"Everything is going well. Natsu is well prepared and a very patient teacher."
Keith Hodges
Japanese course in Burlington.
Japanese Lessons in Washington, D.C
With 22,000 Japanese residents, Washington DC is among the ten top metropolitan areas in the United States with the highest number of immigrants from Japan. As a result, there’s a big Japanese community in the city whose influence can be seen in the local art scene, cultural activities, and the many markets, sushi bars, and ramen shops across Washington DC. What’s more, it’s not unusual to find local residents speaking the language, as according to the 2020 census it’s the thirteenth most commonly used language in the city after English. If learning this language is on your bucket list, you’ll find that Washington DC is one of the best cities to study it, as it offers local residents many chances to immerse themselves in the language, meet friendly native speakers and enjoy the many facets of this wonderful culture.
Why Study Japanese in Washington, D.C?
Learn Japanese for Work and Travel
Whether you are looking to get a better job or want to expand your business, starting a Japanese course is one of the smartest things you can do, as speaking this fascinating language will open up many opportunities for you in the city. Companies in top economic sectors like Hospitality and Tourism, Technology, and Higher Education are constantly looking for applicants who can communicate fluently in Japanese, so if you become a fluent speaker, you’ll get access to well-paid positions like Japanese-speaking Quality Control Assistant, Tax Senior, and Head Sushi Sous Chef. On the other hand, if you are a businessperson, being able to talk to foreign-born residents that come from Japan in their own language will help you build better professional relationships in the city that can bring exciting new openings to increase your sales, find more clients or even access international markets.
Furthermore, if you become a fluent speaker, you’ll be able to enjoy many advantages abroad, as you’ll be able to explore the many beautiful locations where Japanese is spoken in a more confident way and connect with the locals. Additionally, this will give you a deeper understanding of the way things are done in Japan, and find a newfound respect for their traditions, customs, and rituals.
Learn Japanese for Social
One of the most famous Japanese events in the country is the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which commemorates the 1912 gift of three thousand cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington DC and celebrates the relationship between the Japanese and American people. The festival spans four weeks during March and April at different venues across the city and includes different activities like lectures, dance exhibits, and even a beautiful parade you simply can’t miss. At the end of the festival, there’s the Sakura Matsuri Street Fair, a great chance to enjoy Japanese food, dancing, pottery, craft lessons, and many other cultural activities that are perfect for the whole family. Although all the events that are part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival are free, you need to reserve ahead of time, especially if you want to be present for the peak bloom in April. Additionally, if you are interested in exploring Japanese art, the Freer Gallery of Art, located at 1050 Independence Ave, features not just paintings but also regular screenings of Japanese films and live performances of musicians and dancers from Japan that will blow your mind!
Learn Japanese for Culture
Are you looking for a friendly after-work Japanese language exchange event? Then you should attend the meetings held by DC Japanese Language Kaiwa, where you’ll find Japanese native speakers and learners of all levels. The name of this group comes from the Japanese verb Keiwa which means conversation, so as you can imagine, these meetings offer the perfect place to chat with other Japanese speakers. The events take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays on Zoom and at local cafes once a month. If you’re interested in the face-to-face language meetups, you should check out the events at the World Languages Cafe, located at 6600 Cradlerock Way, where you can enjoy talking about Japanese culture, food, and other interesting topics in Japanese. If you want, you can bring Japanese books or any study materials you might have to share with other learners. The event is completely free but you do need to register on their virtual group before going so that the organizers save a spot for you at their table.
Where to learn Japanese in and around Washington, D.C?
A great place to find language resources that can help you in your journey to becoming a fluent Japanese speaker is the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, located at 901 G Street. This library has a great collection of books to learn Japanese like Japanese Demystified by Eriko Sato, which has an unintimidating approach to speaking, reading, and writing in Japanese that takes the mystery out of the learning process and makes it much easier. Another great book you should check out is Japanese for Dummies by Hiroko Chiba, which will get you ready to have a basic conversation in Japanese in no time. However, if you’re truly committed to learning the language, the best way to do so is with the help of a qualified native teacher. Luckily, at Listen & Learn, we have amazing Japanese tutors to help you learn Japanese script, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation in an entertaining way. All you need to do is send us a quick inquiry and we’ll have one of our teachers create a completely personalized course based on whatever you’re interested in that will help you achieve all your language goals. So what are you waiting for? Make the first step to becoming a Japanese speaker now and you won’t regret it!
The type of courses we offer:
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) General Japanese
These Japanese lessons fit a broader spectrum, and can be useful for those who need different things from the language. Most beginner students will have a handle of survival Japanese by the end of their lesson, which will provide them with enough Japanese to communicate at least at a basic level during short trips to the country, but those who require more would benefit greatly from these sessions. Typical students have been those eager to travel all over the world, those buying overseas property, those with foreign spouses, aficionados of Japanese culture and those who just wish to pass a particular Japanese exam. Inquire now about our Japanese Courses or Take A Free Japanese Level Test
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) Business Japanese
These lessons in Japanese are meant for those that feel that learning Japanese would make a change in their work. For starters, it is expedient to learn how to say hello/goodbye, as well as basic business protocol; once the basics have been mastered, reading and writing come to the fore. Students who have greatly benefitted have been involved in import/export, international negotiations and acquisitions, jobseekers in multinational companies where another language is required, and those working in the international academia and government circuits. Even on our most fundamental beginner's lesson, students can anticipate ending the lesson with basic telephone Japanese and e-mail Japanese skills for communicating, as well as survival Japanese if a short visit to the country is needed. Inquire now about our Japanese Courses or Take A Free Japanese Level Test
Face-to-Face Closed (Private) Group General or Business Japanese
2 or more people can benefit studying Japanese together as these Japanese lessons are also offered to groups (Two-to-One Japanese Lesson or Small Group In-Company Japanese Lesson). 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 do not advocate group sessions of more than 6-8 people, though Taster Japanese Lessons can be experienced by up to 12 people. Inquire 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
Our native-speaking qualified Japanese teachers can guide you and your group at your work or at home, at a time convenient to you. Classes can take place on any day of the week - even weekends - morning, afternoon or evening. If needs be, if meeting at your office or home is not suitable, you can take your lessons at the trainer's office. Study materials are supplied for you. Inquire 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
Those wishing to learn Japanese in groups of 2 or more together (Two-to-One Japanese Lessons or Small Group In-Company Japanese Lessons) can sign up for our group classes. All students must be at nearly the same level of Japanese proficiency, must have the same needs from the language, and must be able to study at the same time and place as the others. Bookings must be made for all students simultaneously. Listen & Learn do not propose group sizes or more than 6-8 people, but In-Company Taster Japanese Lessons can occur with up to 12 people. Inquire now about our Japanese Courses or Take A Free Japanese Level Test
Top Tips For…
japanese Songs
Sukiyaki - Kyu Sakamoto
Do you like pop and would like to put your Japanese skills into play while listening to catchy songs? Then give Sukiyaki a try! This track tells the story of a man who talks about Japanese politics and his suffering at the time. However, the lyrics are generic enough for the song to be interpreted as losing a romantic partner. So, you’ll acquire some simple vocabulary and terms related to feeling blue, like Kanashī (feeling sad) and Omoide (memories ), or phrases like being away from someone (Watashi kara hanareru). After listening a few times, you’ll be able to talk about love and feelings in Japanese! Find the song here!japanese Songs
Kawa no Nagare no You Ni - Hibari Misora
Learning Japanese can be quite challenging, especially when it comes to remembering new vocabulary. Luckily, there are thousands of materials you can use to learn in a meaningful way. One of them is through songs, like Kawa no Nagare no You ni, a solemn track about life and how nothing is permanent. The song is a bit old but has become a legend due to its many covers. The song is great to learn some basic vocabulary, like road (doro), hometown (Shusshin-chi), or traveling (ryoko). So, why don’t you grab a copy of the lyrics and try to understand what the singer is saying? Enjoy this beautiful track here!Linda Linda - The Blue Hearts
Do you like karaoke? Would you like to improve your Japanese pronunciation by singing along to the songs you like the most? Then give “Linda, Linda” a try. This popular track is performed by a rock band called The Blue Hearts and is more suitable for advanced Japanese students due to the complexity of the vocabulary and the speed of delivery. This piece follows a man who is in love with the titular Linda and speaks about all the things he would do for her if they were a couple. Listen to the song with the lyrics at hand and pick up some terms about love! Listen to this catchy tune here.japanese Apps
Learn Japanese
Mobile apps are great language learning tools and Learn Japanese is a fantastic app that has been built for both Android and iOS. The app is predominantly for beginner learners and focuses on teaching the most basic 800 Japanese words and phrases needed for a basic conversation. The vocabulary items are categorized into functions, like greetings, asking for help, ordering food, and more. In addition to each word and its definition, you can access an audio recording to help you grasp the pronunciation. So, you’ll learn how to pronounce individual sounds while knowing more about word stress.japanese Apps
Tae Kim’s Guide to Learning Japanese
If you are looking for an interactive, fun way to learn Japanese grammar, then Tae Kim’s Guide is the app for you. The app functions like a book, written for any learner who wants to fine-tune their Japanese skills. It focuses mostly on grammar and vocabulary, providing clear written and oral explanations with subsequent exercises for you to test what you have just learned. Beginners start by learning the Kanji and getting familiar with basic vocabulary, such as common greetings or the names of different types of food. More advanced users will find colloquial phrases and slang, as well as more complex grammatical explanations.HelloTalk
Looking for opportunities to improve your Japanese speaking skills with other enthusiastic learners or native speakers? HelloTalk is the app for you! Just download the app and create a profile, stating the languages you want to practice! The app will pair you with someone who wants to speak Japanese, as well. In addition to chatting via text and video call, you can provide each other with feedback, so you improve your speaking and listening skills. Best of all, the app is entirely free! Connect with people from different parts of the world and learn Japanese in an interactive way.Testimonials
From our clients all over the world
Client case studies
Have a look at successful and satisfied clients.
Georgina McDonald
Serbian in Amsterdam
Listen & Learn has excellent admin staff who go above and beyond to serve their clients
Our Clients Include
From our clients all over the world
Amercoat Canada
Language learned: English in Halifax, NS.
Koch Business Solutions
Language learned: Russian in Houston.
