Japanesepod101 Review
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Amount of Material Available
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Teaches Natural Japanese
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Effectiveness
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Lessons are Fun
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Price
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Value
Japanesepod101 Review Summary
Out of all of the materials, courses, and programs I have used, Japanesepod101 taught me the most useful and real-world Japanese. The teaching is excellent and most of the lessons are interesting. There is a massive amount of lessons (beginner to advanced) on their site, with more added each week.
However, things like their site navigation, audio explanations, and Premium Plus service have room for improvement. Â
Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase something, I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) to help support this site. Learn more
Learning Japanese is both fun and frustrating. It’s fun to learn new words and grammar, but it’s frustrating when you get “stuck.” Sometimes you can’t understand Japanese concepts, or worse yet, you feel like you are not improving at all. I have been studying Japanese for over 13 years, and I felt “stuck” many, many times. Over the years, I have tried a lot of different programs, courses, and books to learn Japanese.
I have been using Japanesepod101 since 2011, and it became one of the best resources I have used to improve my Japanese. It helped me get past a lot of those times where I felt stuck.
In this Japanesepod101 review, I’ll take you into the member’s area so you’ll know exactly what to expect if you sign up. I’ll provide as much detail as possible to help you decide if it’s the right fit for you or not.
*Updated:Â August 17th, 2023
Contents
- What is Japanesepod101?
- Japanesepod101 Audio Lessons
- A Tour of the Paid Membership Area: Audio Lessons
- Japanesepod101 Video Lessons
- What Can You Learn from Japanesepod101
- Japanesepod101 Review Pros: What’s Good?
- Japanesepod101 Review Cons: What’s Bad?
- Neutral Points
- Japanesepod101 Subscription Levels: Free, Basic, Premium & Premium Plus
- Japanesepod101 Price
- Japanesepod101 Discount Coupons
- Is Japanesepod101 Worth It?
- Live Group Online Japanese Classes
- Are the Lessons Good for Learning Japanese?
- Are the Online Live Group Classes Worth It?
- Japanesepod101 Private 1-On-1 Classes
- Are the Private 1-On-1 Lessons Worth It?
What is Japanesepod101?
If you have ever searched for the best way to learn Japanese online, there’s a good chance you have come across Japanesepod101. The Japanesepod101 website offers a massive collection of audio, video, and written lessons for all levels (3,800 as of this writing). Whether you’re a complete beginner or an advanced Japanese student, you have a ton of material to study. Â
Their audio lessons are the heart of their teaching method, and they do an amazing job at teaching Japanese grammar lessons and words.
They also have a lot of video lessons on their site. Many of these videos teach you things you can’t find in most books.
Things like Japanese gestures, slang words, and answers to common questions that Japanese learners have. All of their material is organized into 6 different categories:
- Absolute Beginner
- Beginners
- Intermediate
- Upper-Intermediate
- Advanced
- Bonus Material
The best thing about the Japanesepod101 website is that you can access many of their lessons for free (no credit card needed).
If you sign up for a free account, you’ll be able to access the first 3 lessons of every pathway (unit). You’ll also have access to the 2-4 new lessons that are added each week for 3 weeks (after that, they become archived, and you’ll need a paid membership to access them).
I have been using their materials for years now, and while it’s not perfect, I think it is still the best resource to learn Japanese out there. So, let’s go right into the premium member’s area to see how they teach you Japanese.
Japanesepod101 Audio Lessons
The heart of JapanesePod101 is their audio lessons. These lessons are usually10-20 minutes long, so it’s easy to finish one or more per day without feeling overwhelmed.
Each lesson usually focuses on a specific grammar point or topic. Most importantly, you are taught how to APPLY what you learn and use it in everyday situations.
There are lesson notes that go over the grammar/lesson in more detail, along with the audio files.
Both the audio lesson and notes can be downloaded.
Format of the Audio Lessons
Most audio lessons started with a dialogue in Japanese. For example, there might be an employee talking to his boss about his work.
The teachers then break down the dialogue and explain it in detail. They teach you the vocabulary words and useful phrases used in the conversation. This is followed by an explanation of the target grammar in the dialogue.
The teaching at Japanesepod101 is top-notch. There is usually a native Japanese speaker (or two) and a native English speaker on the audio tracks. This means you hear native Japanese being spoken that will have a natural translation from the native English speaker. Most of the dialogues are interesting and make learning Japanese quite fun.
The best part of the lessons is that they teach you things that many books don’t. They teach you real-world Japanese and how to use it naturally. This gives you the confidence to use what you learn IMMEDIATELY.
The native Japanese speakers give very insightful advice on speaking natural Japanese. They also talk about Japanese culture, phrases used in daily life, expressions, and provide insights about Japan.
However, there is one thing I don’t like about the audio lessons.
The grammar explanation is very clear and easy to understand, but it can be a little short at times. After teaching you the target grammar, they refer you to the lesson notes for a more detailed explanation.
The explanation in the lesson notes is excellent. It’s easy to understand and has enough details for you to learn the grammar. However, I think it would be nice if they talked about these details in the audio tracks as well.
A Tour of the Paid Membership Area: Audio Lessons
Over the past few years, the look and features of the Japanesepod website have been improving. The new layout of their lessons makes learning the material much easier. Â
The lessons load quickly, and everything you need to learn the material is conveniently located on the same page.
When you press play to start the audio, it will open up a player on the bottom of your browser (I use Google Chrome). On that same page, there is a written transcript of the Japanese dialogue, so you can easily follow along.
If you scroll down, you’ll find the list of vocabulary words used in the dialogue (with audio). With a click of your mouse, you have the option to hear each vocabulary word being said by a native speaker at normal speed or slightly slowed down.
I found this to be helpful when I was learning new words. You can also add any of these vocabulary words to the flashcard system on their website and even take a quiz to test yourself. You can also choose to display the vocabulary with or without the English, romaji, and kana.
You also have the option to record yourself to practice your pronunciation.
If you scroll further down the page, you’ll also find the lesson notes, which provides a detailed explanation of the grammar with example sentences. You’ll also find the lesson transcript and a list of kanji for you to study.
Having all of these materials in one place makes it very easy to study and learn from. Each lesson provides you with listening, speaking, reading, and kanji practice.
Japanesepod101 Free Sample Lesson
The best way to see if Japanesepod101 is right for you is to check it out for yourself. Here’s access to a free lesson (no sign-up necessary) so you can see it for yourself: Say Hello in Japanese No Matter What the Time of Day
Japanesepod101 App
Their Innovative Language app makes it a breeze to access their audio and video lessons on mobile devices. The app starts up quickly and runs very smoothly. I used it when I was on the train or had to wait in line somewhere.
Japanesepod101 Video Lessons
The video lessons are excellent too. Some of them are even better than the audio lessons. I feel that most of the videos support the material you learn in the audio lessons.
There are Q&A videos like the “Difference between morau and kureru” or “Is house uchi or ie?”
There are also videos to teach you new words (restaurant verbs, tongue-twisters, slang verbs, etc.), reading comprehension, and written Japanese (hiragana, katakana, and kanji).
My favorite is the “Ask Risa” series. In those videos, Risa answers questions like “How Do You Get a Japanese Girlfriend?” or “Can You Learn Japanese From Anime?”
The video lessons also have the same study options as the audio files (vocabulary words, line-by-line transcription (for premium members), quiz, etc.). The videos can also be downloaded to your computer.
What Can You Learn from Japanesepod101
The main focus of the lessons is to teach you how to speak Japanese. You’ll learn how to speak polite Japanese for formal situations, as well as casual Japanese for hanging out with friends. There are also talks on business Japanese, Japanese slang words, and even tips on learning Japanese.
In addition to this, there are resources for the JLPT, guides to learn how to write Japanese (katakana, hiragana, and kanji), vocabulary lists covering many different topics (including the 100 and 2,000 most common words in Japanese.
There is also a forum to ask questions, but it doesn’t seem that active these days. However, if you have a question about a lesson, each audio and video lesson has a “comments” section. You can ask your question there. The Japanesepod staff has answered virtually all the questions I have seen! That really impressed me. It’s like having your own private tutor.
Reading & Listening Practice
Reading is a great way for intermediate and advanced students of Japanese to improve their skills. There are lessons dedicated to reading, listening comprehension, and even learning Japanese through songs on Japanesepod101.com. They also covered specific topics like Japanese words to use on social media, holiday words, questions and answers, and much more.
The listening comprehension section is good, but I love their reading practice. The reading practice has an audio track to accompany the line-by-line text, as well as tons of other options to help you learn. You can change the display of the text to kanji, hiragana, romaji, or English.
There are audio files for each line of text, which makes it convenient to practice. There is also an option to record your voice to check your pronunciation. All of these options provide an outstanding way to improve your reading.
JLPT Material
While Japanesepod101does have resources to study for the JLPT, I feel that the material they teach is not specific enough to pass the JLPT.Â
There are 3 resources to study for the JLPT on the Japanesepod website:
1. JLPT Kanji (JLPT Levels N5 – N1)
The kanji lessons are pretty good. There is a short but informative video for each kanji lesson. In the video, you’ll learn each kanji’s reading and common word(s) using that character. Any new vocabulary/kanji in the lesson can be saved to a flashcard deck or your word bank for future studying.
2. JLPT Multiple-Choice Assessment Quizzes (JLPT Levels N5 – N2 Only)
The multiple-choice assessment quizzes are very short. While it can be useful, I feel that it’s missing a lot of information you would need to pass the JLPT.
3. JLPT Master Course (Levels N5 – N2 Only)
These “courses” are just organized lists of their audio lessons, combined with the multiple-choice assessment quizzes mentioned above.
Having all of the audio files organized according to the JLPT level makes studying the material very convenient. All the grammar you need to know for each level of the JLPT (N5- N2 only) is right there at your fingertips.
However, in my honest opinion, I feel that the JLPT material on their website isn’t enough to pass the test.
For levels N4 – N2, I would recommend that you purchase JLPT study guides and ONLY use the Japanesepod101 as a supplement.
For the N1 level, you will 100% need to use other resources to help you pass the test.
Since the JLPT N1 uses older grammar patterns that are more common in writing than in conversation, you won’t find some of these grammar patterns on the Japanesepod101 website.
This is because Japanesepod101 focuses more on useful Japanese you’ll hear and use in everyday situations. The last time I checked, 19 grammar patterns were being taught on Japanesepod101 for the JLPT N1 level.
I recommend the Sou Matome and Kanzen Master books. I have also used both these books for the N2 and N1.
Also, check out my “How to Pass the JLPT N2 on Your First Try” guide. While this post talks about the JLPT N2, the tips given will help you pass any level of the JLPT.
Japanesepod101 Review Pros: What’s Good?
- Learn Japanese for the real-world with NATURAL expressions that you will use to communicate.
- The speakers in the audio tracks teach more than just the target grammar pattern or vocabulary. In each lesson, they give insights about natural Japanese, culture, nuances, and much more. I found this to be the best part of the lessons.
- Skilled teachers make the material easy to understand, and the dialogues in the audio tracks are entertaining. Some lessons have multiple-part stories, like a mini-drama series.
- I LOVE the new format of their lessons. It makes studying and learning the material very easy and efficient. The dialogue, vocabulary words, written explanation, grammar audio explanation, lesson transcript, and kanji can all be found on the same page (on a desktop computer).
- Audio and video lessons has a comment section where you can ask questions.
- The Japanesepod101 app for mobile devices is simple and works very well. You can play both the audio and video lesson with the app.
Japanesepod101 Review Cons: What’s Bad?
- The biggest con for me is that some of the grammar explanations in the audio lessons were short. The explanation of the grammar on the audio track is clear and easy to understand, but is often short. To learn the details of the grammar, you are instructed to read the written explanations in the lesson notes. The lesson notes are very good, but it would be nice if Japanesepod101 provided more details of the grammar in the audio track as well.
- The material at each level is taught by different people with different personalities and teaching styles. While all of the explanations were easy to understand, I found some lessons drier than others. You’ll probably like certain teachers more than others as well. This can make language learning more difficult since you might not enjoy the teaching style of a specific teacher.
- So many different resources on the website that it will take a while to discover all of the features Japanesepod101 has to offer. However, their new “pathways” course makes it easy to know what to study next.
- While the 1-on-1 teacher option (Premium Plus) is good for asking questions or getting feedback on written work, communication is done via text, with no live conversations. To work on your pronunciation, you send voice recordings to your teacher. If you want to become good at speaking Japanese, this option won’t help you at all.
- Premium Plus price (1-on-1 teacher access): Costs an additional $22.00 per month. You will get weekly assignments and a personal assessment from a teacher. It’s not worth it to me. If you have more time to study, finding an online tutor to have live conversations is a better option.
Neutral Points
Here are some things that are either good or bad, depending on how you look at it:
- Some of the lessons have multiple part stories, just like a TV series. So you’ll have to listen until the end if you want to hear the conclusion. Most people find this exciting, and makes them excited to study more. However, if you’re busy and can only study once every week or two, you might forget what happened in a previous episode and need to go back to get back into the story.
- Peter, who I believe is the founder of Japanesepod101, is also in some of the audio lessons (particularly the lower intermediate level). In some lessons, he often jokes around and can go off-topic at times. Some people find this annoying, while others love the lighthearted humor and questions he asks. I enjoyed his commentary. Since he isn’t a native Japanese speaker, his pronunciation can be a little suspect at times. However, I liked this too since I could hear the difference between the native and non-native Japanese speakers.
Japanesepod101 Subscription Levels: Free, Basic, Premium & Premium Plus
There are 4 types of subscription levels for Japanesepod1o1. Here’s a breakdown of what you get at each level.
Free Account
Is Japanesepod101 really free? Yes! Their free account is 100% free. You just need to sign up with your email address. With a free account, you’ll have access to the first 3 lessons of every pathway. That ends up being a lot of free content!
You’ll also have access to all of the new lessons (2-4) that come out each week. However, the new lessons get archived after 3 weeks. You’ll need a paid membership to access it then.
After you sign up for a free account, you will probably be offered a one-week trial of the premium subscription level for $1.00. This is a good option if you want complete access to all of the lessons and tools on the site.
**Important: Please keep in mind that if you sign up for the $1.00 trial, you will automatically be charged for a one-month subscription if you don’t cancel. I ended up paying monthly for a few months (totally forgot about it).
Now I have a lifetime membership, so I don’t have to worry about being charged each month.
Basic Subscription
The basic subscription level will give you access to all of the audio and video lessons available, along with the accompanying lesson notes. You’ll also have access to 100 items on their “Japanese Core Words & Phrases” list.
However, you won’t be able to watch the videos in HD quality.
Premium Subscription
When you have a premium subscription, you’ll have access to all of the lessons and the study tools (flashcards, voice recording, quizzes, etc.).
You’ll also have line-by-line descriptions of the audio in the lessons, which is very helpful.
You can also watch the video lessons in HD and have full access to the “Japanese Core Words & Phrases” list (2,000 items).
This is the subscription level I recommend that most people get. With the study options and features, I feel this level provides the most value. Be sure to use the 65% off coupon below if you choose to sign up!
Premium Plus (+) Subscription
The difference between a Japanesepod101 Premium and Premium + subscription is that you’ll have 1-on-1 access to a teacher.
You’ll have access to everything a premium subscriber has, but you’ll also get a personal assessment, weekly assignments, and a personalized study plan.
This sounds awesome at first, but there’s one big downfall.
The “1-on-1” access to a teacher does not involve direct communication like Skype, Zoom, or a video chat. Instead, you communicate with your teacher through written messages or voice recordings.
I’m sure that doing the lessons and communicating with your teacher will improve your Japanese.
However, the price is almost double a Premium subscription ($47.00/month vs. $25.00/month). Is it worth it?
In my opinion, no, it is not worth it. If I paid $47.00 per month, I would want to have at least one hour of live speaking practice/lessons with my teacher. This would be great if you could have this chat at the end of the month to review your studies.
Also keep in mind that if you do send a file to your teacher to check, it will take time for them to get back to you. It might take a teacher minutes to respond to you, or hours.
If you want to learn Japanese quickly, I would get the cheaper premium subscription and use the money you saved on an online tutor. You can find great Japanese online teachers at sites like italki or verbling. You can also ask these online tutors for help with any material you study on the Japanesepod101 site.
However, the premium plus membership is a good option if:
1. You don’t have much time to study and can’t fit a private tutor into your schedule. You can ask questions anytime via texts, so it’s quick and easy to get help.
2. You want structure in your studies. The premium + plan will give you a personalized study plan and weekly assignments hand-graded by your teacher. This takes the guesswork out of choosing what to study next.
Having a personal teacher also motivates some people to study more.
3. You are shy. It can be a little nerve-racking to speak to a stranger in a new language.
Communicating with the Japanesepod teachers by text and email is much easier and less intimidating than video chatting with someone.
Japanesepod101 Price
The basic level is $8.00/month (becomes cheaper with multiple month subscriptions).
The premium level includes all of the lessons plus access to all of the tools on their website for $25.00/month. There is enough material to take you to an advanced level in all areas of Japanese.
The Premium + membership costs $47.00/month. If you know you will ask many questions (that can’t be answered on the forum or lesson comments), you should go with this option. If you are just starting, it’s probably better to start with the premium membership and then upgrade later if you still want a private tutor.
I feel that these prices are very reasonable for the amount of material you receive. But if you decide to get a premium subscription, readers of The True Japan can get our special discount (65% off!).
Japanesepod101 Discount Coupons
As a thank you for visiting my site and reading this Japanesepod101 review, here is a coupon for a huge 65% discount off of any basic or premium subscription.
This is by far the BIGGEST discount you’ll find anywhere. Japanesepod101 often runs special deals, but they are usually around 30% off. If you are planning to subscribe to Japanesepod101, don’t pay the full price!
Japanesepod101 also offers a 60 – day, money-back guarantee. If you don’t like the material or are not satisfied in any way, just let them know, and you’ll get a refund.
*Important: If you do get a refund, you’ll only get a refund for the remaining days left on your membership. So, if you get a 1-month membership and are not 100% satisfied, it’s better to cancel right away instead of waiting one day before your membership expires. Their customer service is excellent, though, so you can always email or call them if you have any questions or comments.
Premium Plus Membership: Private 1-on-1 Access to a Teacher
The 65% discount above only applies to a Basic or Premium subscription. If you want the Premium + subscription to have 1-on-1 access to a Japanese teacher, you can use this coupon here:
Click Here to Save 20% off a Premium Plus Membership
A “Secret” Membership Option
It seems like they don’t openly market this, but Japanesepod101 offers a lifetime membership option. If you are serious about learning Japanese, this subscription will probably save you a lot of money in the long run, especially if you are at a beginner to low intermediate level.
The only downside is that they only offer a lifetime membership for the Premium membership, so you’ll have access to everything on their website, but you won’t have access to a private, 1-on-1 teacher like the Premium + membership above.
I was a member of Japanesepod101 for over two years, paying the fees every month. Some months I was so busy that I didn’t have much time to study Japanese. So, I pretty much wasted my money during those months.
Now that I have the lifetime membership, I never have to worry about paying each month, and I am free to take breaks whenever I need without wasting my membership time. The amount I paid over those two years was enough to pay for a lifetime membership.
I couldn’t even find a way to access the lifetime membership sign-up page from their website. But after some searching, I found it.
If you’re interested, you can access the sign-up page here:
Click Here for the Lifetime Membership Option
Is Japanesepod101 Worth It?
The massive amount of lessons and materials makes it an excellent way to learn Japanese online. I feel that the options that come with the Premium subscription provides an excellent value for the money.
The new format of the lessons (with everything on one page) and study options make Japanesepod101 hard to beat.
I enjoy listening to the audio lessons, and I learned a lot from them. The teachers have a talent for breaking down complicated Japanese grammar and make it easy to understand.
The best part about the lessons was not just learning new grammar…it was the advice on HOW and WHEN to use it that was the most valuable to me. It does an excellent job teaching you how to speak natural Japanese that you can use right away with native speakers.
If your goal is to learn Japanese and attain fluency, Japanesepod101 can make your journey a lot easier. It was the best decision I have made for improving my Japanese.
If you’re not sure if Japanesepod101 is for you, I would suggest getting a free account and trying out some of their lessons.
If I missed anything in this Japanesepod1o1 review, please let me know! I know how much of a struggle it can be learning Japanese, so if you have any questions at all, feel free to send me a comment or email. I’ll try to answer your questions as best as I can!
Live Group Online Japanese Classes
Japanesepod101 now offers live online classes with a maximum of 5 students per group. If you prefer a classroom setting where you can interact with the teacher directly, this is a great option for learning Japanese.
There are three different classes offered:
- Absolute Beginners
- Beginners
- Intermediate
You can view the curriculum of each level here: Japanesepod101 Live Group Online Japanese Classes
Each sublevel of each section (noted with numbers like 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, etc.) is a separate 10-week class. For example, the absolute beginner 1.1 and absolute beginner 1.2 are two separate classes (10 weeks each). You’ll be placed into the appropriate class when you sign up for these group lessons.
These live group lessons are taught via Zoom and run for 10 weeks. You’ll meet with your class once per week. Each weekly lesson is one hour. Before each class, you’ll get an email with all the material and information you’ll need for your next class.
You’ll learn the material directly from a teacher, where you can practice what you just learned. At the end of your class, you’ll receive a feedback sheet from your teacher that will show you the areas where you need to improve and how to do so.
Are the Lessons Good for Learning Japanese?
The short answer is yes. The quality of these lessons is excellent.
However…
While online classes are great for providing structured lessons where everything is planned out for you, ONLY doing one Japanese lesson per week will not improve your Japanese significantly. You will need to supplement your studies if you want to learn Japanese more efficiently.
This is where the online group lessons on Japanesepod101 stand above other online classes. They include a Premium Plus membership with their course. This means you will have access to all of their audio and video lessons, where you can learn as much as you like at your own pace. With the Premium Plus membership, you’ll also have access to a teacher you can communicate with through messages or email.
Normally, I don’t recommend getting the Premium Plus membership because you can’t practice speaking with the teachers. You can only text them or send short sound files to check your pronunciation. And it’s expensive ($47.00/month).
However, using the Premium Plus lessons and having access to a teacher to ask questions is a perfect supplement to the online group classes. The lessons you can access on the Japanesepod website will allow you to learn more about the material you learned in class. You can also review material that you haven’t quite mastered (or never learned before) or even jump ahead to study more advanced topics.
Price: Online Group Lessons
10-week course (any level): $450.00
It can be paid in one payment or 5 monthly payments of $90.
Japanesepod101 Live Online Group Class: Pros Vs. Cons
Pros:
- Provides structured learning, so you don’t waste time thinking about what you should study
- The content/material you learn is highly useful – You will use what you learn when speaking Japanese.
- A maximum of 5 students provides an intimate classroom environment where you still get individual attention and practice time in class
- Learning together with other students puts less pressure on you (compared with a 1-on-1 private tutor) and makes the lessons more fun and interactive
- You get a personalized “score sheet” after each lesson from your teacher that shows you what you should improve and how to do it
- Comes with a 6-month Premium Plus membership to their website (normally $220) that includes hundreds of Japanese lessons and a private teacher (but only communicate by texts or sending files)
- Saves time trying to find a suitable private teacher or Japanese class
- Money-back guarantee – If you don’t like the classes, you can email Japanesepod101 before your third lesson to get a full refund.
- 24/7 support
Cons:
- The live group lessons are only currently available 3 times per year, and the dates vary from year to year
- The beginner courses work well for these types of live lessons, but for intermediate-level students, it is cheaper to study on your own by hiring an online private tutor
- The time of the group classes is set (3 times to choose from), so you need to fit it into your schedule
- The material for the class is set: You cannot jump ahead and learn faster than what is scheduled, as all students will learn the material together
Are the Online Live Group Classes Worth It?
These online lessons are absolutely worth it, especially if you take any of the beginning levels.
This 10-week course costs $450.00; at first glance, I thought this was rather pricey. However, after seeing everything you get with these classes, I think the price is actually low.
Here’s Why:
You can take many other group Japanese classes online, but many are more expensive than Japanesepod101. Also, these other companies only provide online lessons and materials for a specific level.
The Japanesepod101 online lessons also come with a 6-month Premium Plus membership. This gives you access to hundreds of lessons at all levels (from beginner to advanced). You can use these lessons to supplement your online classes and learn other material.
Some companies are more cost-effective, providing more teaching hours for around the same price. However, the class sizes are usually much bigger, with companies allowing 15 students per class instead of 5 like the Japanesepod group lessons. I think doing an online class with 15 students is WAY too many people. It’s easy to get distracted, and you won’t get that much (if any) individual attention. Of course, you could get lucky and end up in a class with fewer people, but you still wouldn’t have access to other material to learn more, like with Japanesepod101.
The live group lessons include a 6-month premium plus membership, normally costing $225. The premium plus membership allows you to message a private teacher for help with your homework or to check your pronunciation for words/expressions used in your online classes. Just be aware that it may take time for your teacher to get back to you (which is why I don’t recommend buying it separately).
Check out the live group lessons here: Live Group Online Lessons
Japanesepod101 Private 1-On-1 Classes
Starting in June 2023, Japanesepod started to offer 1-on-1 lessons for students who prefer 100% individualized attention.
These private classes use the same material as the group classes (absolute beginner, beginner, and intermediate levels) and include the same benefits, like learning materials and feedback from your teacher to improve your Japanese. You also get a Premium Plus membership to Japanesepod101, so you’ll have access to tons of other material to learn Japanese.
How the Private Classes Work
You sign-up for 4 lessons at a time (billed monthly) and will take one lesson per week. Just like with the online group classes, you will be emailed materials and information about the class. You’ll also get assignments to complete before your next class.
You’ll then have your online lesson with a teacher, where you can ask questions and practice the material you learned. You’ll get a “score sheet” after your class that gives you feedback on what you should work on and how to improve.
You can cancel this monthly subscription anytime.
Price:
- 4 X 60-minute lesson: $247.00 (billed monthly)
- 4X 30-minute lesson: $149.00 (billed monthly)
Japanesepod101 1-On-1 Private Lessons: Pros Vs. Cons
Pros:
- 100% individualized attention for more practice time and the ability to ask as many questions to your teacher as you need
- Freedom to learn as fast or slow as you want: The teacher will adapt the lessons to your level. If you learn things faster, the teacher can move ahead to more challenging material.
- Structure lessons are great for giving you a clear direction of what to study
Cons:
- Expensive: It would be much cheaper to get a premium membership to Japanesepod101 and hire a private online teacher or tutor on your own
- 1-on-1 lessons can be intimidating for some students
Are the Private 1-On-1 Lessons Worth It?
No. I don’t think these private online lessons are worth the price tag. I am sure the quality of the lessons is fantastic, and the membership to Japanesepod101 is very useful to learn more Japanese.
However, in my opinion, it would be much cheaper to subscribe to the more affordable Premium level membership at Japanesepod101 (with the 65% off discount) and then hire a private teacher/tutor on your own using sites like italki.
If you take the 30-minute lesson option, that comes out to $37.25 per lesson. The 60-minute lessons are cheaper at $61.75 per lesson (or $30.86 per 30 minutes).
On the expensive end, you can hire certified teachers on italki for around $40.00 per hour. However, some experienced teachers only charge $25.00/hour or less. Hiring a tutor is even cheaper. Many tutors charge $20.00/hour or less, with most offering discounts if you purchase multiple lessons upfront.
Hi Jack
I will follow the sequence as explained (read first in Sou Matome and later solidify by Kanzen Master). Also, refer grammar lessons at JPod for improving the understanding of grammar.
I have all books of Sou Matome (grammar, reading, kanji, vocab, listening) and Kanzen (grammar, reading, vocab, listening) i.e. Kanzen Master series Kanji book alone, I have not purchased thinking Kanji would be same in both series.
Thank you so much for your explanation… it is useful.
Best Regards
Padmashali
My bigggest concern is the effectiveness of the flashcard system (algorithm) and how does it seperate vocab to be reviewed and new vocab to be learned. Just like to hear your thought more on those.
Hi Bryan,
The flashcards on Jpod101 will either be amazing for you, or a waste of your time. Here’s my experience with using the flashcards on their site.
If you plan to study the audio lessons (by far the best feature of Jpod101), the video lessons, and/or the vocabulary lists using a desktop computer, then the flashcards are a wonderful tool to help you learn the material. However, if you ONLY want to use flashcards (not using it together with the other lessons), then it might not be worth your time. If you just want a good flashcard program with a spaced repetition system to help you remember material, the best program is Anki. If you use it on a desktop computer, its completely free, but the app costs money. I use it all the time on my smartphone.
The reason for this is because the flashcard system on the Jpod101 ONLY works with the material on their site. This means that currently, you can’t add any new words of your own. If you want a flashcard system where you can add any words you wish, or have access to a huge database of Japanese vocabulary, then go with Anki.
However, the flashcard system on Japanesepod101 makes it very, very easy to study any vocabulary or phrases found on their entire site. If you study one of the audio lessons, you can easily find all of the vocabulary from that lesson in the flashcard section. It is also organized very well, which makes it easy study.
As far as the algorithm goes, it’s probably a little better than Anki in my opinion. This is because with Anki, when you answer a question, you can only choose three options: red(which means incorrect, and it will show you the word again in 1 min), green (correct answer, and will show you the word again at a specific interval), or grey (which means you are near mastery of the word, and will display it again further in the future).
The flashcards on Japanesepod101 gives you the option to choose between many degrees of “incorrectness” and “correctness.” It does this by displaying a bar when you check the answer to a question. The left side of the bar is colored red, which means an incorrect answer, while the right side means a correct answer, and is colored green. You can click anywhere on this bar to express how well you remember the word you are studying. If you don’t remember it at all, you could click the left side of the bar, which will then show you the same word again in 1 min. Or if you feel that you kind of remembered the word, you could click somewhere in the red zone, but closer to the center. By doing this, it will display the word again further in the future. For example, 1 hour or 1 day later…it’s your choice.
Also the display of the cards on Japanesepod101 is much nicer and easier to read the Anki. There are also audio flashcards on Jpod, so you can hear the material being spoken.
Just a side note: The flashcards only come with the premium membership to Japanesepod101. The basic membership doesn’t have this option.
Sorry for the long answer, but I wanted to give you as much details as I could. If you have any other questions, let me know and I’ll try my best to answer it.
Thanks Bryan, good luck!
Hi Jack
Thank you so much for sharing very useful insight on JPod101.
Would you like to comment regarding seasons that corresponds to JLPT N2. I am planning to take JLPT N2 in July 2017. I have Sou Matome as well as KM series. Also, I have 2 years Premium membership for JPod101. I planned to use Sou Matome as main text book and refer KM Reading for practice. After reading your views on JPod101, I would like to use this however since there are plenty of stuff there, I do not want to get lost. Which are the seasons I should focus on without wasting much time on others e.g. focus on Intermediate and Advanced.
Thanks in advance
Best regards
Padmashali
Hi Padmashali!
I’m glad you got some insights from the article. Glad to be of help.
For the JLPT, the Sou Matome and Kazen Master books are great. Do you have all of them (grammar, reading, kanji, vocab, listening)? Since you have a little over 6 months to study for the next JLPT, I would probably study the Sou Matome books first, except for the grammar. For the grammar, you can study both books together at the same time. The Sou Matome books are very easy to study, so I studied the grammar patterns in there first, then used the Kanzen Master grammar book to learn more/solidify what I just studied. For the vocab, kanji, and reading books, I studied the Sou Matome books first. I completed all of them by doing a lesson or two each day, then reviewing weekly. Then I switched over to the Kanzen Master series and studied those.
As for Japanesepod101, they have quite a lot of lessons on grammar points used in the JLPT N2 level. They have kanji flashcards too, but I don’t think it’s that great. The Sou Matome or Kazen Master books are much better for learning the N2 kanji. However, the N2 level grammar audio lessons on Japanesepod101 are great. The audio lessons are fun and teaches you how to use the grammar naturally, which makes it easier to remember (since it’s useful and used in everyday conversations in Japan). There is a list of the N2 grammar lessons on their website. Since you are a member, click on the “…” menu at the top of the screen and select “grammar bank.” You can search for grammar patterns by the JLPT level. This is the direct link to that page: https://thetruejapan.com/japanesepod101-jlpt-n2-grammar
Hope this helps! Good luck Padmashali!
Hello, if I avail the 65% off (24-month plan), would I be charged the $84 outright or would they be charging me $3.5 monthly for 24 months? Also, if I availed the 65% off would I not be able to avail the lifetime afterwards? Thanks very much for your help! 😀
Hi Gem,
I believe you will be charged upfront. So if you use the 65% discount to buy a 24 month plan, you would be charged $84 when you make that purchase. The lifetime membership is a little hidden…so it’s hard to find. If you can’t find it, you can use the link on this page. You can upgrade to the lifetime plan at anytime, even after you use the discount. I actually was a normal member for 2 or 3 years paying for months at a time until I realized it would be cheaper for me to get a lifetime membership. Hope this helps!
thank you for your discount. I subscribe the 24 moths premium, but the paypal@japanesepod101.com show the next two years will cost $240. what is the meaning? If I use your discount, I will force to subscribe four years and the the price of next two years is $240?
jp101 admit “You paid $84 for a 24-Month Premium subscription. The subscription will expire on November xx, 2018 and you will not incur any future charges. ”
thank you for your discount!
Okay great! I’m glad you got it all sorted out! 🙂 Have fun learning Japanese! If you have any questions leave us a comment anytime!
Hi classic,
Thank you for your message and reading our posts! If you used the 65% off code, you should have only been charged for your current purchase (24 month premium plan). The 24 month premium plan normally costs $240.00, but with the discount code it should be $84.00.
If you choose to renew this subscription after it expires in two years, you’ll be charged the normal rate since the discount only applies to your first purchase. However, you should definitely NOT be charged for this now. You should only be charged for your current purchase of $84.00. The $240.00 might just be showing you what it will cost if you keep the membership after your 24 month membership expires. Check to see if it’s just a notice showing you the price for your next subscription or if they actually charged you for 4 years. If they charged you $240.00 more for another 24 month plan, that is NOT right. If they charged this, please send them an e-mail to get this charge refunded. They have good service and usually take care of your e-mail requests very quickly.
Hope this helps!
Under the 65% discount offer through your website, how much should i pay in total to get the premium subscription? what is the total validity period? 12 months or 24 months?
You can choose how long you want to subscribe for. You can use the discount to subscribe for one month ($25 normally, but $8.75 with the 65% off) or up to 24 months. The longer the subscription you buy, the cheaper it gets. So for the 24 month subscription, you would only be paying $3.50 a month. The first 3 lessons for every section (which is a lot of lessons) are free. You should listen to them and see if you like it. Then you can decide if you want to subscribe for a premium membership or not. Best wishes Sivakumar!
Could please give the phone number to contact japanesepod101 team.
Hi Sivakumar,
The best way to get in contact with the team at Japanesepod is by e-mail here: contactus@japanesepod101.com They usually respond to your requests quickly.