にほんごChit Chat

You’ve got the textbooks and flashcards. You know hiragana and katakana by heart. You practice kanji religiously. But how comfortable are you with speaking Japanese?

Language is a way to communicate with others. Very often, however, beginners are so worried about mistakes and embarrassment that they forgo actually using their newly acquired language skills. This would hinder progress at any level, so let’s talk! We are now accepting students for a 12-week workshop on beginner conversations. Under the steady guidance of Sakamoto-sensei, 6 students will have the opportunity to flex their Japanese capabilities over Zoom for 1.5 hours at a time. In this intimate group setting, Sakamoto-sensei will be able to gauge the needs of each student and adjust subject matter to these needs. This is a great way to grow comfortable using Japanese in unscripted and genuine conversations, and make new friends!

*This workshop is meant for those who already have a foundation in Japanese, preferably having participated in JSNC’s Beginning 1-4.
*Please click on the link here to assess your level before you register for the workshop.
*Weekly topics will fluctuate based on students’ knowledge and needs
*Workshops with low enrollment may be canceled

Date: Starting on Tuesday, May 24th at 18:30-20:00 (Pacific Time) Tuesdays 12 sessions!
Fee: $275  (Membership is required for this booking. Join and support the Japan Society! Membership can also be applied to sign up for group lessons and workshops in the future!)
Class format: Zoom. We want to see your happy faces, so we will ask all students to turn their videos on.

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Our Amazing Teacher

Kumiko Sakamoto

Kumiko Sakamoto has been teaching Japanese for 24 years and will continue teaching diverse backgrounds. She earned her master’s degree in Japanese Pedagogy from SFSU and admires two teaching philosophies: Natural Approach by Dr. Stephen Krashen and Depth and Complexity by Dr. Sandra Kaplan. Her teaching mission acknowledges equity in mind awareness and supports Diversity and Inclusivity. Kumiko is one of the creators of an online reading book, “日本語で読書”, which is supported by the Japan Foundation. Her philosophy is based on human equality and the values of lifelong education. Kumiko’s hobbies are writing movie reviews and community service.