (which is also convenient because my friends can’t read it!).

I am, admittedly, a slow learner. Japanese 103 with Nihongo Dekita was, for me, extremely difficult. There were definitely a few moments where I thought that this would be the end of my Japanese learning journey. That it’s just too much for me to understand. BUT – I remembered that I made a commitment to the teachers to put in the effort, and at least try – and I’m glad I did. Because with enough practice, the concepts taught in this class finally started to stick, and eventually became a little more comfortable. There is a LOT to remember in this course. Concepts are developed rapidly from week to week, so there’s not a ton of time spent going over material that has already been shown. It’s really up to the learner to put in the time outside of class to review – and that time is what makes all the difference.

I’ve been learning Japanese from Sayaka Sensei and her team since 101, they’ve all taught me so much about the language and much more. This class has expanded my knowledge and skill in reading, writing, and speaking Japanese more fluently. The teachers have been supportive, kind, caring, and helpful in making every student feel like they’re improving with each class. After every live session I felt that I’ve learned a lot about the language and its uses. I’m glad that I took 103 and improved my ability in speaking, writing, reading, and understanding of the Japanese language. I’m excited to learn more in 104!

This was my second leap into learning Japanese with Nihongodekita and it was awesome! Sayaka-sensei and her team were exceptional with the clarity of teaching and very helpful – during the live classes and in emails/feedback if I had any questions about Japanese or the course in general. Their energy during the classes kept everything engaging. Due to time differences I personally could not join the live recordings but with their support and the ease of the learning material, it was mostly easy to navigate through and learn. Each class increased my love for the language and culture – through the challenging parts too! My only little regret is being unable to get as much speaking practice as I should but I can hopefully use the office hours next time.