Why learn Japanese with Wordculture?
Our Japanese courses are for anyone who wants to build a real connection to the Japanese language and culture: professionals who communicate with Japanese partners; travellers who want to experience more than what’s visible in English; students who need JLPT certification; and anyone who wants to discover an intellectually enriching language.
Japan is the world’s third-largest economy, and Zurich has close ties with Japanese companies in pharma and technology. If you speak Japanese, you stand out.
We also offer Japanese courses for children.
Where and how do I want to learn?
In-person
Hybrid
Online
Group course
Private course
Intensive Course
Standard Japanese course A1–C2
From “こんにちは” to discussing Murakami in the original: in our Standard Japanese course, we guide you step by step through all levels. You meet in a small group once or twice a week—at the school or online—and work through the complex writing system, grammar, vocabulary, and conversation practice. Lessons combine language learning with cultural insights, because Japanese without cultural understanding remains superficial and far removed from everyday life.
Express Your Interest
Japanese courses in Zurich
Japanese Intensive Course A1–C2
Are you about to start a new job at a Japanese company in Zurich? Is your spouse from Japan? Our Japanese intensive course will get you to your desired goal quickly. With several lessons per week and focused work on writing, pronunciation, and conversation, you'll make progress in a few weeks that would take months in a standard course.
Express Your Interest
Japanese courses in Zurich
Japanese Conversation Course B1–C2
Do you already know the basic structures, but as soon as real conversations begin, you find yourself speechless? That's completely normal at the beginning. In the Japanese conversation course, you'll practice free speaking on everyday topics and current events. In a relaxed atmosphere, you'll expand your active vocabulary and gain confidence in interacting with native speakers.
Minimum requirement: Completed N4
Express Your Interest
Japanese courses in Zurich
敬語 Business Japanese for Professionals B2–C2
Japanese business culture follows very specific rules and has its own honorific language, Keigo. Our Business Japanese course trains job-specific communication: writing formal emails and reports, leading meetings, giving presentations, and acting confidently in an intercultural context. This course is a private course, bookable only from N2. It is exclusively available upon request. Please contact us personally for this.
Express Your Interest
Japanese courses in Zurich
JLPT Exam Preparation Courses A1–C2
The JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) is the standard for proving Japanese language skills and is divided into levels from N5 to N1. It is officially recognized for job applications, study applications, and visa applications. With format-specific training, practice materials, and strategies that make a difference in the exam room, we specifically prepare you for all five levels. Registration for the exam is done through the Asia-Orient-Institute of the University of Zurich. Contact us if you would like to take an exam preparation course, as this course is only available upon request.
✔ JLPT N5: Entry Level
✔ JLPT N4: Basic Level
✔ JLPT N3: Transition to Independent Communication
✔ JLPT N2 & N1: Professional and Academic Proficiency
Express Your Interest
Japanese courses in Zurich
Japanese by level from N5 to N1
The Japanese certificate JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) is the globally recognised standard for Japanese proficiency and is divided into five levels from N5 (beginner) to N1 (mastery). Not sure where you stand? We offer a free placement test.
Learn JLPT N5: hiragana, katakana, first kanji
You learn the two writing systems, hiragana and katakana, as well as around 100 basic kanji, and can communicate in simple everyday situations: introduce yourself, use numbers, and form first sentences.
JLPT N4: Reach basic level
You understand simple conversations and can talk about familiar topics such as family, leisure activities and work. Vocabulary grows to around 1’500 words, the foundations of grammar are firmly in place and first authentic texts become readable.
N4 includes a total of 250 kanji.
JLPT N3: Become independent
You can hold your own in everyday situations such as shopping, traveling, or talking with friends. You understand simple conversations and can read simple texts. N5 and N4 are often seen as the hardest hurdle. N3 is the transition from learner to someone who truly communicates and after the N3 course, a whole new world opens up for learners. You also add 370 new kanji.
JLPT N2: Confident and fluent
You understand more complex texts from everyday life and work, follow news and conversations, and can express yourself with nuance. N2 is the level many Japanese companies set as the minimum standard for international employees. You also add 380 kanji.
JLPT N1: Keigo and native-level competence
With N1, you move with ease in the Japanese language and culture. You express yourself with nuance, structure, and in a way that fits the situation. N1 also opens doors to the Japanese job market and academic positions. At N1, you typically know all 2’100 kanji—about as many as Japanese schoolchildren learn.
Consultation and trial lessons are free and non-binding. Contact us to make an appointment.
Why Wordculture?
Small groups for maximum results
Max. 6 people for plenty of speaking time and fast results
Professional Teachers
Qualified, experienced, and specialized in adult education
In-House
Childcare
Childcare directly on-site during the course
KulturLegi Discounts
Family Discounts
Discounts on all language courses – also for the whole family
Student review
After six months of online lessons with no real progress, I switched to Wordculture. I took private lessons and within just three months I had already reached N4. The Japanese teacher is simply the best. She introduces kanji with clear, logical explanations, and her lessons are highly interactive and fun.
Klara from Zurich
The initial consultation and trial lesson are completely free and without obligation. Get in touch to book an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Japanese hard to learn?
Japanese is a demanding language for Europeans, and you need a lot of time and patience at the beginning because you have to change the way you think. Japanese sentence structure is different from European languages. The key is a structured start. At Wordculture, we begin with hiragana and katakana, the two basic alphabets, before introducing the first kanji. Many learners are surprised at how quickly they achieve their first successes.
Do I need to learn the Japanese script, or is romanisation enough?
For a holiday, romanisation (romaji) can help in the short term, but it’s not enough for real communication. If you want to learn Japanese seriously, there’s no way around the three writing systems. At Wordculture, the script is part of the course from the very beginning so you can build a solid foundation—unless you explicitly want conversation-only lessons.
I have professional contacts in Japan and would like to learn Japanese.
For professional communication with Japanese business partners, it’s not only language level that matters, but also an understanding of etiquette and communication style, known as keigo. At Wordculture, we combine language skills with cultural context—especially important for specialists and managers with a Japan connection.
I have a busy schedule; how flexible are the courses?
Wordculture offers Japanese courses as a standard course, intensive course, evening course, or one-to-one lessons—at the school, hybrid, or online. Our courses fit around your everyday life, not the other way around. Get in touch so we can find a format that works for you.
Is there a recognized English exam I can take at Wordculture?
Yes. The JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) is the internationally recognised exam for Japanese and is offered at five levels (N5 to N1). Wordculture prepares you specifically for the level that matches your goals, but the exam itself must be taken at the Asia-Orient Institute of the University of Zurich.