Questions, answered
honestly.

Not at all. We work with complete beginners regularly — in fact, starting from scratch often produces the fastest early progress, because there are no bad habits to undo. Just show up ready to listen and try.

The first lesson is designed to answer that question directly. It's fully refundable — so the cost of finding out is nothing. If it isn't the right fit, you'll know by the end of the fifty minutes, and you'll get your money back with no hoops to jump through.

The four-stage curriculum runs from zero to near-native professional independence — roughly equivalent to JLPT N2 level and beyond. Most students continue lessons well past the "independence" milestone because the conversation keeps evolving.

Yes, if you have any Japanese at all. It takes about two minutes and gives us a starting point before your first lesson — so you spend fifty minutes learning, not calibrating. Complete beginners can skip it.

Fifty minutes. This is the research-backed sweet spot for language acquisition — long enough for real depth, short enough to stay fully focused throughout. Every minute is used.

All lessons take place over a secure video link. You'll receive your link when you book. A quiet space and a working microphone are all you need — video is helpful but not required.

Once a week is the most common rhythm and the one that tends to produce the most consistent progress. Once a fortnight is also very workable. More frequent than once a week is possible but rare — the in-between time matters for consolidation.

Your instructor sends written notes after every lesson — vocabulary covered, grammar points, corrections, and a brief note on what to focus on next. These accumulate into a personal record of your progress.

Yes. Cancellations with more than 24 hours' notice carry no penalty — the lesson credit returns to your account. Under 24 hours, the lesson is forfeited. This is the only policy in place, and it's applied fairly.

$55, fully refundable if it isn't the right fit. This is not a promotional teaser rate — it's the price of the first lesson. Ongoing lessons are $55 CAD each, or less per lesson in a 5- to 55-lesson journey.

No. There are no subscriptions, no auto-renewals, and no recurring charges. You buy lessons; you book them when you're ready. The lesson credit system is the only ongoing arrangement.

Blocks of 5 are valid for 6 months; blocks of 10 are valid for 12 months. These are generous windows — if something unusual comes up, reach out and we'll work with you.

Yes. Contact us for team or corporate Japanese programmes — we put together proposals based on the team's goals and schedule.

It's built around the individual, not the curriculum. Every lesson is calibrated to where you are right now — your goals, your gaps, your pace. The road is mapped explicitly, so you always know where you stand and what comes next. And it emphasises spoken production from the first lesson, because that's what accelerates learning.

Sometimes a short task — a piece of writing, some vocabulary review — if it would help. But homework is never required, and there's no penalty for skipping it. The lessons are designed to be complete in themselves.

We draw on a range of materials depending on your goals and level — including standard texts like Genki and Minna no Nihongo for structure, supplemented by real-world content (news, menus, emails) where relevant. No single textbook is required.

It depends on your current level and target. A rough guide: N3 from an intermediate base, 6–12 months. N2 from solid N3, another 6–12 months. N1 from N2 requires sustained effort — typically 12–24 months. We give you an honest assessment and a realistic timeline after the first lesson.

Yes — this is actually the most effective approach. Regular lessons build fluency; exam-prep sessions sharpen the specific skills the test demands. Many students run a mix in the months leading up to an exam.

A working microphone and a reasonably quiet space. A webcam is useful but not required. A pen and paper for notes is handy — though post-lesson notes from your instructor mean you don't have to write everything down.

Lessons are booked in Toronto (Eastern) time: weekdays with start times from 10 am to 3 pm, evening starts at 6 pm and 7 pm Tuesday to Thursday, and Saturday mornings. The booking calendar shows every open slot.

All payments are handled via Stripe — secure, standard card processing. No payment information is stored by Tabiji Academy.