Japan America Society of Chicago 8-Week Japanese Language Courses
Current Course Schedule
Winter 2 Term (8 Weeks: January 5 – February 26, 2009)
Japan America
Society of Chicago
Japanese Language Courses
The Japan America Society of Chicago now offers 7 levels of Japanese language courses. Each is tailored to the level of expertise and type of study required by students. Weekly lessons provide students with an opportunity to begin the study of Japanese or to sharpen previously acquired skills. All courses are taught by an experienced native instructor of the Japanese language.
Beginning Japanese Level I
Designed for students with no previous instruction in Japanese, this course strives
to develop an understanding of basic elements of Japanese grammar, expressions,
and writing system.
Textbook: Japanese For Busy people, Vol. I.
Class registration form and schedule (.pdf)
Beginning Japanese Level II
A continuation of Beginning Japanese Level I, this course will build upon previously
learned basic elements of Japanese grammar and expressions. Writing system will
include a review of katakana, hiragana, and an introduction to basic Chinese characters
(Kanji).
Textbooks: Japanese For Busy People, Vol. I (from Lesson 8) and Basic Kanji Book,
Vol. I.
Class registration form and schedule (.pdf)
Beginning Japanese Level III
A continuation of beginning Japanese Level II, this course will focus on simple
sentence structures using Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji. Basic conversation skills
will also be reviewed.
Textbooks: Japanese For Busy People, Vol. I (from Lesson 12) and Basic Kanji Book,
Vol. I.
Class registration form and schedule (.pdf)
Beginning Japanese Level lV
A continuation of Beginning Japanese Level lll, this course will focus on simple
sentence structures using Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji. Basic conversation skills
will also be reviewed.
Textbooks: Japanese For Busy People, Vol. I (from Lesson 16) and Basic Kanji Book,
Vol. I.
Class registration form and schedule (.pdf)
Intermediate Japanese Level I
Designed for students who have completed Japanese For Busy people, Vol. I. Emphasis
is on grammatical expressions, basic conversation, and development of Chinese characters
(kanji) , up to approximately 100 characters.
Textbooks: Japanese For Busy People, Vol.II (from Lesson 4) and Basic Kanji Book,
Vol. I
Class registration form and schedule (.pdf)
Conversational Japanese
Developed for students who have studied Japanese a minimum of two years at a university
level, or who have learned Japanese while living abr /oad and wish to continue to
speak and enhance their spoken Japanese. Students are expected to have an understanding
of Japanese grammar, and a minimum knowledge of 300 kanji.
Textbook: Japanese For Busy People, Vol.III and various handouts.
Class registration form and schedule (.pdf)
Advanced Japanese
This class provides opportunities to maintain a degree of fluency in Japanese for
persons who have demonstrated fluency by having studied Japanese at least at the
college level, worked abroad, and/or in the United States for Japanese firms. The
course is designed for those who have prepared for or taken formal Japanese examinations.
This class presupposes an ability to carry an extensive discussion with native Japanese,
to read Japanese newspapers and assumes a knowledge about Japanese culture and way
of life. Handouts including newspapers, magazines, and current event topics will
form the basis of discussion. Additional focus on Kanji building.
Class registration form and schedule (.pdf)
Please note that completion of this form will serve as your reservation. You will
receive a phone call only if the class minimum is not met. If a minimum number of
students is not reached, the class will be cancelled and payments refunded. Students
are expected to attend all classes so that all students can proceed in their learning
at the same pace. If the instructor is absent, the term may be extended. To be considered
enrolled in the class, prepayment is required. If, after attending the first class,
one does not feel the course meets his/her needs, a student may transfer to another
level, or receive a refund. The Society must be informed of such an intent within
24 hours after the first class is held. Thereafter, no refunds will be issued.