This class is taught in English.

- Students will be introduced to the country of Japan and certain elements of both its traditional and modern culture
- Students will learn some Japanese vocabulary and phrases.
- Students will be able to pronounce and understand common Japanese words
- Students will be prepared for more intensive learning through the immersion method (though not exclusively so)

At a Glance:

 + Magna cum laude graduate in philosophy with honors and concentrations in Japanese studies and religion
 + 2nd Level JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) certification-holder (note: JLPT 5th level is the lowest and 1st is the highest (also now denoted "N5" through "N1")
 + Member of the 2007 International Scholar Laureate Program Delegation on Diplomacy & International Relations in the People's Republic of China 
 + Teacher and tutor to over 1000 foreign language students on Outschool and elsewhere

Details:

Kelsey studied Japanese language, culture, history, and economics both at home (Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota) and a year abroad (Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan). He returned to Japan after graduating to live for another three years in Kagawa prefecture, Shikoku, where he worked in language instruction and Japanese-English translation. He attained certification in the 2nd highest level of the internationally recognized Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) less than three years into his Japanese studies. 

Kelsey's teaching experience in language instruction (where he often implements the Natural Approach and TPR) continues to this day in private lessons for both children and adults in various subjects including Japanese language learning and JLPT test prep. For Japanese, this includes literacy in kanji and the language's other character sets, as well as comprehension and production in both informal and business-level conversation. 

Regarding the JLPT specifically, Kelsey's tutoring methods involve a top-down approach to deconstructing, studying for, and tackling the JLPT for those students looking to take their Japanese to the next level and even get this important certification that can land them a job abroad. Feel free to contact him for more information about the JLPT and suggestions on whether or not it may be right for your learner's language goals.

Homework Offered
A short Mastery Check (MC) through Quizlet is expected to be completed following each lesson (every two weeks) prior to the next lesson's meeting time. Students will also be invited to search for and share examples of Japanese writing and culture related to the material we cover from each day.
1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Mastery Check assessments will be posted for students to complete on their own time every two weeks on the most recent topic through Quizlet. Flashcards for practice will also be posted following each in preparation to a review of the lesson prior to the each meeting. Comprehension checks are also made throughout the lesson to measure and respond to comprehension and proficiency.
Grades Offered
Students who complete all of the Mastery Check assessments and score 70% or higher on at least 14 of the 17 of them (with one of the them being the final assessment) will receive a Certificate of Completion for the course. Students who complete all of the Mastery Check assessments, make 80% or higher on all 16 out of 17 assessments (with one of them being the final assessment), and reach Black Belt status by completing all of the "Learn" review activities as well will receive a Certificate of Excellence for the course.