Hi! I’m Mai-sensei, a native Japanese tutor.
When choosing an online Japanese tutor, price matters more than many learners realize. While everyone wants good value, lessons that are too cheap often come with hidden downsides. This article explains what to watch out for and how to choose a tutor who will truly support your learning.
Note:
This is my personal opinion, but when I refer to a “cheap tutor” in this article, I generally mean tutors charging around USD 15 or less per lesson.
That said, tutors who have just started teaching online often need to set lower prices in order to build experience and reviews. From that perspective, they can actually be a good opportunity for learners.
For example, an English tutor I studied with on Preply had just earned a CELTA qualification and set their price quite low. Despite that, their teaching skills and personality were excellent.
These kinds of “hidden gems” or “miracle finds” do exist!
Common Characteristics of Extremely Cheap Japanese Tutors
The points below are based not only on my experience as a Japanese tutor, but also on my personal experience as a language learner studying Chinese and German.
Lessons are conducted only in Japanese, with no English support
This can be extremely difficult for beginners, and even intermediate learners may struggle when trying to understand subtle grammar points or nuanced expressions.
Lessons consist mainly of typing in chat or reading free online materials together
If the lesson is just reading publicly available resources, you may start wondering why you’re paying at all. This kind of learning can often be done through self-study.
Lack of grammar knowledge or inability to explain grammar clearly
This is a major warning sign. Some tutors cannot explain basic grammar concepts and may not even be familiar with essential terms such as i-adjectives, na-adjectives, or te-form.
There is an important reason for this. Native Japanese speakers learn school grammar (used in Japanese language arts classes) which focuses on reading classical texts and analyzing sentence structure for native speakers.
On the other hand, Japanese grammar for learners is a completely different system designed to help non-native speakers understand how Japanese actually works in communication. Tutors who have never studied Japanese as a foreign language often lack this perspective, making their explanations confusing or incomplete.
Teaching as a hobby rather than a profession
There is nothing wrong with tutors who teach part-time. However, tutors who rely only on free conversation because they cannot explain grammar often set very low prices. In many cases, the lesson turns into little more than paid chatting rather than structured learning.
Recommended Price Range on Preply
Based on experience and observation, the following price ranges tend to reflect different levels of professionalism on Preply.
Around USD 20 (minimum recommended)
Tutors in this range are usually serious about teaching and have a solid sense of responsibility toward language education.
USD 25–30 (best balance of quality and sustainability)
Tutors in this range often provide high-quality lessons. They can explain Japanese grammar and nuance in English or another language, while also giving learners appropriate and well-balanced speaking practice in Japanese. This range is ideal for long-term study.
USD 30 and above
This price can be worth it if the tutor meets specific criteria, such as native-level proficiency in multiple languages with the ability to explain grammar clearly, or an academic background in Japanese language education or linguistics.
However, because online tutors are free to set their own prices, some tutors charge very high rates without matching teaching ability. A higher price does not automatically mean higher quality, so careful evaluation is important.
Why AI and Apps Alone Are Not Enough
While language apps and AI tools can be helpful supplements, they are still far from perfect. Japanese generated by apps or AI often contains unnatural phrasing or outright mistakes, especially in casual expressions and nuance.
For a deeper explanation, please read the following article:
Summary
Choosing a Japanese tutor based on price alone can be risky. Extremely cheap lessons often lack structure, clear explanations, and professional teaching methods. For consistent progress, it’s best to invest in a tutor who understands Japanese grammar for learners, can explain nuances clearly, and offers well-designed lessons suited to your level. Quality instruction may cost more, but it saves time, frustration, and money in the long run.
My Japanese lessons are available on Preply ↓
Please click the Preply logo below, and search for my tutor name: “Mai B.”
If you book a trial lesson through this link, you’ll get 30% off.
At the moment, I’m welcoming students who would like to study Japanese on a long-term basis (minimum 1 month).
For this reason, I’m not able to offer one-time lessons.
Thank you so much for your understanding. (On Preply, tutors are not paid for the first trial lesson…😭)
Click here👇
