There are many benefits to learning a new language, but learning any new skill comes with a cost. People often ask “how much do Japanese lessons cost?” Here is a monetary breakdown from language tutor Carol Beth L…
Learning a new language – or any new skill – can be expensive. Expenses will vary, however, from language to language and area to area. Japanese is reputed to be one of the most expensive and time-consuming languages to learn, since it’s so different from most other languages worldwide.
As you go about your quest to learn Japanese, be ready to set aside some money for associated learning expenses.
This cost will depend a lot on what options are available in your area, the cost of living/education, and whichever class/tutor you choose. A college class at a four-year university will probably be more expensive than a class at a community college, and a tutor in a big city like New York or San Francisco will most likely be more expensive than those in less expensive areas of the country.
That said, bigger cities are also more likely to have more options available. In some smaller towns or rural areas, online classes may be one of your most accessible options, simply because few Japanese tutors live immediately in your area.
Typical tutor costs can vary from $20/hr to $70/hr or more. Semester-long classes will likely cost a few hundred dollars. The length of time you find yourself setting aside money for classes or tutoring also depends on how fast you progress and the level of proficiency you seek to acquire.
If you want to attain a higher level of proficiency, you will probably spend more than someone seeking basic proficiency because you will be taking lessons or classes for a longer period of time.
There is a saying that time is money, and you will need to set aside some time to spend studying.
As an English speaker, this time will be relatively greater, since Japanese is so different from English and other similar languages.
Your time investment will also increase proportionally as your target proficiency increases. Most people can progress quite quickly under the right conditions. Nonetheless, don’t underestimate the required effort.
Don’t expect your teacher to provide all of the necessary learning tools. You will need a book (or perhaps several), and you may even need CDs or other language-related materials.
Be ready to spend anywhere from $30 to $100 for initial expenses. As time passes, you may want to purchase additional materials, such as a Japanese-language films, anime, manga books, and other reading materials.
When learning a new language, it’s important to provide yourself with learning opportunities outside the classroom. Perhaps your city has a Japantown or an annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Or, perhaps there are opportunities for conversation groups, possibly through a site like Meetup.com.
Such activities can help you learn more quickly and thoroughly. These activities provide a social element to learning, and can also help you learn about cultural elements you may not experience in a class.
Nonetheless, these extracurricular activities do come with a cost. Even for an event with no entry fee, there may be incidental costs — food or drinks during an event, transportation, and so on.
While difficult to provide a precise cost for Japanese-language education, these areas provide a general overview of what to expect. Learning Japanese takes time and effort, but accurate expectations will make the process much easier.
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Post Author: Carol Beth L.Carol Beth L. teaches French lessons in San Francisco, CA. She also studied Japanese in high school and college. She has her Masters in French language education from the Sorbonne University in Paris and has been teaching since 2009. Learn more about Carol Beth here!
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