Choosing the right Japanese course duration starts with understanding how a course is structured and how many hours you can commit each week. This page explains the published course packages at Japanese Explorer, the difference between contact hours and study time, and how to build a weekly plan that fits your schedule.
Table of Contents
- How Japanese Explorer Structures Its Courses
- Contact Hours, Study Time and Calendar Weeks
- A Sample Weekly Planning Worksheet
- When JLPT Preparation Applies
- Getting Started: Trial Class, Placement and Enrolment
- FAQ
How Japanese Explorer Structures Its Courses
Japanese Explorer runs its group courses in packages of eight two-hour sessions, totalling 16 contact hours per package. The complete Beginner level spans three consecutive packages (Beginner 1, Beginner 2 and Beginner 3), adding up to 48 contact hours. Prior study may affect the recommended starting package; confirm placement and the next step with the school.
Published group course fee: $350 per 16-hour package. The current group-course page also lists a one-time $50 registration fee. Three $350 packages total $1,050 in tuition; that arithmetic is not an all-inclusive quotation. Confirm how registration, materials and any other applicable charges apply to your booking.
Private lessons are available with one-student and two-student scheduling options. The private format lets you set a pace that suits a specific deadline or focus area. Confirm the current private lesson fees and scheduling directly with the school.
Online classes are taught live over Zoom on a fixed schedule, not on demand. Ask about the current online timetable and whether recordings are available for your booking.
Contact Hours, Study Time and Calendar Weeks
Contact hours are the hours you spend in class with an instructor. Study time includes everything else: reviewing notes, writing practice, listening exercises and vocabulary self-testing.
As arithmetic, eight two-hour sessions at one session each week require eight teaching weeks; two sessions each week require four. Breaks, holidays, the actual timetable and gaps between packages can extend the calendar. This calculation does not promise that every level offers both schedules.
Set aside time for review as well as classes. Choose a personal practice slot that you can maintain, then ask which exercises support your current level. This planning guide does not prescribe a minimum practice dose or promise faster retention.
What this means in practice:
- One package (16 contact hours) at one class per week = roughly 8 weeks
- The complete Beginner sequence (48 contact hours across three packages) would require 24 teaching weeks at one two-hour session each week, before breaks or gaps.
- A timetable with two sessions each week uses fewer teaching weeks for the same hours. Confirm the actual schedule offered.
These are calendar estimates based on the published class structure, not guaranteed learning outcomes. Starting level, attendance, practice outside class and individual aptitude all affect what you achieve.
A Sample Weekly Planning Worksheet
This worksheet is illustrative. Fill in your own available hours to see whether a course fits your actual week.
- Lesson: one two-hour session in a confirmed timetable slot.
- Personal review: two 30-minute sessions and one one-hour session, totalling two hours.
- Listening or reading: two 20-minute sessions and one 30-minute session, totalling 70 minutes.
- Example weekly total: five hours ten minutes, comprising two taught hours and three hours ten minutes of optional personal practice.
Adapt those example slots to your week. The class timetable determines teaching dates; your personal review plan does not change a package’s scheduled lessons. Keep one note of what you practised and one question to bring to the next class.
This is a planning tool. The school’s syllabus determines what each session covers, and completing a set number of hours does not guarantee a specific fluency outcome.
When JLPT Preparation Applies
Japanese Explorer publishes a JLPT preparation course for learners targeting exam certification. The published group course pathway covers material through approximately JLPT N4. If your goal is N3 or above, ask the school which course or study pathway applies to your current level and target.
Exam registration and test fees are separate from course enrolment. Consult the official JLPT site and its local organiser information for your test location and session. Its level descriptions focus on reading, listening and language knowledge; attending classes is not the same as earning an exam result.
Do not assume that completing a fixed number of packages guarantees a particular JLPT result. Contact hours, consistent practice and a timeline realistic for your starting level all matter.
Getting Started: Trial Class, Placement and Enrolment
Paid trial class: Japanese Explorer offers a trial class at $45 for one two-hour session. This lets you experience the teaching style and class format before committing to a full package. Confirm the current trial schedule and conditions with the school.
Placement test: If you have studied Japanese before, take the placement test before enrolling. It identifies your starting level so you join the right package instead of repeating material you already know or jumping into content you are not ready for.
Location: The training centre is at 10 Anson Road, Level 22, International Plaza, Singapore 079903, above Tanjong Pagar MRT. You can also enquire and book through the group classes page or contact the school online.
FAQ
How long is one Japanese course package?
Each group package at Japanese Explorer is 16 contact hours: eight two-hour sessions. At one session per week, that takes roughly eight weeks. The complete Beginner level is three packages totalling 48 contact hours.
How much does a Japanese course cost in Singapore?
Japanese Explorer’s published group course fee is $350 per 16-hour package. Private and online formats have separate fee structures. Confirm the current rates with the school.
Can I learn Japanese in 3 months?
Count the actual scheduled sessions rather than treating three months as a fixed course outcome. At two taught hours a session, multiply the confirmed number of sessions by two to plan contact hours. Your starting level and practice affect what you can do with those hours.
Should I take a trial class first?
A trial class lets you check the teaching style and format before committing. Japanese Explorer’s published trial is $45 for one two-hour session. Confirm the current schedule with the school.
