Japanese is a wonderful language, and I have a wonderful resource to share with you! This post will take you through the brilliance that is Japanese in 12 and how it can help you work through the confusion of learning Japanese and build your skills gradually and naturally.
You can check out the website for yourself here and use the code CHLOE for 15% off if you decide to sign up.
Let’s start with the basics. The course is 12 weeks long, with 5 modules each week plus a quiz for day 6. The video lessons range from about 5-15 minutes each with worksheets for each lesson, so it’s nice and manageable if you’ve got other things going on in life (I’m a big fan of the ‘little and often’ approach). Even though it’s designed as a 12 week course, you can take it at your own pace but future content is locked so you don’t try to do too much at once and overwhelm yourself. It’s not a ‘live’ course (meaning the videos are pre recorded, it’s not 1-to-1 personal tutoring), but with the amount of interaction and help available from the team you can get tailored support to help you along your journey.
There are also a load of bonuses, like the Quizlet sets which include all the vocab from the course, the community forum and the discord server to connect and practice with other students. There are several levels you can be placed in depending on your previous studies (if you’ve done any) so you can get the most out of the course based on your existing knowledge. They are taking on new students every month, so be sure to check the website if you’re interested in signing up!
If you are interested in joining the course, you can use the code CHLOE for 15% off (I make a small commission, and your support means this blog can keep sharing other awesome resources like Japanese in 12). There are only a veeeery limited number of spaces left for the October intake, or you can sign up for November!
Now, let’s get into some more detail shall we? I will just say as a little disclaimer that 1. I was very kindly gifted the Japanese in 12 course (thank you Aimee!), 2. This is only my opinion based on my personal experiences and preferences, you’re free to disagree (I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!) and 3. I started with the intermediate course, and I’m now on week 3 of the higher intermediate course, so I won’t be talking too much about the specific content covered since I can’t offer any insight into the beginner levels. The levels roughly correspond to the JLPT levels so that can give you some idea of what each level of the course teaches!
Anyway, back to the main point of this post.
The setup
I love how easy this course is to follow. I’ve done a couple other online Japanese courses during my studies, and I have to say the way Japanese in 12 is set up is the best in my opinion. It’s so simple and straightforward, but it doesn’t hold back with the amount of content. It doesn’t just give you a load of videos to watch and expect you to take it all on board, it guides you through step by step and builds up your Japanese knowledge gradually. Every day there is a 10ish minute video with the corresponding worksheets. The lesson can include grammar, vocabulary, kanji, reading, writing, and listening, so there’s really a lot packed into a short lesson, and everyday feels like you’ve really learned something practical that you can put to use right away. The activities for each lesson vary too, so it could be a translation exercise, a practice conversation, questions to answer etc. It’s really nice that each lesson is a little bit different, so you don’t feel like you’re stuck in a cycle and each day brings something fresh. It keeps things interesting and you stay more engaged when there’s some variety!
The style
Japanese in 12 is super relaxed in the best way possible. The way Aimee created the videos really makes it feel like you’re studying with a friend, rather than being talked at by a teacher (suits and chalkboards are nowhere to be seen!). You can really feel how passionate Aimee is about the Japanese language and teaching. Even though it feels casual, it still packs a punch with the amount of content it includes, and the team members are always on hand to help out should you need it. With the forum and discord server too, there’s always someone to connect with in a relaxed environment. It just has a really nice vibe and community feel, so you know you’re not studying alone.
The content
Ok, I know I said I wouldn’t focus too much on the content, but there were some things I wanted to mention. Having done the intermediate and now higher intermediate levels, I noticed that the higher intermediate level feels a lot more balanced in terms of the amount of vocab and kanji you learn. I can’t speak for the beginner course as I can only share from my own experiences, but the intermediate course was very grammar heavy to me. In the higher intermediate course, there is a lot more vocab to learn each week, and you even get kanji practice sheets for new characters. Of course there were lots of vocab and kanji included in the Quizlet sets for the intermediate level, but it’s nice that the higher intermediate course brings more focus to it in the main course (it’s also still included on Quizlet!). As someone who struggles the most with building vocab, it’s nice to be introduced to more new words each week, as I feel like I can form stronger sentences when I have more words to work with. I also really like how there are a lot of conversations throughout and you learn common conversational phrases, so it’s a lot more like ‘real life’, practical Japanese. The worksheets are also really good, they include such a range of activities so every lesson is a little bit different, which stops it feeling boring and repetitive. There’s something satisfying about seeing all your work and progress in physical form when you’ve got all your worksheets together!
To improve?
Honestly, other than the heavy grammar focus in the intermediate course, I can’t think of anything I would change about Japanese in 12. I personally love the ‘little and often’ approach that’s been taken, so you can take your time and really enjoy the process of learning Japanese. The video lessons are easy to follow and the worksheets provide you with the practice needed to improve and strengthen your skills. Your knowledge and confidence builds over time, and looking back at the past 12 weeks to see how far you’ve come is a little surreal!
If you’re interested in joining the course, you can join the waiting list now and use the code CHLOE for 15% off!
In summary
Easy to follow structure of 5 lessons a week for 12 weeks
Quizzes to test your progress
Lots of bonus features such as the Quizlet sets and discord server
Even though some video lessons are short, they provide a lot of information and activities
Worksheets allow for practice and extra information
Relaxed vibe and nice community feel
Maybe quite grammar heavy (depending on the level?)
15% off with the code CHLOE :)
Have you joined the Japanese in 12 course, or are you planning to? I’d love to know your thoughts!