If you want your kid to learn an Asian language, Japanese could be a great choice. Japanese as a language is obviously different from English, but it remains one of the most in-demand and fun languages to learn. It also often works as the perfect gateway to learn more about Japanese cultures and traditions. If your kid eventually decides to work in Japan in the future, knowing the language comes in handy, and even entry-level Japanese can help in opening up new prospects for an international career. There are some amazing schools that offer courses in Japanese for kids, and you can find many choices, depending on what you want the child to learn.
Selecting an online course
As we mentioned, there are many online schools with Japanese-language courses for kids and adolescents. Before you choose one, there are a few aspects to consider. Firstly, check the course contents in detail. The focus of learning a language like Japanese should be application. Check if the child will get exposure to the language in real sense. Japanese, much like Mandarin or other Asian languages, can be hard to learn, so you want a school that offers practical exposure and allows students to learn more, in limited time. Since your child will have to learn other things too and has school to attend, minimum time required for the Japanese course is something to consider.
Consider the technology used
Online Japanese courses are easy to access for sure, but you need to be sure that the tech used is easy for the kids to understand. Students should be able to study from the comfort of their homes, with options to use either a personal computer or mobile device. Check how the course materials will be shared, and whether there is a need to buy additional books. The best schools are relying on options like Zoom video conferencing software, which make it easy for the students to learn without any hassle.
Other things that matter
Japanese is interesting to learn, but if your child keeps learning the basics with no practical approach, he/she may lose interest in no time. Beyond the grammatical aspects, check if the school focuses on conversational Japanese. They should be able to apply their knowledge. Most courses require a certain number of hours every week, so check if your child can make that commitment.
Schools offering Japanese courses for kids often have demo classes, and free videos, which are worth checking.
