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Japanese Lessons in Birmingham

If you're based in Birmingham and have an interest in learning a new language, you might want to consider Japanese. The city offers a multitude of opportunities for those keen on diving deep into Japanese culture, making it an excellent place to start your journey. By enrolling in Japanese lessons in Birmingham, you’ll unlock the chance to engage more fully in the city's cultural events that celebrate Japanese traditions, pop culture, anime, and manga. Studying a foreign language is not just a hobby; it's a gateway to a richer, more exciting social life.

Beyond the cultural and social perks, learning Japanese can significantly enhance your professional prospects. Birmingham's burgeoning business sector is increasingly interacting with Japanese companies, offering multiple avenues for those proficient in the language. It equips you with the skills to be more competitive in the job market, not just locally but on a global scale.

And let's not forget the travel benefits. Knowing the language will drastically improve your travel experience in Japan, making interactions more authentic and enjoyable. It's about expanding your horizons in a world that is more interconnected than ever before. So, whether you're looking to understand the nuances of a Miyazaki film without subtitles or aiming to establish business connections in Tokyo, Japanese lessons in Birmingham offer an enriching learning experience.

Why Study Japanese in Birmingham?

Learn Japanese for Work and Travel

Learning Japanese in Birmingham will open up a world of opportunities, both culturally and professionally. The city is home to a growing number of companies with international ties, including local firms and Japanese businesses like Toyota and Hitachi, that value bilingual employees for their ability to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps. Knowing Japanese can make you a key asset in negotiations, client relationships, and even overseas expansions.

For business owners in Birmingham, proficiency in Japanese adds a competitive edge. In today's global marketplace, the ability to communicate with Japanese partners can streamline operations and open new channels for commerce. Whether it's sourcing products or pitching your services to a Japanese audience, language skills can often be the deciding factor in sealing a deal.

In addition to the professional advantages, mastering Japanese offers incredible benefits for travel enthusiasts. Being proficient in the language will allow you to venture beyond the usual tourist spots and explore the less-travelled regions of Japan with ease. Imagine hiking through remote villages, participating in traditional local festivals, or savouring authentic cuisine at hidden gem eateries, all without language barriers. Your conversations with locals will be richer, breaking the ice for more meaningful connections. Whether you're asking for directions, navigating menus, or just chatting with a local, speaking the native tongue, can transform your travel experience from ordinary to extraordinary.

Learn Japanese for Social

If you're keen on diving deep into Japanese culture, Birmingham is an excellent place to start your journey, especially if you're learning the language. One of the city's cultural highlights is the Cherry Blossom Festival, held at the Red Brick Market Birmingham, located at 119 Floodgate Street. The festival offers an array of experiences that bring Japanese culture to life, from live musical performances to traditional drumming.

Workshops abound at this festival. You’ll get to try your hand at Japanese calligraphy, create a Kokedama moss ball, or immerse yourself in the fine art of Sashiko embroidery. For the shoppers among us, there are pop-up vintage kimono shops, anime and character goods, and even a major charity raffle.

For food aficionados, the festival also goes the extra mile by turning a local coffee shop into a Japanese café for the day. Here, you’ll get to taste a range of authentic Japanese foods, including vegan options, and even sip on some sake.

Learning Japanese will not only allow you to engage more deeply with these activities but also offer you a richer, more nuanced understanding of the culture. Imagine being able to chat with performers, inquire during workshops, or even create your own Haiku poems. Proficiency in Japanese transforms these cultural events from mere spectacles into interactive, enriching experiences that can broaden your horizons like no other.

Learn Japanese for Culture

Learning Japanese in Birmingham can significantly enhance your social life. Among the city's offerings is the Birmingham Language Exchange, hosted at various welcoming cafés and popular pubs throughout the area. This isn't just a chance to hone your language skills; it's an opportunity to meet a wide array of people who share your enthusiasm for Japanese culture, thereby expanding your social circle and potentially forming lasting friendships.

Why should you be a part of this? For starters, there’s no substitute for practising spoken Japanese in a casual environment. While classroom learning and textbooks offer foundational knowledge, the real nuances of day-to-day conversations are best captured in these more relaxed settings. Additionally, the event serves as a rich cultural exchange platform. You'll get to interact with native Japanese speakers, learn about the culture's unique traditions, manners, and perhaps even discover travel gems that aren’t commonly known.

Where to learn Japanese in and around Birmingham?

In Birmingham, there are various avenues for learning Japanese. Local universities such as the University of Birmingham offer comprehensive language programmes that delve deep into the intricacies of the Japanese language, and culture, and are ideal for those who want to become professional translators or teachers. Public libraries in the city also stock a great amount of useful resources to support self-study, from grammar books to multimedia content.

However, for personalised, face-to-face learning, the best option is undoubtedly Listen & Learn. Our courses are tailored to meet your individual needs and proficiency level. Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to advance your conversational skills, our experienced tutors come to you, offering the convenience of learning Japanese near you, right in your home, office, or another place of your choice. Our courses are not just about language mechanics; they're designed to immerse you in Japanese culture, making the learning experience both enriching and enjoyable. Ready to unlock the world of Japanese language and culture? Send us a quick enquiry to get started.

The type of courses we offer:

Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) General Japanese

These lessons in Japanese are wide-ranging by nature and are driven towards students who have a variety of differing needs. All beginner students will expect to study enough survival Japanese to get them through a short visit to the country. Those who choose to continue with the lessons will progress differently, depending on their individual requests and requirements. Whether you are buying property in a foreign country, married to a foreign national, planning a round-the-world trip, interested in Japanese history and culture or if you simply want to attain a particular level of Japanese, this is the choice for you. Enquire now about our Japanese Courses or Take A Free Japanese Level Test

Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) Business Japanese

Japanese lessons of this type are aimed towards those that need to learn Japanese to aid them with their employment. For those just starting out, it is integral to learn basic greetings and business etiquette. Reading and writing can be adopted once the simple precepts are out of the way. Success has come from students who are involved in the import/export business, international negotiations and acquisitions, those seeking jobs in multinational companies and those working with foreign colleagues, academia and bureaucracy. Even our most basic lesson for beginners will have the student finishing the lesson with basic telephone/e-mail skills in Japanese, as well as survival Japanese should a short stay in the country is needed. Enquire now about our Japanese Courses or Take A Free Japanese Level Test

Face-to-Face Closed (Private) Group General or Business Japanese

Two or more people can benefit from studying Japanese together as these Japanese lessons are also offered to groups (Two-to-One Japanese Lessons or Small Group In-Company Japanese Lessons). Every student must have the same degree of knowledge of the language, the same business or language needs and the ability to study at the same time and place as everybody else. The booking has to be made for all students at the same time. Listen & Learn does not advocate group sessions of more than 6-8 people, though Taster Japanese Lessons can be experienced by up to 12 people. Enquire now about our Japanese Courses or Take A Free Japanese Level Test

Skype, Google Meet or Zoom Online 1-to-1 (Individual) General or Business Japanese

You and your group can be trained by our native speaker qualified Japanese teachers and can meet at your place of work or home at a time that works best for you. Tutorials can take place any day of the week, including weekends, and can be scheduled for the morning, afternoon or evening. If your home or office is not fitting for you, you can attend the lesson at the teacher's offices. You will be provided with all relevant lesson materials. Enquire now about our Japanese Courses or Take A Free Japanese Level Test

Skype, Google Meet or Zoom Online Group (Closed or Open) General or Business Japanese

Lessons in Japanese are also accessible for two or more people studying in tandem (Two-to-One Japanese Lessons or Small Group In-Company Japanese Lessons). All those involved must have around the same experience of the language, similar needs of areas of proficiency and must be able to meet at the same time and place. Bookings must be made for all students at the same time. Listen & Learn does not advise classes of more than 6-8 people, though In-Company Taster Japanese sessions can be run with as many as 12 people. Enquire now about our Japanese Courses or Take A Free Japanese Level Test

Top Tips For…

japanese Songs

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Forever Love- X Japan

Rock and metal fans will be happy to know they have plenty of options when it comes to enhancing their comprehension skills and vocabulary by listening to Japanese songs, such as Forever Love. This song, famous in Japan and covered by numerous artists, is a love ballad that speaks about the undying love of a man for his wife. The chorus is quite repetitive, so even beginners can make the most out of this track and pick up Japanese words and phrases. Keep the lyrics at hand and give karaoke a try for even more fun! Listen to Forever Love here!

japanese Songs

Handyman - Perfume

Handyman, by Perfume, is a catchy Japanese love song that talks about uncertainty and insecurity in a relationship. The poetic persona, then, sings about the need for a handyman who can fix their problems. The track is quite long (it lasts almost 6 minutes!) but the chorus repeats frequently, making it easy to memorise and sing. By listening to this song, you’ll also fix some terms and expressions into your long-term memory, such as nanto kashite (tell me what to do) or nandaka umaku ikanai no wa (I just don’t know how to say this). Listen to Handyman by clicking here!

UR Love - MICHO

Are you an intermediate or advanced student of Japanese and up for a challenge? UR Love by Micho is the song you need. It mixes rap and hip hop, so the pace is fast and the lyrics are complicated, but by singing along to your favourite Japanese song, your tongue and mouth get used to forming sounds in the foreign language, helping you to become fluent and sound more natural in conversation. Furthermore, you’ll not only improve your pronunciation and intonation to sound more natural but also acquire new vocabulary that you might not find in a text book! Click here to listen to this hit!

japanese Apps

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Lext Talk

Interacting with others in Japanese is crucial to develop your writing and speaking skills. If you find it hard to find Japanese speakers in your area, you can always use apps like Lext Talk. Just create a profile, select your target language and get started! One of the best features of this app is its interactive map, which you can browse to look for new friends in a specific area or region. This makes it easier for you to find partners who speak a certain dialect (for example, you can connect with people living in the Kiki region, who speak the Kansai variety).

japanese Apps

Yomiwa

Yomiwa is a Japanese dictionary and translator very useful for learners and travellers. In addition to translating from Japanese kanji to English, it is also possible to do so to German and French. You can even take a picture of the kanji word or sentence you want to translate and the app will do it for you! It can read horizontal and vertical text and, little by little, the app is being updated with hiragana, katakana and romaji words and capabilities. Plus, the app includes grammar and vocabulary exercises for beginner students, so you can start acquiring knowledge of the alphabet, pronouns, subject-verb agreement and more.

Kana Quiz

Kana Quiz is a nice option for students who love learning languages through games. Select a word in romaji and then pair it up with its kana counterpart or vice-versa. While the game is simple, it’s very effective at helping learners to remember the different Japanese writing systems. Additionally, you can create your own flashcards using images from their database on one side and a recording of you pronouncing the word on the reverse. This way, you’ll have a visual reminder of the term and you’ll also remember how to pronounce it!

Testimonials

From our clients all over the world

"Sanami is flexible and allows me to focus on the areas of Japanese I choose. She is also amazing at providing extra information and notes when I have questions."
Nesia Warner-Thomas

Japanese course in Birmingham.

"I have learned a lot with my teacher and I feel it's helped tremendously. As one of my biggest motivators for learning the language was for reading purposes, I am delighted with my results so far."
Nicole Griffith

Japanese course in Online.

"So far I like Miyuki-san. The first lesson went well. She was well prepared and conducted the course 99% in Japanese which I really appreciate."
Charles OConnell

Japanese course in Online.

"My daughter enjoys the teacher and the way her sessions have been running. The teacher does both visual and verbal, which she thinks is fantastic. I'm impressed and speak highly of Listen & Learn."
Laura Hernandez

Japanese course in Online.

"My Japanese lessons are going very well. I enjoy reading articles and talking about them with Hiro-san."
John Balzano

Japanese course in Online.

Client case studies

Have a look at successful and satisfied clients.

Client photo
Alex Wade Japanese in Oxford
I wanted someone that I could be friends with as I learned the language in my own time, at my own pace. Listen & Learn seemed to offer that kind of person, and I found out very quickly that the tutor provided to me, Chika-san, is exactly who I was looking for

Our Clients Include

From our clients all over the world

Aegis Defence Services Ltd.
Language learned: Swahili in London.

Environmental Business Products Ltd.
Language learned: French in London.

Gyrodata
Language learned: English in Aberdeen.