Step Up Japanese

Step Up Japanese Helping adults speak Japanese with confidence through friendly online lessons. Group courses and 1:1 tuition for beginners to advanced learners.

Step Up Japanese - Conversational Japanese online and in the heart of Brighton, UK! Learn to speak Japanese in a friendly environment. Gain insights into Japanese culture, express yourself and have fun learning something new. Whether your aim is to travel in Japan, communicate with Japanese friends, or understand your favourite anime series better, Step Up Japanese is here to help you. Follow us o

n Facebook for the latest info on new classes, or get in touch for a chat about your language-learning needs. Learn Japanese in Brighton with Step Up Japanese!

One of my favourite things to hear from a student is that they’re enjoying learning Japanese while still feeling challen...
04/09/2026

One of my favourite things to hear from a student is that they’re enjoying learning Japanese while still feeling challenged ❤️

Sid has joined both my one-to-one and group course, and this is what he had to say:
“I've learned lots and really enjoyed the lessons at Fran's one-to-one conversation classes and the group Kanji for beginners. The lessons are well designed and learning happens in an enjoyable but still challenging way which is ideal! I highly recommend Fran and Step Up Japanese.”

I think that “enjoyable but still challenging” sums up a lot of what I'm aiming for.

I want you to feel comfortable enough to have a go, but also challenged enough to keep progressing.

When it comes to conversation practice, that means actually using the Japanese you know, even when it isn't perfect.

Sakura & Fuji Conversation Courses start on 15th September 🇯🇵

Online group classes with plenty of opportunities to practise speaking Japanese.

Comment INFO and I’ll send you the details.

03/09/2026

Could you work out what these slippers are for? 👘🇯🇵

館内 (kannai) = inside the building/hotel
�用 (you) = for use�
館内用 (kannaiyou) = for use inside the hotel only

This is the kind of practical Japanese you'll see in hotels, ryokan, hot springs, and other accommodation throughout Japan.

Japanese isn't just something you learn from a textbook.

The more Japanese you see in context, the easier it becomes to recognise familiar words and understand how they're actually used.

But understanding Japanese is only one part of becoming confident.

You also need opportunities to use it! 💬

That's what my Sakura and Fuji conversation courses are designed for. You'll get regular opportunities to practise speaking Japanese in a friendly, supportive online group, using the Japanese you already know and gradually building your confidence.

🗓️ Starting 15th September�
💻 Online group classes�
💬 Conversation-focused practice
Comment INFO and I'll send you the details.

What kind of Japanese would you most like to be able to talk about? 👇

27/08/2026

Can you read this Japanese sign? 🚽🇯🇵

故障 (koshou) = broken / malfunction�
〜中 (chuu) = currently / in progress�
故障中 (koshouchuu) = out of order

So:
トイレ故障中� toire koshouchuu�
= The toilet is out of order 🚽

And then there's:
⇦ トイレ位置 ⇨� toire ichi� = toilet location
Other toilets were 1.6km or 4.5km away 😅

This is the kind of Japanese I love teaching because you're not just memorising isolated vocabulary. You're learning to recognise words, grammar and patterns in context.

And once you start recognising more Japanese, the next step is being able to actually use it.
That's what my Sakura and Fuji conversation courses are all about. 🇯🇵

Friendly online group classes where you can practise speaking Japanese, use the vocabulary and grammar you already know, and gradually build your confidence.

🗓️ Starting 15th September�
💻 Online group classes�
💬 Conversation-focused practice
Comment INFO and I'll send you the details.

27/08/2026

Meet the team!

Plot twist: it's just me 👋

What do you worry about most when learning Japanese? 👀Making mistakes? Forgetting words? Not understanding everything? F...
27/08/2026

What do you worry about most when learning Japanese? 👀
Making mistakes?
Forgetting words?
Not understanding everything?
Feeling like everyone else is better than you? (yep)

These are all things I hear from Japanese learners and the truth is, most of them don’t matter as much as you think.

You don't need to understand every word. And you don't need to wait until you're "ready" to have a conversation.

I’ll encourage you to have a go, make mistakes and keep going. No point is staying silent because you're worried about getting it wrong ❤️

Then you gradually become more comfortable using what you know.

What's one thing you worry about too much when learning Japanese?

21/08/2026

What goes into creating a Japanese lesson? 👀

Before a lesson, I'm thinking about:
・What do I want students to be able to do?
・What language do they actually need?
・How can we make this relevant to YOU?

And usually, what can I take out?

55-minute lessons go quickly, but there’s no point trying to squeeze in as much Japanese as possible.

I just want you to leave thinking "I can actually USE this."

Step Up Japanese started with one small Beginner Japanese course in Brighton and a lot of nerves.I wanted to help more p...
31/07/2026

Step Up Japanese started with one small Beginner Japanese course in Brighton and a lot of nerves.
I wanted to help more people enjoy learning Japanese.

My first Beginner Japanese course had two students. I was really nervous, and I wasn't sure anyone would sign up. A friend told me やってみれば？ (yatte mireba) - "Give it a go."

I'm so glad I listened.

Since then, I've taught hundreds of Japanese learners, moved from classroom teaching to online lessons, met students from around the world, collaborated with amazing teachers, and built a community I'm so proud of.

Something that hasn't changed: I still believe learning Japanese should be enjoyable, supportive, and something you look forward to each week.

Thank you so much to everyone who's been part of this journey so far. I really appreciate your support ❤️

👇 I'd love to know: How did your Japanese learning journey begin?

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