Thank you for your interest in Japan Society Japanese Language Classes! Classes for the Summer 2008 semester will begin the week of May 12. The complete summer schedule is now posted here.
The Japan Society offers Japanese language classes at various levels throughout the Bay Area.
At a Glance:
- Locations in San Francisco, San Jose, and Palo Alto
- Levels from total beginner to advanced
- 12 week sessions of 2-hour classes, one day per week
- Classes of 5 - 12 students
- Experienced, native Japanese-speaking instructors
- Tailored on-site corporate classes available
Fees
Japan Society Members: $195
Non-Members: $300
If you are not already a member, please click here to see about individual memberships!
Class Levels
Beginning Series (I-V)
The Beginning Series focuses primarily on the development of basic conversational skills and an understanding of Japanese as it is currently spoken in Japan. Topics covered include introductions, giving opinions, asking permission, expressing preferences, and giving and receiving. Both hiragana and katakana are introduced, and the student should be able to read and produce both accurately upon completion of this series of classes. Please note that Beginning I is for students with NO previous Japanese experience. Beginning II, Beginning III, etc., assume some familiarity with the language.
Intermediate Series (I-V)
The Intermediate Series continues to expand upon speaking, reading, and writing skills with the gradual introduction of common kanji compounds. Language functions covered include describing things, expressing intent, asking permission, signaling obligation, and expressing condition, among others. Aspects of the culture are introduced along with linguistic structures. Japanese is the primary language of instruction.
Pre-Advanced & Advanced Courses
The Pre-Advanced and Advanced Courses are geared towards students who have a solid foundation in both conversational and written Japanese, and possess some familiarity with kanji. This class focuses on the development of accurate and extended discourse as well as on the expansion of kanji knowledge in the reading of some newspaper articles. Study materials are drawn from primary Japanese sources, and the class is conducted entirely in Japanese.