*IMPORTANT*
When signing up for our courses, it is required to register for a free account with our online educational platform, JVTA Online. Once registered, you will be able to see all available courses not only at JLMI, but also at our visualmedia translation academy! Thank you for understanding and we hope to see you in class soon!
Course Description
Perfect for beginning Japanese speakers at the JLPT N5-N4 level.
We cover self-introductions, casual conversation and common topics that come up in everyday life.
This course is taught in English with audiovisual content from anime, reality TV, music and movies in Japan.
We focus strongly on verbal communication skills (speaking / listening) and each session culminates in a roleplay practice and presentation with immediate feedback from instructors.
Course Goals
This course will take you through different social situations and show you how to navigate them casually, clearly and hopefully, successfully.
After taking this class, you will be able to do the following:
- speak in compound sentences
- react appropriately
- discuss and gauge your own abilities
- ask simple questions to others in a casual way
- set up dates and gatherings
- make clear volitional statements

Additional Info
All JLMI courses take place 100% online. In order to attend a class, you will need a device with internet connectivity. Smartphones and tablets are perfectly fine, but in order to interact more easily with media content, chat features and digital handouts, we recommend a computer.
JLMI cannot issue any refunds once a course has begun. Please carefully confirm the times and dates for each class before signing up. All times and dates are listed in JST.
For the security and privacy of all persons involved, course recordings will not be available to anyone under any circumstances. We offer real-time interactive lessons, not to be mistaken with on-demand content. Thank you for your understanding.
Course Instructors
Originally from the US, Bill moved to Osaka in 2007 with zero Japanese knowledge whatsoever. Thanks to that experience of studying to survive and practicing with the super slangy dialect of the Kansai region, Bill has a unique grasp of the language that has opened so many different doors for him from voice acting jobs to hosting live events, from performing for Japanese comedy audiences to officiating weddings. He believes that the goal of language learning is not to be fluent and pass for native but to be comfortable enough to share ideas with native speakers and use language as the tool it is to accomplish one’s goals.
Shoko is a JVTA graduate and works in the school department at JVTA helping young translators. Born in Japan and raised in Germany and New Zealand, Shoko grew up with a keen interest in languages. She has worked in E-J, J-E, and German-to-Japanese subtitle translation.


Demo Lesson
Casual Japanese Conversation – BEGINNER
- Tuesday October 17th 19:30 – 20:30 JST
- 100% Online 100% Interactive 100% Free
- Ask Questions and Get Answers
- Gauge your Japanese level to see if this course is right for you!
Course Tuition
Casual Japanese Conversation – Beginner
- For Domestic Students Living in Japan – 13,200 JPY*
- For International Students Living Abroad – 12,000 JPY
*includes consumption tax required by Japanese law

*IMPORTANT*
When signing up for our courses, it is required to register for a free account with our online educational platform, JVTA Online. Once registered, you will be able to see all available courses not only at JLMI, but also at our visualmedia translation academy! Thank you for understanding and we hope to see you in class soon!