*Looking for a section of this class that fits your schedule or a more specific age group? Please check out the new Ages 11-13 group sections.

In this 14-week online course, students will learn to speak basic words and phrases in Japanese on a variety of common topics. This class focuses primarily on speaking and listening skills, but the writing system will be introduced in the first lesson.

Class members will meet twice per week. The first meeting of each week will be lecture-style (with plenty of interaction) and will focus on introducing the Japanese phrases for the week and practicing pronunciation. Between meetings, students are encouraged to practice their Japanese on their own to improve their skills. A handout listing the phrases students are expected to practice that week will be provided after the first meeting. The second meeting of each week will involve conversation practice and student-led discussion. This meeting will provide students with the opportunity to practice what they have studied during the week in a conversational setting and to ask questions about Japanese culture and lifestyle.

For two of the 14 weeks (Week 7 and Week 14), we will explore some of the most popular and well-traveled areas of Japan. These weeks will offer a fun break from language study and provide a chance to learn more about what Japan has to offer travelers.

Please reference the class syllabus for information about the course curriculum.

This class is designed for beginners, which includes students with little or no prior experience in learning Japanese. However, 14 weeks is a long commitment. I would encourage students who would like to sample Japanese before committing to the semester class to try my one-time course titled "Konnichiwa! I Can Speak Japanese".

I am happy to answer any specific questions regarding class structure, teaching style, or curriculum coverage.

This class also runs as a summer camp (May/June-August). Please reach out to me with questions about the summer format.