I’m happy to announce a new semester of Japanese lessons!
The new semester runs from the week of May 13th until the week of July 15th for a total of 10 consecutive weeks.
This message contains everything you need to know about the different sessions I offer and how to apply. Be sure to check out the limited early bird specials below and secure your spot today!
Meet your teacher!
For those of you who are new here: Hi! I’m Bunsuke, a Dutch native who has dedicated his life to studying Japanese language and literature for almost 19 years, 6 of which were spent in Japan (Osaka and Tokyo). My studies have brought me to all corners of the world and allowed me to study in Europe (BA/MA, Leiden University), Japan (MA, Waseda University), and the United States (MA, Columbia University) and I recently received my Ph.D. in Japanese literature, specializing in late 19th and early 20th century Japanese literary fiction.
Besides my own research, I’ve always had a passion for teaching. I love seeing the AHA! moment in my students’ eyes when something they’ve been struggling with finally clicks. I love motivating people by showing them that what they initially thought was beyond their reach is actually achievable when broken down into manageable pieces. I know first hand that learning Japanese is a long and frustrating process with more downs than ups. But I’m here to guide you through the intricacies and complexities of the language and to show you the tools you need to become a more independent and confident reader and language learner.
Are these sessions for me?
All sessions are aimed at advanced beginners and above. By advanced beginner I mean that you can get through a text like this or this fairly comfortably. It’s ok if you don’t know all the words, grammar, or kanji, but you should at least not feel completely out of your depth.
My aim for the sessions is to provide a relaxed environment that enables you to become an independent reader who isn't afraid to pick up a Japanese book and get stuck in. I know that this is a big hurdle for a lot of people, but I’m here to show you that it’s not as insurmountable as you might think. I remember my most valuable experience in Japan was sitting down with my professor 1-on-1 working through a text, being able to ask any questions I had, reflecting on the content and language together, as he pointed me to the resources to make sense of it all. This is the kind of experience I try to emulate in my teaching. I do not force people in a certain direction, but merely pass along what I know and present the tools and methods that got me here. After completing the semester you’ll feel more confident in your reading abilities and be able to actually enjoy reading in Japanese.
What kind of sessions do you offer?
Group sessions
10x 55-minute sessions (Zoom)
Level up your Japanese reading in an interactive group setting (4-15 people)
Read from modern and contemporary literary works in Japanese (scans provided)
Fixed curriculum (texts are handpicked by me)
Group sessions take place on Saturdays at 5.00-5.55 pm (Group I) and Sundays at 6.00-6.55 pm (Group II), my local time (Amsterdam, CEST)
Price per person for 10 sessions: €400,- → €349,-
(EARLY BIRD SPECIAL until May 1st)
Private sessions
10x (once a week) OR 20x (twice a week) 55-minute sessions (Zoom)
Private 1-on-1 sessions tailored completely to your needs (reading/speaking/learning how to use dictionaries/etc.)
Complete freedom in choosing texts and materials
Price for 10 sessions is €750,-→ €699,-. Price for 20 sessions is €1475,- → €1399,-
(EARLY BIRD SPECIAL until May 1st)
See below for available slots. If you opt for 2 sessions per week, you can either pick two back-to-back sessions or divide them over the week.
Available slots (private sessions):
IMPORTANT NOTE: Session times below reflect my local time (Amsterdam, CEST). At the time of sending this message we are still in European winter time (CET), but we will shift to summer time on March 31st. Please take this into account when calculating your preferred slots.
Classes are non-refundable once a payment is made and cannot be rescheduled as I teach them back to back, so there is no wiggle room in the schedule to move sessions to a different day. This means that if you miss a class for whatever reason, you cannot make up for it later and no refunds will be issued for that session. However, if I have to cancel a session on my end, the session will be rescheduled to a later date.
How to apply:
Reply to this email and introduce yourself! I would love to know more about your background as a Japanese language learner and what you are looking to get out of these sessions.
Let me know which sessions you are interested in taking and how many (10 or 20 private sessions? Group sessions? Both?).
Mention all slots that would potentially fit your schedule.
Once we agree on a time you’ll be sent an invoice with a payment link. Your spot in the semester is confirmed when the payment is received. Slots tend to fill up quickly, so make sure you fulfill the payment as soon as possible.
If you have any further questions, feel free to get in touch by replying to this email.
Looking forward to your responses and to working with the new May cohort!
Can I try attending just one lesson, and then decide whether to complete the payment or not?
Because I still don't know if I will understand or not.
The language difference between us is great, and therefore perhaps I cannot understand the method of explanation except with an automatic translator perhaps.
And I'm actually very interested in what you have to offer, which is exactly why I'm trying to learn from you
I'm Alana, but I have difficulty understanding long texts. could you please help?
Hi Alana, great timing! A new block of group lessons is about to start. Please read my post on it here: https://open.substack.com/pub/bunsuke/p/japanese-lessons-new-semester-f12?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=fargm
I have a question. I am Arab, and my English is somewhat weak
But I understand written speech without difficulty
But I doubt I will understand what you say in the course
Unless you're going to explain Japanese through Japanese.
Waiting for your answer or comment, I like your Japanese videos very much
I consider you as my role model in Japanese
I wish you success.
Hi!! Sure i can do sessions in Japanese or English!
Can I try attending just one lesson, and then decide whether to complete the payment or not?
Because I still don't know if I will understand or not.
The language difference between us is great, and therefore perhaps I cannot understand the method of explanation except with an automatic translator perhaps.
And I'm actually very interested in what you have to offer, which is exactly why I'm trying to learn from you