How to write Japanese - lessons from Japanese teachers
Essay/composition correction service
What Is Tensaku?
Tensaku, or 添削, is our essay/composition correction service. Tensaku is available to all FlexLessons students
(except those students who have purchased only the 2-lesson trial package).
You can now have your own Japanese short essay or composition reviewed and corrected by a professional JOI teacher, for just the cost of one FlexLessons ticket.
By bringing together all the elements you learn in classes at JOI— grammar, vocabulary, kana and kanji—writing in Japanese can speed up your language learning.
Details
1. Twice a month (on the 1st and the 15th), we publish a variety of tensaku topics at several skill levels.
Each topic is offered by a specific JOI teacher.
2. You choose a topic, write your Japanese text (up to 400 characters), and submit it through the reservation system. You can write your text by hand or by computer. Your account is charged one FlexLessons ticket.
The number of submissions our teachers can accommodate is limited.
Once you reserve a ticket, you have 3 days (72 hours) to write and submit your Japanese text.
As long as you submit your writing during the 3-day reservation period, you are guaranteed your submission will be accepted.
JOI reserves the right to reject any tensaku submission for any reason, including but not limited to objectionable content or content that deviates from the stated topic.If a submission is rejected, the service charge is refunded.
Tensaku is not available to students who have purchased only the 3-lesson trial package.
Please use trial lesson tickets to take FlexLessons classes.
3. The JOI teacher in charge of your topic reviews your text, makes suggestions and corrections, and emails you a detailed tensaku document within two weeks.
How do I make submit an essay for correction ?
First choose a topic and reserve the topic.
Your account will be charged 1 FlexLesson for this reservation.
You have 3 days to write the essay after you reserve it.
When you are ready, ( within 3 days ) upload your text for review and correction.
After your text is submitted, the JOI teacher in charge of your topic reviews your text for grammatical and usage errors, and emails you the detailed results within 2 weeks.
How much does it cost ?
A tensaku submission costs one FlexLessons ticket.
The ticket is deducted from your account when you submit your text.
Please note JOI reserves the right to reject any tensaku submission for any reason,
including but not limited to objectionable content or content that deviates from the stated topic.
If a submission is rejected, the service charge is refunded.
What type of files can I use ?
We accept the following types of files. With each submission, you may upload 1 file, which must be 2 MB (2,000 KB) or smaller.
Text File : .doc .rtf (.rtf is recommended)
Image or Picture : .jpg
PDF File : .pdf
Can I write my text by hand?
Yes, we accept handwritten text. You'll need to use a scanner to scan your text, and make one image file.
We accept image files in jpg format.
Can I cancel my reservation if I decide not to write the essay later or if I run out of time ?
No. Once the reservation is made, you cannot cancel it.
So please make a reservation only if you are sure you can have time to write the essay.
Essays submitted late may be rejected, so please try to get them in 3 days after the reservation,
and before the deadline. We will however allow for some leeway with slightly late submissions.
Can I make changes to my text after I submit?
No. Once you complete your text submission, your teacher may begin immediately reviewing it, so no changes are allowed. Be sure to check your work before submitting.
How much should I write—how long can my composition be?
Please limit your text to 400 Japanese characters. Count every character, but don't include punctuation marks or spaces. If you submit more than 400 characters, the teacher may choose to review only the first 400 characters of your composition.
What if my tensaku is larger the one file, what should I do?
Submit the first page of tensaku and send the second page via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
How often can I make a tensaku submission?
At least once a month, possibly more depending on the teacher and the topic.
Topics change twice a month (on the 1st and 15th), and are offered at skill levels from beginner to advanced.
Each teacher sets limits on how many submissions he/she can accept and how many submissions from one student the teacher permits.
Can I write about different topics apart from those on the topic list ?
No the Tensaku are limited to the topics shown.
If you submit an essay on a different topic, it will not be corrected.
