Selecting a Class Level

New students with no background in Japanese should enroll in the Beginning I course. Students with some background should refer to the course textbooks to determine the most appropriate class.

Textbooks

The Japan Society uses Japanese for Busy People by the Association for Japanese-Language Teaching (a non-profit organization since 1977). Volume I (Revised 3rd Edition) is used in Beginning I-IV and Volume II is used in Intermediate I-III. Other textbooks that may be used are:
Let's Learn Hiragana by Yasuko Kosaka Mitamura
Let's Learn Katakana by Yasuko Kosaka Mitamura

Textbooks can be reviewed and purchased online or at Kinokuniya San Francisco or Kinokuniya San Jose.
Please note that Kinokuniya does not accept returns so make sure you are purchasing the correct book!

Locations

San Francisco
Japan Society of Northern California [map]
500 Washington Street, Suite 300

San Jose
Sony [map]
1730 N. First St., San Jose

Yu Ai Kai [map]
588 N. Fourth St., San Jose

Palo Alto
Squire, Sanders, & Dempsey, LLP [map]
600 Hansen Way, Palo Alto

Corporate Language Study

Join Dolby Laboratories, Adobe, Konami and other organizations who value the professional development of their employees involved with Japan and form your own private language class. The Japan Society offers private Japanese language instruction for groups of five or more, tailored to help your organization meet its goals:

• Customized classes designed to meet your corporate language class needs
• A broad range of class levels from conversational to advanced, spanning technical, business and legal Japanese.
• Bilingual, experienced professionals with industry-specific knowledge.
• On-site instruction held at your choice of location for the convenience of your employees.

For more information about our Corporate Language Program, please call 415-986-4383 to discuss how we may help your organization reach its Japan-oriented goals.

Japanese Class Policies

Please read carefully:

• Before the third week of the term, students may change class levels with the instructor's approval. To request a change, please contact the Japan Society Language Class Coordinator.
• Before the end of the second week of the term, students may cancel a class and receive a full refund of the class tuition. After that, tuition is non-refundable and non-transferable for any reason. Please note that membership fees paid at the time of registration are non-refundable. Requests for tuition refunds may be made by email to jsnc@usajapan.org or by phone at 415-986-4383.
• Language classes will continue with a minimum of two students enrolled. If, due to unforeseen circumstances, a class is cancelled, students already enrolled will receive a full refund.
• Print your receipt for tuition payment when you register online. Receipts for phone orders will be emailed to you, please print for your records.
• Classes cancelled due to holidays or teacher emergencies will be rescheduled.
• If there are no students present within the first 20 minutes of the scheduled class, the class will be cancelled and will not be rescheduled.
• Occasionally we are required to replace an instructor, change the schedule and/or the location of a class. While we try to avoid these changes, we reserve the right to make them as needed.
• Completion of these courses does not grant equivalence of the Japan Language Proficiency Test or any other test of Japanese skill. Parties interested in taking a proficiency test should contact the Japan Foundation in Los Angeles for more information.