Curious about how foreign words found their way into Japanese? Join our interactive workshop and uncover the fascinating story behind borrowed words—their origins, how they entered the language, and how to pronounce them correctly. Through fun, hands-on activities, you’ll explore the many loanwords in Japanese and boost your understanding of the language in an exciting way!
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
Ever wondered why Japanese uses words like コンピューター (konpyūtā) or サラリーマン (sarariiman)? These are Gairaigo—foreign words adapted into Japanese—and Wasei Eigo, English words reinvented by Japan! You’ll dive into the Katakana world, discover its origins, and see how it shaped modern Japanese vocabulary.
What will we cover?
The history of Katakana and its role in adopting foreign words
How pronunciation and writing evolved to fit Japanese phonetics
Fun examples of everyday Gairaigo and Wasei Eigo
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Apply non-Japanese words into Japanese correctly
Identify Japanese pronunciations of originally foreign words
Expand your vocabulary with familiar words from English, French, Italian, and more
Understand how Japan created unique words now used worldwide
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Suitable for all levels—no prior knowledge of Japanese required!
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Expect an interactive, group-based approach with plenty of participation. The tutor will provide original materials—no homework, just engaging activities!
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
A notebook for taking notes and making your list of vocabulary. Based on tutor's own material.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Your tutor will guide you toward further workshops and courses to continue your Japanese journey.
Kiyomi started teaching Japanese in 2002. Since then, she has taught Japanese in the adult education sector at the various institutions and universities. She joined City Lit in 2013 and she has been teaching at all levels, from Beginners to Advanced classes. She is also working as a writer for a Japanese free paper where she writes about cultural information for Japanese people. She enjoys working both as a language teacher and a writer, as she likes to deepen her understanding of Japanese in its basic form, as well as developing her use of the language creatively. She’d like to spread her passion for the Japanese language to learners and believes that learning about a different cultural perspective is just as important and enjoyable as learning about the language itself.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
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https://www.citylit.ac.uk/japanese-workshop-japanese-gairaigo2492317Japanese workshop: Japanese Gairaigohttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/japanese-45-mod-1-lj431-1024.jpg1919GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Languages/Courses/Languages/Asian/Courses/Languages/Asian/Japanese/Courses/Online courses228512801302130417311228512801302<p><strong>Curious about how foreign words found their way into Japanese?</strong><br/>Join our interactive workshop and uncover the fascinating story behind borrowed words—their origins, how they entered the language, and how to pronounce them correctly. Through fun, hands-on activities, you’ll explore the many loanwords in Japanese and boost your understanding of the language in an exciting way!</p>002994884Japanese workshop: Japanese Gairaigo1919https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/japanese-45-mod-1-lj431-1024.jpgInStockEveningFriOnlineAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekday2026-03-27T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allMar 2026LanguagesLJW041919Japanese workshop: Japanese Gairaigo191919Kiyomi Untenjapanese-workshop-japanese-gairaigo/ljw04-2526<p><strong>Curious about how foreign words found their way into Japanese?</strong><br/>Join our interactive workshop and uncover the fascinating story behind borrowed words—their origins, how they entered the language, and how to pronounce them correctly. Through fun, hands-on activities, you’ll explore the many loanwords in Japanese and boost your understanding of the language in an exciting way!</p>0000-Available|2026-03-27 00:00:00<p>Ever wondered why Japanese uses words like <em>コンピューター</em> (konpyūtā) or <em>サラリーマン</em> (sarariiman)? These are <strong>Gairaigo</strong>—foreign words adapted into Japanese—and <strong>Wasei Eigo</strong>, English words reinvented by Japan!<br/>You’ll dive into the <strong>Katakana world</strong>, discover its origins, and see how it shaped modern Japanese vocabulary.</p><p><strong>Curious about how foreign words found their way into Japanese?</strong><br/>Join our interactive workshop and uncover the fascinating story behind borrowed words—their origins, how they entered the language, and how to pronounce them correctly. Through fun, hands-on activities, you’ll explore the many loanwords in Japanese and boost your understanding of the language in an exciting way!</p><ul><li>The <strong>history of Katakana</strong> and its role in adopting foreign words</li><li>How pronunciation and writing evolved to fit Japanese phonetics</li><li>Fun examples of everyday Gairaigo and Wasei Eigo</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Apply</strong> non-Japanese words into Japanese correctly</li><li><strong>Identify</strong> Japanese pronunciations of originally foreign words</li><li><strong>Expand</strong> your vocabulary with familiar words from English, French, Italian, and more</li><li><strong>Understand</strong> how Japan created unique words now used worldwide</li></ul><p><strong>Suitable for all levels</strong>—no prior knowledge of Japanese required!</p><p>Expect an <strong>interactive, group-based approach</strong> with plenty of participation. The tutor will provide original materials—no homework, just engaging activities!</p>A notebook for taking notes and making your list of vocabulary. Based on tutor's own material.<p>Your tutor will guide you toward <strong>further workshops and courses</strong> to continue your Japanese journey.</p>AsianJapanesevirtual191919LJW04NONEFri27/03/2618:00 - 20:0018:0020:001 session1One-off onlyEveningWeekdayOnlineOnlineKiyomi UntenBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-03-27T00:00:00+00:00Mar 2026Languages1919Japanese workshop: Japanese Gairaigojapanese-workshop-japanese-gairaigo/ljw04-2526<p><strong>Curious about how foreign words found their way into Japanese?</strong><br/>Join our interactive workshop and uncover the fascinating story behind borrowed words—their origins, how they entered the language, and how to pronounce them correctly. Through fun, hands-on activities, you’ll explore the many loanwords in Japanese and boost your understanding of the language in an exciting way!</p>0000-Available|2026-03-27 00:00:00<p>Ever wondered why Japanese uses words like <em>コンピューター</em> (konpyūtā) or <em>サラリーマン</em> (sarariiman)? These are <strong>Gairaigo</strong>—foreign words adapted into Japanese—and <strong>Wasei Eigo</strong>, English words reinvented by Japan!<br/>You’ll dive into the <strong>Katakana world</strong>, discover its origins, and see how it shaped modern Japanese vocabulary.</p><p><strong>Curious about how foreign words found their way into Japanese?</strong><br/>Join our interactive workshop and uncover the fascinating story behind borrowed words—their origins, how they entered the language, and how to pronounce them correctly. Through fun, hands-on activities, you’ll explore the many loanwords in Japanese and boost your understanding of the language in an exciting way!</p><ul><li>The <strong>history of Katakana</strong> and its role in adopting foreign words</li><li>How pronunciation and writing evolved to fit Japanese phonetics</li><li>Fun examples of everyday Gairaigo and Wasei Eigo</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Apply</strong> non-Japanese words into Japanese correctly</li><li><strong>Identify</strong> Japanese pronunciations of originally foreign words</li><li><strong>Expand</strong> your vocabulary with familiar words from English, French, Italian, and more</li><li><strong>Understand</strong> how Japan created unique words now used worldwide</li></ul><p><strong>Suitable for all levels</strong>—no prior knowledge of Japanese required!</p><p>Expect an <strong>interactive, group-based approach</strong> with plenty of participation. The tutor will provide original materials—no homework, just engaging activities!</p>A notebook for taking notes and making your list of vocabulary. Based on tutor's own material.<p>Your tutor will guide you toward <strong>further workshops and courses</strong> to continue your Japanese journey.</p>AsianJapaneseconfigurable
