These are some of the essential (and not so essential) words to know..

• kutsu (koo-tsoo): shoes
• gakko- (ga-*little pause*-ko*long o*): school
• hon (hoh-n): book
• keshigomu (keh-shee-go-moo): eraser
• tsukue (tsoo-koo-eh): desk
• megane (meh-gah-neh): glasses (like what go's on your face :D)
• jitenshya (jee-ten-shya): bike (foot powered! :3)
• toire (toh-ee-reh): toilet
• hon ya (hoh-n-ya): book store
• uchi/iie (oo-chee/ee*long*-eh): both mean house, used differently depending on context.
• hito/jin (hee-toh/jee-n): person, used differently depending on context.
• denwa (deh-n-wa): phone
• kodomo (koh-doh-moh): child
• ringo (ree-n-go): apple
• shyashin (shyah-shee-n): photograph
• kudamono (koo-dah-mh-noh): fruit
• hagaki (hah-gah-kee): post card
• yu-bikyoku (yu*long oo*-bee-kyo-koo): post office
• budou (boo-doh-oo): grapes
• horensou (hoh-reh-n-soh-oo): spinache
• tomokoroshi (toh-moh-koh-roh-shee): corn on the cob
• zou (zoh-oo): elephant
• shyu-mi (shyu*long vowel*-mee): hobby

well, I warned you; Its a rather random list. If you have any questions or want to know anything in specific (such as a certain word or how to say some phrase) feel free to just comment it in or pm me. :3