Frequently asked questions
Feature and pricing details are updated as JLS changes.
The course
How should I use JLS?
Start with one lesson, try its Practice tab, and review the cards you add. The short guide explains the full loop and what each part of JLS is for. Read How to use JLS
Who is this for?
Self-directed learners who want structure without being stuck in a textbook. If you have finished a first-year course and want a comprehensive path from there to upper-intermediate, this is built for you. If you cannot yet read hiragana and katakana, start with the kana course (free with an account) before Unit 1.
What levels does it cover?
40 units across 4 levels - Starter (absolute beginner through simple everyday sentences), Foundation (the grammar of a typical first-year course), Progression (bridge grammar, more nuanced patterns), and Mastery (upper-intermediate, formal/academic Japanese). The goal is to take someone from zero to comfortably reading news articles and handling workplace Japanese.
Does it use JLPT levels?
No. JLPT is a test, not a curriculum, and mapping one-to-one between JLPT levels and real-world fluency is noisy. We use our own level system designed around when patterns actually become useful in daily life, not which exam they appear on. JLS is not test prep - it's a curriculum for fluency.
How long does the curriculum take?
Planning assumption: budget 3 to 6 hours for a first pass through each unit. Across 40 units, that is 120 to 240 hours before ongoing review. At 3 to 5 study hours a week, the first pass takes roughly 6 to 18 months.
Can I use JLS alongside a textbook?
Yes. JLS is a complete course on its own, and it also works next to a textbook or a class. Lookup covers all 13,108 kanji and 218,000+ words on every plan, and the Course page lists every unit's grammar, so you can see where a pattern you met elsewhere is taught.
Audio and lookup
What about audio?
Every grammar example, vocabulary word, vocabulary example, kanji example, and reading passage has a pre-generated VOICEVOX audio file. Nothing relies on the browser's built-in robotic speech synthesis. You can pick between a male and female voice variant in settings.
How can I practice listening?
JLS includes focused listening drills, passage listening, and listening questions in unit tests. Drills let you practice by level, unit, or theme, while passage listening keeps the audio alongside the reading lesson.
Do I need a separate dictionary app?
No. Search covers every kanji (13,108) and 218,000+ words on every plan, free accounts included. Curriculum entries appear first and dictionary results are labeled as dictionary data.
Plans
How much does it cost?
Starter is free for good, along with kanji and word lookup. Full Access opens all 40 units for US$5.00 a month or US$48.00 a year. The Pricing page lists what each plan includes.
Can I cancel?
When you cancel, you'll keep Full Access until the end of your paid period. Starter progress and reviews continue on the free tier. Your Foundation-and-above and Library cards are preserved but paused, and resume where they left off if you resubscribe.
Account and devices
Is my data private?
Yes. Your progress, reviews, and bookmarks are stored per-account in our database. We do not share or sell user data. The Privacy page has the details.
Is there an iOS app?
An iPhone app is in review with Apple. It uses the same account, so your progress, reviews and cards carry over. This answer will change when it is available.