What is Wasabi?
Wasabi is an online Japanese learning tool, especially designed to help you study Japanese by practicing speaking, listening and grammar. Via Skype, you can take one-on-one lessons with experienced Japanense tutors from anywhere in the world.
I am a beginner. Can I enjoy Wasabi fully?
You can take Wasabi lessons at any level but please be aware that based on our direct study method the lessons will be conducted in Japanese at any level. If you are a total beginner we can connect you with one of our tutors who speak English and can give you additional explanations in English.
Can I try out Wasabi for free first and decide on a plan later?
Yes! You can sign up for a free Wasabi account and book a trial lesson with one of our native Japanese tutors. If you would like to continue taking lessons after your first trial you can book one of our lesson plans or book another single lesson.
What is required to enroll in Wasabi?
If you have an Internet connection with Skype and your device has a microphone, you can enroll in Wasabi. Materials will be provided by us for free.
What kind of plan is available?
We provide two lesson plans; 4 one-on-one lessons per month for 50 minutes once a week at JPY 7,560 or 8 lessons twice a week at JPY 14,040 yen per month. Furthermore you can also buy single lessons.
Do you have telephone help desks?
We do not provide support by telephone. However, if you need any help, or have any questions or concerns, please send us a message via this contact form. You will receive a response within three business days.
What is your business hours and which days are you closed?
Our tutors provide lessons 7 days a week at varying times according to each individual tutor's schedule. You can sign up for a free Wasabi trial account to see the tutor's available times. Depending on the individual tutor’s availability lessons might be paused during the following Japanese holidays. *Subject to change as per Japan’s calendar every year.
Golden Week (Spring Break) – May 1st-7th
Obon (Summer Break) – August 12th – 18th
Shogatsu (Winter Break)– December 28th – January 3rd
Which time zone does Wasabi use?
We use Japan Standard Time. However, when you book a lesson you can view the tutor's schedule in your own time zone. If you face difficulty with the conversion, this converter may be of use to you.
How can I change my personal information such as Skype ID and name?
You can update your information via your My Page.
How can I change my email address?
Please contact us over chat or send us a message via this contact form.
How much is your tuition fee?
We have two lesson plans; 4 one-on-one lessons per month for 50 minutes once a week at JPY 7,560 or 8 lessons twice a week at JPY 14,040 yen per month. Furthermore you can also buy single lessons. Wasabi does not require entrance fee, material fee, or any additional fees.
How can I pay for Wasabi?
You can subscribe to a Wasabi plan or pay for a single lesson using any of the following credit cards: VISA, Master Card, American Express. PayPal payment is also available. Please contact us via our contact form or support Skype account to arrange payment via PayPal.
When is the tuition fee charged?
When you enroll in Wasabi we calculate the payment for your first month of lessons depending on the date of your first payment. From the following month your payment will be automatically processed at the end of the previous month. E.g.: November lessons will be charged for at the end of October.
If I enroll in Wasabi in the middle of a month, when can I start taking lessons?
Once your registration and payment are completed you can request your first lesson. The lesson request buffer time depends on the tutor but it is usually 24 hours. So the first possible lesson would be 24 hours or later after the payment for your plan.
If you sign up in the middle of the month you will pay for and be able to take half of the amount of lessons for that month.
When Wasabi is closed on Japanese holidays or I am absent from my lessons, is the tuition fee refundable?
No, it is not. Our payments are monthly and not refundable.
How can I discontinue my lessons?
Please contact us by the 15th of the month via the contact form in order to cancel your enrollment for the following month.
Is the tuition fee refundable if I discontinue my lessons in the middle of a month?
No, it is not. Our payments are monthly and not refundable.
What are your tutors like?
All Wasabi tutors are either certified teachers of Japanese as a foreign language or have been trained as volunteer tutors. Before joining Wasabi, they have gained experience as teachers in language schools, universities, volunteer programs and as private tutors. Their backgrounds are diverse and many of them have lived abroad or worked corporate jobs, before they discovered their passion for teaching. All tutors are carefully selected and are able to provide lessons using the effective Wasabi materials.
Can I choose my tutor myself?
Yes you can! After signing up for a trial lesson or for a lesson plan you will be able to choose your tutor from a list of different tutors. You can choose them based on their profiles or their available times.
Can I change my tutor if I found him or her unprofessional?
Yes, you can. If you face any difficulties in taking our lessons due to your tutor, please let us know at any time via this contact form. We shall deal with the issue immediately.
Is a tutor continuously in charge of my lesson?
You can chose your tutor yourself, so you can switch to a different tutor any time you like. However we recommend staying with one tutor for at least 1 month before you make a decision. Your tutor will become familiar with your abilities and modify his or her lessons in order to fit your language needs.
Do you have tutors who can speak English?
Yes. Many of our tutors speak English at a daily conversation level or higher. Even if our tutors know English, he or she will usually use only Japanese during the lessons in order to fully immerse you in the Japanese learning experience. We support the direct learning method for speaking practice. If you are a total beginner and need some additional explanations in English, we can assign you a tutor who speaks English.
From what time to what time are your lessons available?
Our tutors provide lessons 7 days a week at varying times according to each individual tutor's schedule. You can sign up for a free Wasabi trial account to see the tutor's available times. Our business hours for support are from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm from Monday to Friday (Japan Standard Time) . Depending on the individual tutor’s availability lessons might be paused during the following Japanese holidays. *Subject to change as per Japan’s calendar every year.
Golden Week (Spring Break) – May 1st-7th
Obon (Summer Break) – August 12th – 18th
Shogatsu (Winter Break)– December 28th – January 3rd
Can I take a lesson on a different day this week?
Yes, you can, but please understand your usual tutor might not be available on a different day.
I will be absent from my next lesson. How can I inform my tutor?
You can cancel lessons up to 24 hours in advance via your Lesson list. Simply open the lesson you wish to cancel and proceed with the cancellation. Your lesson ticket will be returned to you automatically upon cancellation.
If the cancellation is less than 24 hours in advance, please send us a message via this contact form. Please note that cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance will cause the lesson ticket to become void.
My country has daylight saving time. Does it affect my lessons time?
The schedule will automatically adjust to daylight saving time based on your timezone setting. However, since Japan doesn't have DST you might not be able to take your lesson at the same time as before.
If I am late, can I still take the lesson?
Yes, you can. However, your lesson will be shortened in accordance to your adjusted start time.
I was absent from my lesson without notice. Are there any penalties?
No, there aren’t. However, you can not retake this lesson and if you were to do so several times, your subscription might be discontinued in order to maintain our services.
I didn’t receive a call from my tutor at the scheduled lesson time.
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Please let us know via this contact form. This may be due to a system error and we shall resolve the problem immediately and arrange a compensatory lesson.
I cannot hear my tutor. What should I do?
In order to identify the cause, please check the following: Speakers/Headphones Troubleshooter If you are still experiencing trouble, there is a possibility that this might be a microphone or headphones problem.
My tutor cannot hear me. What should I do?
In order to identify the cause, please check the following: Call Quality Troubleshooters Microphone Troubleshooter
I was unable to take my lesson due to some trouble. Can I take the compensatory one?
Yes, you can. If you were unable to take your lesson without fault of your own, we shall arrange a compensatory one.
*Wasabi is not responsible for the content of external sites.
What is Skype?
Skype is a telecommunications application software product which specializes in providing video chat and voice calls from computers, tablets, and mobile devices via the Internet. If you would like to learn more, please visit the official website.
Do I need to pay for using Skype?
No, you don’t. You can call other Skype users for free.
How can I install Skype?
Please visit this webpage: Skype Downloads.
How do I know my Skype ID?
Please visit this webpage: What is a Skype Name, and how do I find mine?
