I Can Read Japanese: Level 1 Kanji Benkyou 漢字勉強 (Age 8-12)

By the end of this 10-week online course, students will be able to read and write 103 kanji characters in a variety of contexts. They will learn between 9 and 12 kanji characters each week.

*Basic Japanese language ability is required, as well as the ability to read hiragana and katakana with minimal assistance.* (Extra materials will be provided for students that need help with reading.)

Students will practice reading and writing kanji and their meanings through various methods including worksheets, reading exercises, word searches, crossword puzzles, and other activities! All assignments are open-note!

The teacher will view and comment on all assignments, providing specific feedback for how to improve your handwriting, proper usage, etc.

*KANJI ART PROJECT*: Every two weeks, students will create a kanji art project to encourage creating, memorizing, and using kanji in everyday life. They will draw or create one kanji character from each week of curriculum using their surroundings. For example: you could use spray cheese and draw a kanji on a cracker; you could write the kanji character for 'love' on a piece of origami paper and fold it into a heart; you could paint the character for 'rain' using water or watercolor paint. The student will then take a picture of their project and post it in the classroom for the class to see. Members of the class will comment on one or two of the posted photos, and share one Japanese word which includes the featured kanji.

Week 1:　一・二・三・四・五・六・七・八・九・十・百・千
Weekly practice worksheet
Week 2:　日・月・火・水・木・金・土・口・寺・年・今・分
Weekly practice worksheet
*KANJI ART PROJECT*

Week 3:　大・小・中・上・下・円・左・右・人・入・山・出
Weekly practice worksheet
Week 4:　川・早・草・竹・花・田・虫・林・森・天・空・雨
Weekly practice worksheet
*KANJI ART PROJECT*

Week 5:　手・足・力・目・耳・体・村・町・首 ・時・週
Weekly practice worksheet
Week 6:　生・王・玉・子・字・学・夕・名・石・糸・車・正
Weekly practice worksheet
*KANJI ART PROJECT*

Week 7:　貝・見・音・立・気・先・年・文・本・校・休
Weekly practice worksheet
Week 8:　春・夏・秋・冬・赤・青・黄・紫・緑・茶・黒・白
Weekly practice worksheet
*KANJI ART PROJECT*

Week 9:　犬・猫・友・母・父・兄・家・男・女
Weekly practice worksheet
Week 10:　Review, final project, and final exam

Students will be assessed through a comprehensive, closed-note reading and written assessment.

I look forward to practicing kanji with you!
頑張ってください！Do your best!

ケイシー先生
Casey Sensei

I studied Japanese at Brigham Young University and lived in the Foreign Language Student Residence for two years. This is a Japanese immersion program in which participants would communicate exclusively in Japanese while at home. I am very passionate about the Japanese language and culture, and I am excited to share that passion with others as I help them to learn about the language and culture that I love so much! I am currently volunteering with a Japan-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunities in performing arts education to Japanese citizens and look forward to continuing my work with them.