Hmm...Japanese Beginners isn't difficult, if you enjoy the subject and are willing to invest the time to revise everything you do in class and all that jazz. And if you're lazy in the holidays and don't do anything Japanese-related, it'll really bite you in the head. :|
I did Japanese for Years 7 and 8, and I was able to recognise the Hiragana, and so was the rest of the class since they'd done Japanese in junior high years too...Once you get past the "revision", it gets a bit hard...once you've learnt the most of the structures and stuff, it becomes a little less like drilling something into your skull and more about refining what little skill you have at reading, writing and speaking. Listening is hell. Especially if the person speaks too quickly, too softly, too muffly or just completely incomprehensible you're left wondering, "Huh?".
The topics are stuff like Home Life, Family, Shopping, Restaurants, School, After school, Work, etc, etc. Still have a few more topics left..