Online Japanese Lessons in Ireland: Times, Goals and Choosing a Tutor
If you live in Ireland, online lessons are a practical way to learn Japanese with a native tutor, whether you are in Dublin, Cork, Galway or a small town. Japan is 9 hours ahead of Ireland in winter and 8 hours ahead during Irish Summer Time, so the easiest slots are usually your early morning, lunchtime or weekend, which is the afternoon or evening in Japan. Most learners do best with one or two one-to-one video lessons a week at a fixed time, built around a clear goal such as Leaving Cert Japanese, a university course, a trip, the JLPT or work with Japanese colleagues. This guide covers lesson times, common goals for learners in Ireland and what to look for in a tutor.
Lesson times between Ireland and Japan
Japan is on Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) all year and doesn’t use daylight saving. Ireland is on UTC+0 in winter and UTC+1 from late March to late October.
| Your time in Ireland | Japan (Irish winter, 9 hours ahead) | Japan (Irish summer, 8 hours ahead) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 am | 4 pm | 3 pm |
| 9 am | 6 pm | 5 pm |
| 12 noon | 9 pm | 8 pm |
| Saturday 10 am | Saturday 7 pm | Saturday 6 pm |
Irish evenings fall in the middle of the night in Japan, so if you can only study after work or school, say so early and consider a regular weekend morning slot instead. The gap changes by an hour when Irish clocks change, so check your booking after each change. See Japanese lessons across time zones.
Common goals for learners in Ireland
- Leaving Cert Japanese. Japanese is one of the languages offered for the Leaving Certificate. A tutor can add the speaking practice, listening and feedback on writing that a full class can’t always give. Check the current exam format with your school. See high school Japanese exam tutoring.
- University Japanese. Support alongside a degree, an elective or an evening course, including preparing for a year in Japan. See tutoring for university students and studying abroad in Japan.
- A working holiday. Ireland and Japan have a working holiday arrangement for young adults. Check the current age limits and rules with the Embassy of Japan in Ireland. See Japanese for a working holiday.
- The JLPT. The test is held in Ireland, but check the official JLPT site and the local host for dates, the test centre and registration deadlines, then plan your study back from the test. See registering for the JLPT abroad.
- Work. Many Irish-based teams in tech, pharma, finance and food exports work with Japanese clients, partners or head offices. See business Japanese lessons and working at a Japanese company abroad.
- Travel and family. Phrases for a holiday, or talking with a Japanese partner’s family. See learning Japanese before a trip and learning Japanese for your partner.
What to look for in an online tutor
- A native Japanese speaker who can explain in English, so grammar questions get clear answers.
- Regular slots that fit your week, ideally the same time each week.
- Lessons built around your goal, such as the Leaving Cert, a trip or the JLPT.
- Lots of speaking time and corrections in the moment.
- A free trial, so you can check the fit before committing.
See how to choose a Japanese tutor and what to expect from online lessons. Learners across the Irish Sea can read online Japanese lessons in the UK.
How Hanabuddies can help
Our native Japanese tutors teach one-to-one or in small groups online, in English. Tell us where you are, your goal and when you’re free, and we’ll suggest a weekly slot and a plan. Your first 15 minutes are a free trial.