Find the Japanese Class That Fits You at Blue House Okinawa
Compare Your Actual Japanese Before You Choose
Have you studied Japanese before but are not sure which Blue House class matches what you already know?
The textbook or course name you used before may not match our levels exactly. Different materials introduce vocabulary and grammar in different orders.
That is why this page shows you the actual vocabulary, grammar, and example sentences taught across our Japanese classes.
Start with what you already understand, then look for the point where the Japanese begins to feel unfamiliar.
There are three things to decide:
1. Your Level or Course
What You Are Choosing: What Japanese you want or need to study
2. Your Lesson Style
What You Are Choosing: How you want to learn it
3. Your Schedule
What You Are Choosing: How you want to attend
On This Page
Japanese School
Start by Choosing Your Route
Before comparing grammar levels, first think about what you want Japanese class to help you do.
Conversation is not simply the level after Beginners or Intermediate. JLPT Test Prep is also a goal-based route.
Focus mainly on practical speaking, pronunciation, listening, and everyday expressions
Start by looking at…: Conversation Class
Build Japanese systematically through vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, listening, and speaking
Start by looking at…: Beginners → Pre-Intermediate → Intermediate
Prepare specifically for JLPT N5, N4, or N3
Start by looking at…: JLPT Test Prep
Start with the Japanese You Already Know
You do not need to start from Beginners 1 just because you are new to Blue House.
If you have studied Japanese somewhere else, compare the classes and levels below with what you already understand and use.
The right starting point is usually around the place where the vocabulary, grammar, and example sentences begin to feel new.
Conversation — A Different Route
Focus on Practical Speaking
Conversation is different from the Beginners → Pre-Intermediate → Intermediate progression.
It is not the next grammar level.
It is a separate route for learners who want to focus more directly on practical communication rather than following the full grammar-based progression.
There is no required homework or pre-study.
Conversation is available through Lecture and Intensive-Lecture.
Intensive-Lecture
Want to compare the two concentrated one-month routes?
What Conversation Focuses On
Conversation Class includes topics such as:
- Greetings
- Self-introduction
- Countries, people, and languages
- Occupations
- Giving directions to a taxi driver
- Places
- Counting in yen
- Ordering at a coffee shop
- Ordering pizza on the phone
- Convenience store phrases
- Counting objects
- Ordering at a restaurant
- Avoiding ingredients and explaining allergies
- Restaurant signs and Kanji
- Shopping
- Food and ingredients
- Telling time
- Asking about business hours
- Days and dates
- Public transportation
- Locations
- Station phrases
- Everyday expressions
If your priority is being able to come to class, hear Japanese, practice the sounds, and begin using practical expressions, Conversation may be the route to compare first.
If you want to build Japanese systematically through vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, listening, and speaking, continue to the general level progression below.
Beginners 1–4
Beginners is divided into four stages.
If you have never studied Japanese before, start with Beginners 1 Class.
Beginners 1 is available through Lecture, Intensive-Lecture, or Self-Paced.
Intensive-Lecture
Want to compare the two concentrated one-month routes?
If you already know some Japanese, compare the material below and look for the point where it stops feeling familiar.
Beginners 2–4 are Self-Paced only.
Beginners at a Glance
Beginners 1
What You’ll Begin Working With: Pronunciation, Hiragana, basic sentences, greetings, questions, and particles
Beginners 2
What You’ll Begin Working With: Dates, time, counters, verbs, past tense, food, and everyday requests
Beginners 3
What You’ll Begin Working With: ある / いる, locations, more particles, invitations, and Katakana
Beginners 4
What You’ll Begin Working With: Informal forms, connected sentences, reasons, する, and more natural everyday Japanese
Beginners 1 — Start from Zero
Beginners 1 covers the foundation of Japanese.
You’ll begin with pronunciation, Hiragana, numbers, greetings, self-introduction, useful vocabulary, basic sentence structure, and simple questions.
Vocabulary & Topics
- Numbers
- Greetings and farewells
- Self-introduction
- Body parts
- Things in your room
- Family members
- Colors
- Sports and entertainment
- Fruits
- Transportation
Grammar & Expressions
- Basic Japanese sentence structure
- Making questions
- What / Which / Who
- は
- へ
- が
- の
- と
- Ko-So-A-Do words
- Adjectives
- Likes and dislikes
- じゃない
- Wanting and not wanting
Examples
これはなんですか。
What is this?
カレーがすきですか。
Do you like curry?
だれですか。
Who is it?
もういちどいってください。
Please say it again.
もっとゆっくりいってください。
Please speak more slowly.
Beginners 2 — Dates, Time, Counters & Verbs
Beginners 2 builds on the basics with dates, time, locations, food, asking for things, counters, and verbs.
You’ll work more with verb sentences, conjugation, past tense, and polite and informal speech.
Vocabulary & Topics
- Animals
- Food
- Desserts and drinks
- Nature
- Directions
- Around the house
- Around school
- Places
- Insects
- Dates and years
- Time
- Restaurant and fast-food expressions
Grammar & Expressions
- は / が
- Past tense
- よ / ね
- も
- ください / おねがいします
- Polite and informal speech
- Verb conjugation
- へ
- に
- から
- まで
- Sentence structures using verbs
- Counters for different kinds of objects
Examples
なんじですか。
What time is it?
ごご7じ10ぷんです。
It’s 7:10 p.m.
わたしのしごとは8じから5じまでです。
My work is from 8 to 5.
すみません、そばはいくらですか。
Excuse me, how much is the soba?
Beginners 3 — ある・いる, Locations & Katakana
Beginners 3 introduces the important existence verbs ある and いる.
You’ll learn to talk about where people and things are, use more particles and verb patterns, count living things, and begin Katakana.
Vocabulary & Topics
- Around the house
- Around the kitchen
- Stores and shops
- Around the office
- Food
- Body parts
- On the road
- At the airport
- At the train station
- Katakana
Grammar & Expressions
- ある
- いる
- Existence verbs
- Regular verb conjugation
- と
- の with locations
- Location expressions
- ひだり / みぎ
- となり / よこ
- どの / どれ
- Counting living things
- を
- で
- Particle review
- 〜ませんか
- 〜ましょう
- もう
Examples
らいげつ、にほんに いきます。
I’m going to Japan next month.
だれと いきますか。
With whom are you going?
にほんに マクドナルドが ありますか。
Are there McDonald’s in Japan?
はい、たくさん あります。
Yes, there are many.
Beginners 4 — Informal Forms & Connected Sentences
Beginners 4 moves further into adjectives, informal verb forms, connected sentences, reasons, and more natural everyday Japanese.
You’ll also work with する, expand your vocabulary, and complete Katakana.
Vocabulary & Topics
- Japanese family relationships
- Dating
- Post office
- Technology
- Health and illness
- Money
- Animals
- Nature
- Weather
- School
- Katakana
Grammar & Expressions
- Adjective past tense
- い-adjective past forms
- よく
- あんまり
- Informal verb forms
- Regular and irregular verb conjugation
- Negative informal form
- た-form
- Question-making の
- Emphasis with の
- よ
- から for reasons
- Connecting sentences
- どんな
- する
- Making verbs with する
- を + する
- なぜ / なんで
- まだ
- Inexact time and amount expressions
Examples
きのう、むすめが ロンドンに いきました。
My daughter went to London yesterday.
らいげつの じゅうごにちに にほんに かえります。
She is coming back to Japan on the fifteenth of next month.
むすめさんは よく ロンドンに いきますか。
Does your daughter often go to London?
きょうは ともだちの たんじょうびだから、はちじに レストランで パーティーを します。
They will have a party at the restaurant at eight because today is her friend’s birthday.
Pre-Intermediate 1–3
Pre-Intermediate begins where basic Japanese starts turning into longer everyday communication.
At this level, course names alone are especially difficult to compare across different textbooks, so look at the actual grammar and examples.
Pre-Intermediate 1–3 are offered through Self-Paced.
Pre-Intermediate at a Glance
Pre-Intermediate 1
What You’ll Begin Doing: Describe familiar people, places, weather, hobbies, and everyday situations in more detail
Pre-Intermediate 2
What You’ll Begin Doing: Talk about plans, wants, things you want to try, timing, and choices
Pre-Intermediate 3
What You’ll Begin Doing: Talk about experiences, feelings, opinions, advice, and what other people said
Pre-Intermediate 1 — Describe More About Everyday Life
Pre-Intermediate 1 expands your vocabulary and Kanji while helping you talk more about familiar topics such as family, hobbies, nature, seasons, weather, and your town.
Vocabulary & Topics
- Family and relatives
- Hobbies
- Nature
- Seasons
- Weather
- Your town
- Related vocabulary and Kanji
Grammar & Expressions
- 〜ている
- 〜とき
- なる
- Connecting verbs and adjectives
- Building longer descriptions
Examples
ひまなとき、こうえんで えをかきます。
In my free time, I draw pictures at the park.
今、雪がふっています。
It’s snowing now.
とてもにぎやかでたのしいです。
It’s very lively and fun.
Pre-Intermediate 2 — Talk About Plans, Wants & Choices
This stage adds situations such as meeting friends, making plans, going out, talking about meals, and sharing language-learning and cultural experiences.
Vocabulary & Topics
- Meeting friends
- Making plans
- Going out
- Food and meals
- Language learning
- Cultural experiences
- Related vocabulary and Kanji
Grammar & Expressions
- 〜てもいいですか
- 〜たいです
- 〜てみます
- 〜のまえに / 〜のあとで
- もう / まだ
- 〜に行きます / 〜に来ます
- どちらがいいですか
Examples
やけいのあとで飲みに行きませんか。
Would you like to go for a drink after seeing the night view?
私はおいしいものを食べに行きたいです。
I want to go eat something delicious.
私は大学のとき、ドイツ語を勉強しました。
I studied German when I was in college.
Pre-Intermediate 3 — Talk About Experiences, Feelings & Opinions
At this stage, the range of situations becomes wider, including business trips, the workplace, health and exercise, celebrations, experiences, and feelings.
Vocabulary & Topics
- Business trips
- Workplace situations
- Health
- Exercise
- Celebrations
- Feelings
- Personal experiences
- Related vocabulary and Kanji
Grammar & Expressions
- 〜たことがあります
- 〜すぎます
- 〜るといいです
- 〜ないでください
- 〜たり〜たりしています
- 〜と思います
- 〜と言っていました
- あげます / もらいます
Examples
日本で会ったことがあります。
I have met them in Japan before.
お酒は飲みすぎないでください。
Please don’t drink too much alcohol.
よしださんはよく花をかざると言っていました。
Yoshida-san said that she often decorates with flowers.
Intermediate 1–3
Intermediate is for learners who can already communicate but want more ways to connect ideas and explain what they mean.
Intermediate 1–3 are offered through Self-Paced.
Intermediate at a Glance
Intermediate 1
What You’ll Begin Doing: Describe situations, give reasons and advice, and connect multiple characteristics
Intermediate 2
What You’ll Begin Doing: Talk about experiences, wishes, plans, comparisons, limitations, and completed actions
Intermediate 3
What You’ll Begin Doing: Explain habits, purposes, possibilities, situations, and changes over time
Intermediate 1 — Describe, Explain & Give Advice
Intermediate 1 expands the ways you can describe people, food, travel, experiences, and everyday situations.
Vocabulary & Topics
- People
- Food
- Travel
- Experiences
- Everyday situations
- Related vocabulary and Kanji
Grammar & Expressions
- 〜そうです
- 〜ので
- 〜たほうがいい / 〜ないほうがいい
- 〜てから / 〜ないで
- 〜られます
- 〜し〜し
Examples
彼女はやさしそうな人ですね。
She seems like a kind person.
私はアレルギーがあるので、えびとかにが食べられません。
I have allergies, so I can’t eat shrimp or crab.
ダイビングのどうぐは借りたほうがいいですか。
Is it better to rent diving equipment?
Intermediate 2 — Talk About Experiences, Choices & Limitations
Intermediate 2 gives you more ways to talk about experiences, wishes, plans, work, events, shopping, and choices.
Vocabulary & Topics
- Experiences
- Wishes
- Plans
- Work
- Events
- Shopping
- Related vocabulary and Kanji
Grammar & Expressions
- 〜たら
- 〜られます
- 〜より〜のほうが
- もう / まだ
- 〜てしまいました
- 〜にくい / 〜やすい
- 〜しか〜ません
Examples
日本まつりのボランティアをしたいと思っています。
I’m thinking about volunteering at the Japan festival.
今年は休みが4日間しかなかったので、旅行には行きませんでした。
I only had four days off this year, so I didn’t go on a trip.
中が広くて、食べ物をとりだしやすいし、そうじもしやすいし、買ってよかったです。
It’s spacious inside, food is easy to take out, and it’s easy to clean, so I’m glad I bought it.
Intermediate 3 — Explain Habits, Possibilities & Changes
Intermediate 3 expands into topics such as history, culture, the environment, habits, changes over time, and personal experiences.
Vocabulary & Topics
- History
- Culture
- Environment
- Habits
- Changes over time
- Personal experiences
- Related vocabulary and Kanji
Grammar & Expressions
- 〜ても
- 〜ために
- 〜ようにしています / 〜ないようにしています
- 〜てあります
- 〜たまま
- 〜かもしれません
- 〜ようになりました / 〜なくなりました
Examples
日本の文化をもっと知るために、毎月10日と25日にセミナーがあります。
There are seminars on the 10th and 25th of every month to learn more about Japanese culture.
私はごみをへらすために、できるだけスーパーのふくろをもらわないようにしています。
To reduce waste, I try not to take plastic bags from the supermarket whenever possible.
大きい自転車を買ったので、小さいのがいらなくなりました。
I bought a larger bicycle, so I no longer need the smaller one.
JLPT Test Prep — A Goal-Based Route
JLPT is another goal-based route.
It is not simply the level that comes after Intermediate.
Choose JLPT Test Prep when your main goal is preparing specifically for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
Current JLPT Test Prep is available for:
- N5
- N4
- N3
JLPT Test Prep is offered through Self-Paced, allowing you to work through the preparation for your target level with instructor support.
JLPT N5, N4, and N3 are offered through Self-Paced.
Choose Your Lesson Style
Once you know what you want to study, decide how you want to learn it.
Lecture
How It Works: An instructor leads students through the class together
Intensive-Lecture
How It Works: Instructor-led learning on a concentrated schedule
Self-Paced
How It Works: Move through structured course material according to your own progress with instructor support
Intensive-Lecture
Want to compare the two concentrated one-month routes?
Self-Paced
Want to understand how Self-Paced works across multiple courses?
Choose How You Want to Attend
Your Lesson Style and your attendance/payment option are separate choices.
Fixed
How It Works: Attend the same scheduled class days and times each week
Flex
How It Works: Choose the number of lessons you want and book available Japanese classes
Fixed Schedule
A Fixed Schedule works well if you prefer knowing exactly when Japanese class will happen each week.
Your scheduled days and times stay the same.
Flex
Flex gives you more control over when and how often you attend.
You choose the number of lessons you want, then book from Japanese classes available on the weekly schedule.
Availability depends on the current schedule.
Language Exchange
Use the Japanese You Are Learning
Language Exchange is not limited to Conversation Class.
It gives students a place to take Japanese they have been studying and try using it with Japanese students who are learning English too.
A real conversation can also show you something that a textbook cannot: which Japanese comes out naturally, where you hesitate, and what you may want to work on next.
What Students Say About Learning at Blue House
The reviews below describe students’ overall experience at Blue House Okinawa.
They are not used to claim that either student completed a specific class or level.
Ready to Choose?
You do not need to match the name of a class you took somewhere else.
Look at the Japanese itself.
Start with the vocabulary, grammar, and examples you already understand. When the material begins to feel unfamiliar, you have found a useful place to compare more closely.
Then decide how you want to learn and how you want to attend.
Conversation
What It’s For: Practical speaking and pronunciation
Beginners
What It’s For: Building the Japanese foundation
Pre-Intermediate
What It’s For: Moving beyond short everyday answers
Intermediate
What It’s For: Explaining more detailed ideas and experiences
JLPT Test Prep
What It’s For: Preparing specifically for N5, N4, or N3
What do I want to study?
Your Decision: Conversation / Beginners / Pre-Intermediate / Intermediate / JLPT
Where does my current Japanese fit?
Your Decision: Compare the actual grammar, vocabulary, and examples
How do I want to learn?
Your Decision: Lecture / Intensive-Lecture / Self-Paced
How do I want to attend?
Your Decision: Fixed / Flex
Already know where you want to start?
Want to Visit Blue House First?
You do not have to have your whole Japanese-learning plan figured out before you visit. If seeing the school and talking through your options would help you decide where to begin, a Trial Lesson gives you that chance.
If you already know which Japanese class you want, you can go directly to the class options instead. Either way, you can choose the next step that fits where you are now.
Blue House Okinawa is located near Sunabe Seawall, close to Kadena Air Base Gate 1.
