Japanese Language Division
The link to details about the Japanese Language Division is at the bottom of this page.
Japanese 1
Students will learn Hiragana reading and writing. They will also acquire age-appropriate vocabulary and simple sentence structures. They will be able to understand and follow directions in Japanese, read and comprehend what is in the textbook without difficulty, and talk and write about themselves, their families, daily life and special events. In addition, students will learn Japanese culture through various fun activities, such as origami, singing, calligraphy and traditional games.
Japanese 2
In Japanese 2, students will be able to engage in basic daily conversation while acquiring age-appropriate vocabulary. They will also be able to use the past tense to talk about their favorite events and use adjectives to describe people, places, and things. Instructions are generally given in Japanese, with important or complex explanations given in English. Students will enjoy learning about Japanese culture through watching a variety of videos and playing traditional fun activities for children.
Japanese 3
Japanese 3 is an introductory class designed for students aged 10 to 16. The course emphasizes essential vocabulary and expressions, starting with the reading and writing of Hiragana and Katakana. Students will then learn around 60 basic kanji characters. By the end of the year, students will be able to discuss their daily lives, describe themselves and objects in their surroundings, use shopping phrases, and talk about their trips. This foundational knowledge effectively prepares students for advanced studies in Japanese 4 class.
Japanese 4
In this course students will learn basic grammar such as past, present, and future tenses, expressions for describing people and things, and we'll cover beginner-level kanji with over 100 characters. We'll emphasize "writing in Japanese," and students will be encouraged to gain writing skills by incorporating the kanji and idioms they'll learn into written compositions. In addition, students will improve their conversational skills by learning the appropriate expressions for various situations in daily life, such as at school, shopping, and restaurants, while practicing how to respond. The goal of the J4 course is to build students' confidence and to foster inspiration for further learning.
Japanese 5
Students will learn various forms of language, such as male and female speech, casual conversations with friends, and formal conversations. They will be able to compare things, state reasons, predictions, and causes and effects with more complex sentence structures. They will also be able to understand different kinds of conversations from daily talks to formal interviews and read simple articles in newspapers. Every week, students will learn about seasonal Japanese culture through videos. Based on what they have learned in the videos, students will present their opinions in class and write compositions. Students will also learn how to express the seasons in poetry and haiku. Students will also learn about approximately 100 new kanji characters.
