Japanese lessons (NEW SEMESTER).
New slots available!
Dear fellow language learners,
I am happy to announce that a new semester of Japanese reading lessons will begin in April.
Since all private lesson slots are full, I only have availability in my group lessons. Over the past year, we’ve built an amazing community of learners. Our members contribute to an open and constructive atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable to ask questions - no matter how basic or detailed - as we work together toward our shared goal of understanding the text.
Due to the program’s success, I’ve added a second group to accommodate more learners. See below for details.
Group lessons tend to fill up quickly (some spots are already taken!), so be sure to claim your spot as soon as possible!
Meet your teacher
For those of you who are new here: Hi! I’m Bunsuke, a Dutch native who has dedicated nearly 20 years of his life to studying Japanese language and literature. My academic journey has taken me accross three continents, allowing me to study in Europe (BA/MA, Leiden University), Japan (MA, Waseda University), and the United States (MA, Columbia University). Last year, I received my Ph.D. in Japanese literature, specializing in late 19th and early 20th century fiction.
Beyond my own research, I have a deep passion for teaching. I love seeing the aha! moment when a difficult concept finally clicks in my students. By breaking down complex sentences into manageable pieces, I’ll help you see that reading Japanese is more achievable than you thought. I know first hand that studying this language is a long and often frustrating process with more downs than ups. But I’m here to guide you through the intricacies and complexities and equip you with the tools you need to become a more confident, independent reader.
Are these lessons for me?
Group lessons are designed for advanced beginners and above. By ‘advanced beginner,’ I mean you can read through a text like this or this with relative ease. It’s okay if you don’t know every word, grammar point, or kanji, but you shouldn’t feel completely out of your depth.
My goal is to provide a relaxed learning environment that empowers you to pick up a Japanese book with confidence. I know that this is a major hurdle for many learners, but I promise, it’s not as insurmountable as it seems. My most valuable experience in Japan was working one-on-one with my professor, analyzing texts, asking questions freely, while reflecting on the content and language together and discovering resources to deepen my understanding. This is the kind of experience I aim to recreate in my teaching - guiding rather than directing, passing along knowledge, and sharing the tools and methods that helped me along my own language learning journey.
By the end of the semester, you’ll feel more confident in your reading abilities and, most importantly, actually enjoy reading in Japanese!
About the group lessons:
10x 55-minute lessons (via Zoom)
Interactive group setting to level up your Japanese reading skills
Modern and contemporary literary works (scans provided)
Fixed curriculum (texts handpicked by me)
Max. 12 people per group
Price: €425 per person (for 10 lessons)
Since this semester will be taught from Japan, all times below are listed in Japan local time. Most countries will have switched to daylight savings by the time the semester starts - please account for the time difference accordingly.
Schedule:
Sessions 1-3: Monday, April 21 APRIL - Sunday, May 11
BREAK: Monday, May 12 - Sunday, May 18
Sessions 4-10: Monday, May 19 - Sunday, July 6
GROUP I: Monday 7.00-7.55 Japan time (Sunday afternoon in the Americas)
GROUP II: Sunday 21.00-21.55 Japan time (Sunday morning in the Americas, afternoon in the EU)
NOTE:
If you are in GROUP I and live in the Americas, your first session will take place on Sunday, April 20 in your local time (Monday, April 21 in Japan).
If you are in GROUP II, your first session is on Sunday, April 27.
Policy:
No refunds once a payment is made.
No rescheduling for missed classes. If you miss a lesson, you cannot make it up later or switch groups without prior consultation.
If I have to cancel a session on my end, it will be rescheduled.
How to apply:
Reply to this email and introduce yourself! I’d love to hear about your background as a Japanese language learner and what you hope to gain from these lessons.
Let me know which group you’d like to join (Group I or Group II).
Once we finalize your group, you’ll be sent an invoice with a payment link. Your spot in the semester is confirmed once the payment is received. Spots tend to fill up fast, so make sure to secure yours promptly!
If you have any questions, feel free to reply to this email.
Looking forward to hearing from you and working with the new cohort from April!
Yours,
Bunsuke