Japanese Lessons in Oxford

Japanese is one of the most spoken languages worldwide, with more than 128 million speakers, and almost 30,000 of them live in England. The city of Oxford, in particular, has enjoyed a long, rich and fruitful history with Japan. The first Japanese book arrived at the Bodleian library in 1629, and the first Japanese students arrived to study at Oxford in the late 19th century! Today, the University of Oxford collaborates with Japanese higher education institutions by receiving hundreds of international students from the land of the rising sun and offering a number of courses which study its fascinating language and culture. If you would like to take one of these higher education Japanese classes or to connect with the community of local Japanese speakers (according to the 2011 census, more than 1,000 live in Oxford!), then taking a language course is a great first step! Contact us today and we will start designing a Japanese programme tailored to your needs and schedule!

Why Study Japanese in Oxford

Learn Japanese for Work: As Japan’s economy continues to grow, more opportunities for work become available in Oxford, so learning Japanese will boost your professional value. If you are actively job-seeking, get in touch with the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Salisbury House, London, an institution set up in 1959 with the purpose of promoting and extending economic relations and trade between Japan and the UK. A Chamber comes to Oxford once a year, hosting business and networking events and enhancing trade information services, helping businesspeople and job seekers to connect over their shared knowledge of Japanese. Also, there are many international companies with headquarters in Oxford, like Kyowa Kirin International, Shiseido or Astroscale, where proficiency in spoken and/or written Japanese is considered an asset and will likely stand you in good stead if you apply to work for any of them.

Learn Japanese for Culture: The benefits of taking a Japanese course in Oxford are not only limited to professional opportunities. You will also be able to make the most out of the many cultural events and organised around the city. If you would like to learn calligraphy, make a paper crane origami and wear a Japanese Kimono, there are workshops organised by the Japanese Cultural Centre every month! The Oxford Japan Day is another instance where you can celebrate all things Japanese! This festival was originally organised as a charity event to support the communities affected by the 2011 tsunami. But it has continued and grown and, today, it is a great way for the local people of Oxford to experience the Japanese culture on their doorstep. Along with modern Japanese performances, you can find traditional geisha showcases, martial arts demonstrations and taiko drumming!

Learn Japanese for Social: You can also use your Japanese to get to know like-minded people around Oxford by joining a language exchange group, such as the Taiko Oxford Meetup. Members get together every week to practise their Japanese and interact with others who also love the Japanese culture and language! In the meetings, you can also learn taiko, a Japanese art that involves a broad range of percussion instruments. After the meetings, why not go and have a taste of traditional Japanese cuisine in one of the many restaurants around the city? For example, you can order sashimi and sushi in Edamame on Holywell Street. Or you can go to Taberu Japanese Restaurant on Cowley Road, a place that specialises in hosomaki, uramaki, nigiri and gunkan. Impress your friends and order these delicious dishes with flawless Japanese pronunciation!

Where to Learn Japanese in and around Oxford

So, take Japanese in Oxford to take advantage of the many professional opportunities or to make the most out of the city’s amazing cultural events. Either way, Language Trainers can design a personalised course that suits your needs and skills. Just contact us and we will arrange one of our Japanese native teachers to go to your home, workplace, or a public place for your lessons. For example, you could have your lessons at the Oxford Public Library on Pontiac Street, Art Café at 14 New Road or The Grand Café at 84 High Street.

And if you are not based in Oxford but want to study Japanese with us, you can still do it! We have amazing tutors waiting to get started in Abingdon, Didcot, Faringdon, Aylesbury, Bicester and Carterton.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s go, 行こう(Yuko)! If you are not an absolute beginner, you can take our free Japanese Level Test so we can assess your skills and then design a personalised course that suits your preferences and abilities!