join a class
Description
Hi guys, this is my upgraded Japanese 101 Crash course. The class is going to be very fun and engaging. This is specifically for people who do NOT know how to read and write Hiragana and Katakana.
After the successful completion of this course, you will be able to…
- Understand the basic features of Japanese language
- Japanese alphabet (Hiragana & Katakana)
- Read and write Japanese words including long & short vowels, voiced sounds, double consonants, contracted sounds
- Introduce yourself in Japanese
- Ask others questions about themselves
- Tell what you like and dislike
- Order at a restaurant in Japanese
- 30+ must-know useful phrases in Japanese
- Understand the Japanese pronunciation (pitch accent, rhythm)
- Must-know facts about Japanese language and culture
- And so much more!
What’s included?
- 5 live lessons (120 minutes once a week)
- Updated Original E-book for FREE to practice writing and listening
- Individual office hours for extra support
- Weekly interactive homework (PDF sheets, Speaking assignments)
- Personal Feedback on all the homework
- Online flashcards of phrases and vocabularies with AUDIO
- Access to my Google Classroom
- Lifetime access to class recordings so you can review at any time!
- Invite to LINE group chat with likeminded people (^^)
Kristina –
When she announced that she would be having zoom courses, I immediately signed up. There are no affordable Japanese classes within a reasonable distance from me, and colleges that did offer Japanese classes jump straight into speaking only Japanese in the classroom, which makes things daunting to a beginning learner.
She does a fantastic job at engaging the class in her exercises, which really helped me retain Hiragana, Katakana, and various phrases far better than I’ve ever been able to on my own. On top of that, her patient, positive attitude made me feel unafraid of mistakes – which, in turn, had me very excited for each lesson and eager to keep working to get a better grasp on the material. Highly recommend the 101 course!
Chris@GVG –
I loved taking this course! Sayaka-sensei made it very easy to understand, and easily accessible. I think I speak for the rest of my class when I say that it was a pleasure to be apart of this language-learning journey, and I’m very much looking forward to the next class.
Hans Cruz –
I found out about this course through Instagram while scrolling like usual. My parents had already been planning to enlist me in a Japanese learning course, so I immediately let them know about the Japanese 101 Crash Course.
Entering the course, I had ZERO knowledge about Jaapanese reading & writing and little knowledge about speech. Fear not, though, as Miss Sayaka will guide you in a positively gentle and effective way as you learn Hiragana, Katakana, and useful Japanese phrases. Even if I did make mistakes throughout the course, I never felt frightened; instead, I was eager to improve.
This learning journey, along with Sayaka Sensei and passionate classmates, had been a very delightful experience. I thoroughly enjoyed and learned a lot from this course. 5 out of 5 stars for me!
Tony –
I saw Sayaka Sensei youtube channel and I was curious because I never got anything like this recommended so I started watching her videos and they are very informative and fun. I always wanted to learn japanese and I decided to take these courses to finally start learning.
The course itself felt short but very productive and fun, the way Sayaka Sensei teaches and exposes certain situations kept me motivated to learn more everyday. The tools used to learn are very comfy as well, you are able to learn quickly with tools like quizlet, lingt etc.
If you completed 101 then you will want to do 102 too 😀
Staci-Ann –
I had prior knowledge of basic Japanese before taking the Japanese 101 course, but I decided that taking the course would be a good way to ensure that I had a strong foundation in what I was learning – and Sayaka-sensei did not disappoint!
The classes were fun and solidified what I knew while also picking up some new information.
Sayaka-sensei does a good job engaging the entire class and makes herself available for anyone who needs the help. There is no judgement in these classes, and she creates a very welcoming environment. I’m excited to carry on this momentum to Japanese 102!
10/10 would recommend! 🙂
Nathan –
Sayaka-Sensei has built a really amazing course, it’s a loving and healthy community where you don’t have to be afraid while learning! Her motto of”Be Kind” is really true. It manifests in her kindness, which is firm like a loving family member who wants the best for you. I have studied at least 5 languages to semi-fluent/ Fluent levels. I can 100% say with Sayaka the learning happens fast and naturally. She gives you various tools: reading, writing, video calls, flash cards, fun games and tests. Literally, reaching every style of learner. The community you will join will foster team work and give you people to study with in read life! I can not recommend her course enough! She IS the cheat code to learning Japanese fast and correctly! 10 out of 10 highly recommended with sprinkles on top. Just go sign up and be a part of the magic of Nihongodekita! You have to experience it yourself and your fun, friendly and loving community is waiting for you!
MellyQw –
This is so amazing, the most fun course i’ve ever take. It was flawless to me, everything is perfect
If you want to study Japanese but you don’t want get bored I recommend you to take classes with Sayaka- sensei
It’s shame that only i can give it 5 stars!!!
Bernadette Corcoran (verified owner) –
Since joined Sayaka not long learning Japanese,Japanese improve it can be hard at fist to pronounce some words with help guidance keeps gettin better.
Only thing would love it was longer,
If new or only have some Japanese 101 crash course is the best way to start
Alexander Grafe –
Sayaka has a very unique teaching style through which students are highly motivated to learn the Japanese language. She has a very friendly and positive attitude but also has a ton of studying material for variety, and simply put, fun.
You will learn
– Hiragana (the original Japanese alphabet with simple, round characters for sentence particles),
– Katakana (the simple, more angular alphabet for English loanwords),
– lots of useful phrases to introduce yourself
Sayaka has lots of interactive segments where you visit a restaurant or excuse yourself on the train. And apart from learning the characters from flash cards, you’ll also learn to write the characters. Sayaka will then provide you detailed feedback.
If you’re hesitant since it’s an course conducted online and it has a price tag, I will guarantee you it’s a fantastic investment to actually start learning Japanese. You could also linger on YouTube to pick up bits and pieces but never progress, or spend money on books but end up never successfully learning Japanese.
This course will spark your flame and truly introduce you to Japanese language.
Stacy (verified owner) –
Sayaka Sensei was a wonderful teacher who made this crash course so fun and engaging. I had some Japanese language background, but it had been way too many years and I certainly needed a refresher. This class was perfect to get me back in the groove and get me reading & speaking again! I am always terribly anxious about speaking and making mistakes (even though I know it’s the best way to learn), but Sayaka Sensei was always so positive, patient, and helpful that it helped alleviate my fear quickly. Highly recommend this course to all beginners or even returning learners who have lost some of their kana literacy like me!
Galindo Alma (verified owner) –
I had been wanting to take Sayaka-sensei’s class for a while but just hadn’t been able to, so when I finally was able to make it work I was so excited to begin learning, and safe to say it was a challenging but very rewarding journey.
I really loved how interactive and easy to understand the class was, and especially enjoyed getting everyday-real life sample interactions, also having everyone in the class participate while trying to make us feel comfortable with this new language was such a good experience. All study materials were also provided with easy access.
I have to say that even though I don’t do so well with online learning and also struggled a lot with memorizing Hiragana and Katakana, Sayaka-sensei was always very supportive and encouraging, even when making corrections she would always have a nice and positive attitude. I do highly recommend this course to anyone trying to learn the basics of Japanese, but do keep in mind that it will mostly be self study and you do have to commit to at least an hour a day, but again you are guaranteed great feedback and help. I will most definitely be taking her next 102 course!
azellea (verified owner) –
If you have any hesitations in taking this class, get rid of them! Sayaka Sensei’s Jap 101 Crash Course was the perfect introduction to Japanese. More importantly, I think the class was the perfect introduction to starting those foundational skills for learning pacing, allocating time, and building on your language skills so you avoid burn out when learning the language.
The absolute best part of the class is the wonderful environment Sayaka Sensei creates! I have never been in a class where everyone is participating and helping each other out if needed. There have never been any egos and you can rest assured that everyone is there to have fun and learn Japanese together.
For the actual classwork and homework you will have the opportunity to work on both your writing and speaking in Japanese which is extremely helpful! The feedback for both is always constructive and really beneficial as you progress. Feedback is much more than just whether an answer is “right or wrong” as well. You will get feedback on pitch accent, context, handwriting, and even explanations.
While this is a “crash course” I never felt rushed. You are also given the tools and resources to always reference recordings & lectures if needed while also being able to set office hours as well.
If you wanted a sign to take this class, just know this is it! I can honestly say that this class really helped me commit and prioritize learning Japanese throughout this year. 🙂
adtyler279 (verified owner) –
I signed up for this class to get some experience speaking Japanese before traveling to Japan because I wanted to be able to communicate, get around and hopefully make some Japanese friends along the way. This 101 crash course was amazing! Sayaka sensei did an excellent job of covering some essentials to kick start my ability to get around while in Japan. I found the community that comes with Sayaka sensei and the class to be invaluable. I have found many other beginner Japanese speaking friends to practice with and I can tell that my confidence in speaking and reading Japanese has improved a lot. Sayaka sensei and this class have motivated me to get even better with my Japanese and have given me confidence to travel to Japan by myself.
The class has a very interactive and positive vibe to it because of how Sayaka sensei engages and encourages everyone. You can tell that she really cares about her students and the materials that she provides. She does an excellent of finding different ways to explain things and uses a variety of study and learning material that makes it fun. She is very well prepared and is always willing to take the time to answer questions you have along the way. Learning another language is always very hard, but Sayaka sensei makes it a fun and loving experience. Couldn’t have asked for a better class or instructor, I highly recommend taking it and I can’t wait for the next course!
austin.soe1 (verified owner) –
So many useful phrases and cool classmates!
おしえてくれてありがとう (Thank you for teaching 101 Group Jan’23)
Sayaka-さん & Hiromi-さん!!
4.6 / 5!!
The class splits focus between learning the Kana’s and learning/practicing practical Japanese Phrases. Lots of contextual explanation and practice that will beat the awkward Japanese you’ll learning from Genki-alone.
You may (falsely) feel the class goes slow at times if you are dedicated (45min+ of average self study per day), but Sayaka-せんせい WILL keep you on your toes & there will be other classmates who’ll study extra outside of class which will culminate well in the group!
Overall you cannot go wrong w NihongoDekita!
Andy L. (verified owner) –
Sayaka sensei & Hiromi sensei made learning Japanese incredibly easy and fun. I’ve always seen NihongoDekita shorts whenever I browsed through Instagram looking for Japanese language tips / cultural tidbits / tips for traveling – always fun and interesting content. I got waitlisted last year, so when availability opened up for 101, I registered immediately.
I was nervous that it was only 5 weeks of lessons AND it was virtual (I’m a hands-on learner that likes being in class and having a physical textbooks). I was also nervous about learning a new language. I’ve been out of college for almost 10 years + I work 12 hour days on a rotation shift.
It didn’t help that foreign languages were always tough for me (I did Spanish for 6 years and Latin for 3, both were miserable).
BUT Sayaka & Hiromi made learning Japanese really enjoyable! They made the content engaging and easy to grasp. Between Zoom lessons, Google Classroom, Flip, Quizlet, and our class Line chat, I feel like all the students were thoroughly engaged and had access to help if needed. I especially liked the community we created as a class, we all became good friends – shared tips for learning, offered help on homework, even exchanged contact information for future travels & meet ups!
I highly recommend these courses if you’re looking to learn a new language without the conventional vocabulary drilling but rather an organic approach. Huge plus if you’re looking to travel to Japan in the near future or looking to immerse yourself more into Japanese culture with like-minded people!
Tiara (verified owner) –
I highly recommend taking 101 with Sayaka Sensei! I was very hesitant at first to take a Japanese speaking and writing class online. On the other hand, once I signed up for Sayaka Sensei 101 class I felt very comfortable with the class, homework, and the feedback I was getting from the weekly classes. I love and enjoy every class with Sayaka Sensei teachings, and the time given with classmates for short practices. If you like the 101 course, I really do hope you take 102 course! Happy studying and good luck on your studying journey.
10/10 🙂
Alexander (verified owner) –
This course is very well put together, and Sayaka-sensei is enthusiastic and encouraging towards everyone! If you’re interested in learning Japanese and have little or no knowledge, then this a great way to learn the basics, and also meet people with common interests. Classes are a great mix of learning new terms and kana, writing, and speaking. Also, in my experience, learning Hiragana and Katakana beforehand is helpful (though not necessary) because you can write down new terms and notes in class. Would recommend!
Eric Tam (verified owner) –
The course was a great introduction to Japanese. You will learn the fundamental building blocks for reading and writing. You will also go over some basic phrases that can come in handy when visiting Japan. All the essential tools for studying was extremely helpful for making sure you retain the vocabulary. The opportunities to practice speaking with your fellow classmates it’s the most important part of learning how to speak and understand Japanese well.
Kerrancy Craig (verified owner) –
I seriously can’t give enough praise towards the Nihongodekita: Japanese 101 Crash Course! If you’re looking an efficiently quick way to learn what is used for travel to Japan, or a rock solid foundation for continued learning, this will give you the tools you need to have a wonderful time and succeed!
Sayaka-sensei’s interactive and enthusiastic methods of teaching help to make it comfortable showing up for class and will encourage students to participate as well as completing homework assignments! Anyone that is eager to learn and willing to put the time into studying will get the upmost of out this course!
You can even tell from the Youtube Channel (where I originally found out about Nihongodekita) and ESPECIALLY during class time that Sayaka-sensei and her TA’s have a lovely passion for teaching individuals from all walks of life!
After trying to teach myself with difficulty for a few years i’ve finally managed a break through and i can confidentially say i am on the right track to fluency in the future! What is offered here can’t be beat anywhere i’ve ever looked in terms of a financial and educational investment so I’ve already signed up for 102 and im super excited for continued learning! さやか-先生、ありがとうございます！:D
Jerome (verified owner) –
Japanese 101 is a fun introduction to Japanese course. Sayaka-san is a good sensi and has a unique and interactive approach that makes learning a foreign language easier. You will be surprised how much you can learn in 5 weeks. The most important thing I learned in this course was how to order delicious food, in Japanese! I now feel comfortable enough that I will not starve when I am in Japan. ピザ 🙂
Zeke (verified owner) –
What Sayaka sensei has built with NihongoDekita is nothing short of brilliant. Classes are fun and engaging. Homework can be challenging but Sayaka sensei and Hiromi sensei are gracious and helpful with their feedback. I look forward to completing the rest of the courses here in the future. Starting your Japanese language learning journey here is the right move. It really will have you saying できた!
Tom Yamamoto (verified owner) –
I recently had the pleasure of taking Sayaka-Sensei’s Japanese 101 course, and I must say it was an incredibly rewarding experience. Sayaka-Sensei proved to be a knowledgeable and enthusiastic instructor, making the learning process enjoyable from start to finish. I wholeheartedly recommend this course to anyone interested in learning the Japanese language.
Sayaka-Sensei’s expertise and passion for teaching were evident throughout the course. Her extensive knowledge of Hiragana and Katakana, two of fundamental writing systems in Japanese, enriched our learning journey. She effortlessly guided us through the intricacies of these scripts, ensuring we understood their forms and pronunciations. Sayaka-Sensei’s explanations were clear and concise, enabling us to grasp the characters effectively. We were also taught many common Japanese Phrases and greetings.
What stood out the most about Sayaka-Sensei was her infectious enthusiasm. She brought energy and excitement to each lesson, creating an engaging and dynamic learning environment. Her genuine love for the Japanese language shone through, motivating us to dive deeper into our studies. Sayaka-Sensei’s enthusiasm was contagious, making the learning experience even more enjoyable.
Throughout the course, I felt supported by Sayaka-Sensei. She was always available to answer questions and provide guidance whenever needed. Her approachable and patient demeanor made it comfortable for us to seek clarification or assistance. I truly appreciated her commitment to ensuring that each student felt valued and understood.
In conclusion, Sayaka-Sensei’s Japanese 101 course exceeded my expectations. Her knowledge, enthusiasm, and affordability make this course a standout option for anyone interested in learning the Japanese language. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and gained a solid foundation in Hiragana and Katakana as a well many common Japanese phrases and greetings. I wholeheartedly recommend Sayaka-Sensei’s course to anyone seeking an excellent and enjoyable language learning journey.
Ashish (verified owner) –
I followed Sayaka Sensei on Youtube and Instagram and I finally got the chance to take the JPN101 course, it was a great experience to learn from such a talented sensei! I was able to learn a lot during a short period.
ありがとうございます !
Sayaka せんせい makes learning Japanese fun and easy!
I learned a lot in such a short period, which once seemed a distant dream!
She does a really amazing job at making the class interactive which in turn helps a lot in remembering the phrases, hiragana, and katakana.
Special thanks to Yuya せんせい and Hiromi せんせい for reviewing my speaking and writing HW which helped me understand how to pronounce and write properly, these review HW in between the classes really help you keep engaged with the language and improve your skills.
Thank you for helping me create the foundation required for learning the Japanese language, I can now read and write so many words and that keeps me motivated to learn more and more!
If you are an absolute beginner, I will definitely recommend taking the 101 course 5/5 from me. 😁
P.S.: I would also suggest keeping the momentum going and taking the 102 and upper-level courses as well.
Eddie (verified owner) –
I cant recommend the 101 crash course enough. It’s the perfect way to begin learning Japanese.
This is the first time I’ve studied online and have very little experience formally learning languages. I can say its 100% worth it. From day 1 Sayaka Sensei was so kind, supportive & encouraging. Each class was interactive and engaging, I couldn’t wait for the next one. You can tell how much effort went into building this course.
There was also a real sense of community and encouragement with your class mates and teachers. I felt comfortable asking questions and making mistakes, which helped me retain and really understand what we were learning. I was pretty amazed with how quickly I was able to pick it all up.
I’ve just started the 102 course and cant wait to continue the journey 🙂
Aaron L –
Sayaka-sensei’s energy and enthusiasm made it for a really enjoyable and fun learning experience! She really is passionate about teaching Japanese!
The Japanese 101 Crash Course is a great way to learn the basics of reading, writing and saying the basic Hiragana and Katakana characters. I can confidently say that I’ll be able to read most of the Japanese characters on the menu when I decide to go back to Japan!
Thank you, Sayaka-Sensei, Hiromi-Sensei and the team at Nihongo Dekita!
Kajal Ford (verified owner) –
A really fun way to learn Japanese, a great pace where you learn enough each class but not too much. You’ll definitely need to make time to study, especially the Hiragana and Katakana characters so make sure you stay on top of that!
Derek Sanders (verified owner) –
Great introduction into Japanese! It was a fun way to learn in class and very interactive. 5 weeks seems like not a lot of time to learn but Sayake sensei was able to cover so much in that short time. I feel confident after taking this class to be able to go to a combini and order food at a restaurant. Jumpei sensei and Yuya sensei did a great job giving feedback to the speaking and writing homework helping make improvements.
Thank you Sayaka sensei, Jumpei sensei, and Yuya sensei!
Loc Phan (verified owner) –
I have been studying Japanese on and off for years through different medium and I have to say Nihongo Dekita Japanese 101 class is the most fun and interactive thus far. The quiz games at the beginning of the class was great for reviewing content from previous class. Interactive homework encouraged me to practice speaking. IMO, the class time (2 hour, once a week) is a bit long and since it’s only once a week, it is easy to forget the material from previous week for busy people. The interactive speaking homework could be better when LingT show all the response phrases (from the character) in hiragana writing since the students are not yet good at listening from a native Japanese speaker. Other than that, it is an awesome course and I am so glad I signed up! Can’t wait for 102!
Violet Clifton (verified owner) –
I loved this course!! The amount of information for each class was perfect. The instructions were very clear, and if I had any questions in between classes I could just email them, and they would get right back to me. This course taught me a lot, and since finishing the classes, I’ve signed up for Japanese 102, and I can’t wait to start! 🙂
Stephanie (verified owner) –
I loved this course. Sayaka-sensei makes learning Japanese fun. The class exercises are really interesting, and the time goes by quickly. The tools she gives you (workbook, flashcards) help with practice and repetition, and I found myself easily motivated to put in the extra work to study. I took the 101 course with my husband & we tried to quiz each other on Hiragana, Katana, and the vocabulary we learned. Looking forward to 102. 🙂
GinaTLott (verified owner) –
I absolutely loved taking this course. Sayaka sensei is an amazing teacher. She is so professional; I have taken a lot of different courses and hers was far above the others. I love her energy and how fun she makes the learning process. I recommend her class to anyone and everyone who is looking to learn Japanese.
Devin Richey (verified owner) –
This course has been such a beautiful, fun, and priceless experience! My fiancée is from Japan, and so it has always been a dream of mine to learn Japanese so that I can speak in her native language (and, have conversation with my future family!)
That being said, it was a very difficult endeavor to actually START down the path of this dream. Either courses were inaccessible, too expensive, or not clear. On several occasions, my partner would see my attempts with a new service or app and say “wait, this makes no sense, I would never teach Japanese this way, it’s too confusing.”
And that is where Sayaka-sensei’s course differed. I had been following her videos for a while and was so beyond excited to see a new 101 batch open up. When we started, I found that I was making sense of each week’s lesson, and was actively catching myself sitting there on Zoom with a wide, cheese-y grin of pure joy because of how much fun I was having – and how exciting it was to be actually LEARNING and UNDERSTANDING what I was being given.
I think for me, the major green flag victory moment was when I was able to start reading products imported from Japan in our home, and my partner said “wait, oh my gosh, you can read that now!?”, or by the end, when she told me “you guys are moving SO fast! I’m so impressed!!”
I ended the course feeling challenged but so accomplished and excited to keep going. Though it felt like a lot of information, it always felt supported in the way that Sayaka-sensei, Yuya-sensei, and Jumpei-sensei were always available and communicating with us for our needs. I sincerely felt like I got my money’s worth investing in this course, and I was so beyond excited to continuing down the path of my dream – and then, taking 102. I couldn’t recommend this course enough if I tried!